Bent iPhone 5 and not working volume buttons after charging

[nirhend]

Volume buttons

I don't know why many people state that their phones have bent without the benefit of their rear end applying pressure - but many of the ones I have read often are written in a way that feel (to me at least) as they are prepping their story for the Genius Bar - getting a feel from responses at MacRumors whether the guy at Apple is going to laugh them out of the room or not - I look closely at my 5 and can see pretty clearly that it is damned thin and would not take a great deal of pressure to bend - but to spontaneously bend with no outside force seems difficult to believe (for me) -

Perhaps because I have to deal with people who say the Earth was created 4000 years ago and Dinosaurs walked with man, I am a bit jaded.

So how can you explain the volume buttons "flex" damage?
they work but stuck in the device will pressing them.

 

[Ivabign]

So how can you explain the volume buttons "flex" damage?
they work but stuck in the device will pressing them.

 

[scaredpoet]

So how can you explain the volume buttons "flex" damage?
they work but stuck in the device will pressing them.

Actually, that bolsters the idea that there was outside pressure applied.

 

[vastoholic]

Have you contacted Apple yet? If not, now would be a good time. Don't let this issue continue longer than needed or else they will probably think you're lying.

 

[nirhend]

of course

Have you contacted Apple yet? If not, now would be a good time. Don't let this issue continue longer than needed or else they will probably think you're lying.

i contacted yesterday the Internationale customer service and i must set an appointment with a genius before.
i have a friend who will bring the device to an apple store in France next week. when i explained the problem to the phone advisor she said that they might replace the phone in place but need to of course check it before.

 

[kas23]

No. Because Aluminum is more rigid than the glass, the aluminum frame will fracture first.

I always thought metal was malleable, especial the soft aluminum Apple used in the iPhone 5. Metal should bend, not fracture. Anyhow, all this conjecture (what will bend vs fracture, either glass or aluminum) is out the window when you have a 70 kg force (which is a lot of pressure for such a small surface area) suddenly act on the entirety of the iPhone 5.

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Actually, that bolsters the idea that there was outside pressure applied.

Perhaps. But the strange thing is the damage appears to be only on one side of the volume button. If an outside pressure was applied to the front of the phone, we should see a break on the posterior side of the minus button and buckling on the anterior side.

 

[vastoholic]

i contacted yesterday the Internationale customer service and i must set an appointment with a genius before.
i have a friend who will bring the device to an apple store in France next week. when i explained the problem to the phone advisor she said that they might replace the phone in place but need to of course check it before.

Awesome. Good luck to you. At least you have a way of getting it to a store.

 

[Gav2k]

Looking at all the pictures it's obvious the phone was in your back pocket glass towards you and you've sat down.

The battery story doesn't wash. If it had got hot and swollen it would have popped the front off and you wouldn't be able to charge and use the phone normally.

Sorry op but things don't add up.

 

[nirhend]

i hope

they will replace the phone in place and there will not be any problems.
if i couldn't go to apple store in Europe i was Defiantly screwed

 

[AlphaDogg]

I always thought metal was malleable, especial the soft aluminum Apple used in the iPhone 5. Metal should bend, not fracture. Anyhow, all this conjecture (what will bend vs fracture, either glass or aluminum) is out the window when you have a 70 kg force (which is a lot of pressure for such a small surface area) suddenly act on the entirety of the iPhone 5.

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Perhaps. But the strange thing is the damage appears to be only on one side of the volume button. If an outside pressure was applied to the front of the phone, we should see a break on the posterior side of the minus button and buckling on the anterior side.

Aluminum does not bend. It breaks. I know this, because of aluminum bike frames. They are much more rigid, and instead of bending under impact (like a steel frame would), they crack or snap.

 

[vastoholic]

Looking at all the pictures it's obvious the phone was in your back pocket glass towards you and you've sat down.

The battery story doesn't wash. If it had got hot and swollen it would have popped the front off and you wouldn't be able to charge and use the phone normally.

Sorry op but things don't add up.

I've quit worrying whether or not people are telling the truth on here. In the end, it's not up to us to decide. If apple thinks it's legit, they'll replace it. It's all on them and not us.

 

[AlphaDogg]

Looking at all the pictures it's obvious the phone was in your back pocket glass towards you and you've sat down.

The battery story doesn't wash. If it had got hot and swollen it would have popped the front off and you wouldn't be able to charge and use the phone normally.

Sorry op but things don't add up.

The screen is held in tightly with clips and screws. There's no way an expanding battery would pop off the screws unless it exploded, which it obviously hasn't.

 

[RenoG]

People don't sit on their iPhone 5's dude.

Why would he put his iPhone 5 down on a chair, then say ok, now I'll sit on it.

I don't think the op sat on his phone, I believe his story.

Just so you know many people put their phone in their back pockets, mostly girls in their super tight jeans, they love to do this..

 

[nirhend]

Looking at all the pictures it's obvious the phone was in your back pocket glass towards you and you've sat down.

The battery story doesn't wash. If it had got hot and swollen it would have popped the front off and you wouldn't be able to charge and use the phone normally.

Sorry op but things don't add up.

if i sat on it i will not go all the trouble to bring it to an apple store in Europe, i just fix it (unless what can't be fixed) in a local iPhone lab in my country.
sorry but it's not the case here. there is no way the phone had any damage from any source what so ever!
fixing the battery or the volume buttons are easy and cheap. the device works fine for now.
how can you explain the battery charging that i had when this think happened?
didn't charge for more the 15% for more the 1hour and device become HOT with original charger.

 

[Ivabign]

if i sat on it i will not go all the trouble to bring it to an apple store in Europe, i just fix it (unless what can't be fixed) in a local iPhone lab in my country.
sorry but it's not the case here. there is no way the phone had any damage from any source what so ever!
fixing the battery or the volume buttons are easy and cheap. the device works fine for now.
how can you explain the battery charging that i had when this think happened?
didn't charge for more the 15% for more the 1hour and device become HOT with original charger.

To play devil's advocate - I can imagine many issues with charging after the phone was bent. - and if you were the one to have bent it - I cannot imagine that you would just 'have it fixed' on your own dime - again IMHO.

 

[Koodauw]

I dont think it matters if it was sat on or not. If the phone is that fragile its a poor design, and apple should take care of.

 

[Ivabign]

I dont think it matters if it was sat on or not. If the phone is that fragile its a poor design, and apple should take care of.

Yes and no - I have often sat down with my 4 and then my 4S in my back pocket with zero difficulty - I think it has lulled me into a feeling of security - that all phones should be able to take that kind of pressure - but in all honesty, I would never have done that with the many Samsung/LG/HTC plastic phones I have owned.

Now about my old StarTac - hell I could drop that thing off the top of a 3 stry building and place a call - it was nigh indestructible.

 

[nirhend]

To play devil's advocate - I can imagine many issues with charging after the phone was bent. - and if you were the one to have bent it - I cannot imagine that you would just 'have it fixed' on your own dime - again IMHO.

When i say "Fixing it" i mean to replace the battery and volume buttons internal parts, the frame issue is not disturbing using the device and it fit any case. it a very gentle bent as you can see in the pics

 

[Gav2k]

The screen is held in tightly with clips and screws. There's no way an expanding battery would pop off the screws unless it exploded, which it obviously hasn't.

3 hooks at the top and two screws cannot contain an expanding battery

 

[Arran]

Aluminum does not bend. It breaks.

It can do either. Depends on how it was treated before and during manufacture.

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When i say "Fixing it" i mean to replace the battery and volume buttons internal parts, the frame issue is not disturbing using the device and it fit any case. it a very gentle bent as you can see in the pics

I don't think they actually 'fix' them onsite. They just issue a replacement for $50 (US) or $229 (US) depending on whether you have Apple care or not.

 

[26139]

Okay...

They'll give you a new one.

Stuff like this happens.

Take it in before it explodes.

 

[nirhend]

Device was replaced with a new one in Apple Store Paris.
Thx everybody for the help and suggestions.

 

[Cebuano1976]

Congrats. Hope nobody else gets to experience this. It probably feels like losing a beloved pet.

 

[xproc]

i have the same problem...

 

[Lucille Carter]

This is probably not what you want to hear.

The slight buckling above the volume "-" button suggests somebody sat on it. That may have damaged the internals and caused overheating when it was subsequently charged.

If battery swelling was the real cause, I'd expect to see either; (1) convex bulging on the back plate or (2) the front glass popping out/lifting up on one or more edges. Bending of the edge frame (the most rigid part of the phone - since it's an aluminum L-beam) is not what I'd expect. Sorry.

This^^^

An expanding battery did not make it buckle at the - volume button. This is classic iPhone 5 bending

After reading posts in this thread like "aluminum does not bend", I understand why people remain confused. So much erroneous information