Consumer Reports: iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus Not as Bendable as Believed

[Eadfrith]

This whole bending issue and how it turned into such a massive story is very fishy to me. hmm

The original youtube video now has nearly 38 MILLION views $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[Justin33]

all the bend gate attention is going to create a limit on how thin these aluminum phones can be. Every year apple brags about making thinner and thinner phones. The cost is obviously rigidity. Hopefully this will mean better battery life, non-protruding cameras, as well as more strength in future iphones.

+1

 

[melendezest]

Apple cannot win. There will more people paid by Samsung to destroy perfectly new phone just to prove it will bend. Next year Apple will incorporate cheap plastic like Note 3 so it will be as strong.

The plastic Apple will use will not be cheap.

It will be unapologetically expensive.

 

[SHNXX]

Wow. People really do hear what they wanna hear.



The CR Test, very scientifically too as many point out, shows that the iPhone 6 is nearly half as strong as it used to be.



Let's not spin this like CR did: the new iPhone lost 60 lbs of rigidity.



SIXTY POUNDS.



I'd wager most people here cannot bench press a pair of 60lb dumbells.



That is a HUGE difference.



So CR basically proved that yes, yes it is as bendable as previously thought, weaker that all but one of the phones tested (nearly matched), and certainly a LOT MORE BENDABLE and LESS STURDY than the previous iteration.



C'mon folks. I like Apple too, but the frakking emperor is naked here!



Still, now you know. Baby your phones people, now way more than before.

Exactly

 

[macduke]

The internet can be as terrible and destructive as it can be great and constructive.

This isn't unique to the internet. This is the modus operandi for the human race throughout all of history. The internet is our creation—the great lens upon which our fault and triumph are laid bare. We are and will always be our own worst enemy. The internet simply validates this.

 

[Karma*Police]

wait a minute. wait a minute. sooooo the iphone and other newer smartphones are more likely to bend than predecessors? i wish they bent an iphone 4. that'd be interesting to see. i'd like to see some quality devices coming from these companies that are charging so much money for them. for $650 i expect more durability.

Could the iphone 4 survive a drop in the toilet? Most likely not. You need to look at other durability factors beyond some silly bend issue that will affect a handful of people. You and everyone on here should be far more concerned with drops and spills than bending issues.

http://blogs.wsj.com/personal-techn...-is-the-most-durable-iphone-yet-says-insurer/

 

[mpavilion]

The Imgur post referenced in several articles linked upthread (http://m.imgur.com/a/FBegH) is more interesting than the Consumer Reports piece. The Imgur poster is actually trying to analyze & account for what is seen in the videos, and what at least a few users seem to be experiencing (even if only "nine").

 

[Bahroo]

Maybe one explaination for all this? In Consumer Reports testing, it shows the iPhone 6 less durable then the Plus,

in Unbox Therapys video where he bended the iPhone 6 4.7 inch model, that wasnt budging at all and he was using alot of force(sure it bended and flexed a bit but it went back to its original form) and he said "its much more durable then the Plus, defitnetly".

Maybe because they are pushing out an immense amount of iPhone's right now to catch up w/demand and that the glue in the screen to the aluminum frame in some iPhones arent fully hardened and dried yet and thus some iPhones being compromised because of the glue ? (The glass sheet on the display boosts the strength of the aluminum frame if its seated and locked there glued to the frame well)

 

[melendezest]

Then they would not be able to replicate the bending since it takes 70 pounds of force.

Hahaha. Nice.

The problem here is the fulcrum generated by the curve of the body and a non-flexible material (like tight jeans) exerting force on the device, when in a pocket sitting down, combined with the individual's body weight. Simple stuff like leaning or squatting could cause it.

A stack of books on top of it in a bag could bend the thing. It would take roughly twice as many books or more to bend the previous model.

Sixty pounds is a big, big difference. Very few here are noticing this. iPhone 6 users are noticing though, hence the 'gate.

All that said, the device is beautiful and cool (although I still don't like iOS 7 on), and this should not stop people from enjoying their device. Just be careful with it!!

 

[rsocal]

Wow. People really do hear what they wanna hear.

The CR Test, very scientifically too as many point out, shows that the iPhone 6 is nearly half as strong as it used to be.

Let's not spin this like CR did: the new iPhone lost 60 lbs of rigidity.

SIXTY POUNDS.

I'd wager most people here cannot bench press a pair of 60lb dumbells.

That is a HUGE difference.

So CR basically proved that yes, yes it is as bendable as previously thought, weaker that all but one of the phones tested (nearly matched), and certainly a LOT MORE BENDABLE and LESS STURDY than the previous iteration.

C'mon folks. I like Apple too, but the frakking emperor is naked here!

Still, now you know. Baby your phones people, now way more than before.

How many pounds per square in. would be sufficient?

I'll take my chances that my 6 Plus won't bend until I put 90lbs of pressure on it wearing pants....

 

[SeattleMoose]

So someone lies about the iphone, the clueless media jumps all over "false rumor" story, and all for nothing.

Typical of today's news reporting...alarmist BS.

 

[77CAR]

So you just laid it down and it curled?

Fair point. However nothing I have done with this phone in four days is any different to what I did with my 3G, 4, 4S, 5 & 5S over a number of years. In fact, I do much less now. Getting older does that to you - not as many late night pub sessions.

The jeans pocket seems like the logical answer; sitting down with the phone in the front left pocket has put unnecessary pressure on one end of the phone.

The reality remains here that my phone bent after four days of standard, considered usage. No falls, no jumps, no runs. I walked the dog twice...

One more point: I have measured the jeans I wear. When sitting and the phone is positioned lengthways down my leg it sits in avoidance of my hip when in the front pocket.

 

[Bahroo]

Nobody is claiming it? Or you just haven't heard about it because the media doesn't go into a frenzy over HTC, LG and Samsung issues because they don't draw nearly as much interest as Apple news?

Galaxy screen broke in front pocket:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2287882

Did you hear about the Galaxy S5 camera failing? http://www.techradar.com/news/phone...axy-s5-camera-issues-leave-owners-sol-1244995

Or HTC M8's camera issues?http://www.itechpost.com/articles/1...es-scratches-cracks-damage-out-of-nowhere.htm

Lol

 

[billystlyes]

No it doesn't.

Yes it does. It's a structurally flawed device.

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

Yeah, I'm sure Lew isn't making it up but..... he does really need to show some more authenticity in these videos, like not holding your arms out straight when trying to bend the Moto X for 2 seconds, unlike having bent arms and bending an iphone 6 Plus for 5 seconds...

He could have unwrapped the phone from the box on camera for one!

dude bends the phone again. breaks too easy. i'm calling fake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ3Ds6uf0Yg&list=UUsTcErHg8oDvUnTzoqsYeNw

He somehow thought that peeling cellophane off the (whatever model) phone was a sign of validating it as a LEGIT iPhone 6 Plus... - 'coz no Chinese person would think to wrap a clone in plastic... </sarcasm>

What a goof. I think he's bending fake iPhones, and using the profits from YT to buy REAL ones... hahaha!

Simple advice to flip cap kid


Invite REAL MEMBERS of the public to meet you, including Apple engineering staff (they'll likely decline, but at least you tried), before...

#1 Walk into the Apple store, BUY an iPhone 6 Plus ON CAMERA - NO CUTS.

#2 Walk outside, unfold a table - again - WITH NO SCENE CUTS - and set up some test equipment (strain gauges, measurement equipment etc).

#3 Allow ANYONE to film you and verify your "tests" are legit.


... actually... no, don't bother actually... this is boring now.

Vindicated. No one can dismiss Consumer Reports. Much more thorough investigation than someone trying to bend a phone with his bare hands like a gorilla. As well he's choosing the perfect spot to try to bend the phone. He's actually bending the phone at one corner. Secondly the video of the guys who tested the iPhone with a case seems more legit. The person bending the phone with his bare hands looks more muscular than that Lew guy and seems to use more force. He got a slight bend overall. As for Lew, he never fully shows iOS 8 on the iPhone. There is a replica Android copy of the iPhone 6 and 6+ out there that Lew actually reviewed. Could these phones be those?

If you want to make a bunch of money from YouTube views, just make a video titled "Bendgate Debunked!!!". Grab an iPhone 6 Plus and act like you're applying a lot of pressure, when you're really not. State that the other videos must have phones that've been tampered with because you're not able to bend it with your hands.. Easy money, even if you're lying.. and you won't risk damaging your phone haha. You know the average person will never try anyways.

Anyone else see the strong resemblance of this mans performance to that of a street magician bending spoons?

Maybe they used a chinese knockoff:

Image
Look at the time app, its the same as that knockoff that appeared all over rumour sites just days before the announcement.

It would also explain why he has tons of these iphones.. (although ad revenue could also be the source for that)

There's an awful lot of tin-hat paranoid overprotectiveness in this thread.

 

[77CAR]

there's an awful lot of tin-hat paranoid overprotectiveness in this thread.

+1

 

[Bahroo]

Do the upper part of your pockets end up being on your thigh or on your pelvis when sitting down while having your back reasonably straight or leaning forwards? Take a look next time - you will likely be surprised.

Unless you have very deep pockets (!) the top end of the phone will often be caught at that angle between the thigh and the pelvis. And that is exactly where the early handful of bending-photos had the bend.

Um no dude its called just pushing your phone all the way in your pocket, my phone isnt gonna be sitting between my pelvis and thigh where itll cause me discomfort and half way out my pocket lol

 

[occollegeboi420]

You know, I used to be a fanboy, and I haven't been for awhile now. I can see that you all will buy anything as long as it has an apple logo on it. And you never want to admit apple's faults. This is a design flaw, plain and simple. It's been out for about a week now, just a week.

 

[linuxcooldude]

Its fun to watch the majority of internet trolls scatter once scientific and reputable as Consumer Reports state their findings. Although a few cling to hope trying to convince others its not so.

 

[Trapezoid]

Its fun to watch the majority of internet trolls scatter once scientific and reputable as Consumer Reports state their findings. Although a few cling to hope trying to convince others its not so.

It is pretty funny. Their messiah let them down, now the few scragglers are trying to convince the rest of the world that it was true.

Amusing. I'm amused.

 

[melendezest]

How many pounds per square in. would be sufficient?

I'll take my chances that my 6 Plus won't bend until I put 90lbs of pressure on it wearing pants....

How much do you weigh? If I lean into it with less than a third of my weight, it'll bend. My legs can generate enough force to propel my 5'6, 238 lb frame high enough in the air to grab a regulation-height basketball hoop.

Our bodies can easily generate that amount of pressure, especially in the lower extremities. When confined to tight jeans pockets, the scenario of the phone bending is very, very plausible.

That said, for me it'd be a non-issue. I just wouldn't put my device anywhere where that kind of stress is caused esp. when knowing this can happen easier than before.

I don't wear skinny jeans neither.

 

[Trapezoid]

There's an awful lot of tin-hat paranoid overprotectiveness in this thread.

Your first mistake was quoting appoloa. He's one of you. That was unfortunate, what you did there.

 

[subsonix]

Hahaha. Nice.

The problem here is the fulcrum generated by the curve of the body and a non-flexible material (like tight jeans) exerting force on the device, when in a pocket sitting down, combined with the individual's body weight. Simple stuff like leaning or squatting could cause it.

A stack of books on top of it in a bag could bend the thing. It would take roughly twice as many books or more to bend the previous model.

Nice theory, but why wasn't it uncovered in the test? I mean what is your basis of that claim except heresy or speculation.

Sixty pounds is a big, big difference. Very few here are noticing this. iPhone 6 users are noticing though, hence the 'gate.

Well, there's always a "gate" it seems. The question is how much the remaining is holding up, according to CR, well enough.

All that said, the device is beautiful and cool (although I still don't like iOS 7 on), and this should not stop people from enjoying their device. Just be careful with it!!

I haven't even laid my hands on one yet, I can't attest how durable it is (or isn't). Yet all this drama is so predictable, and in my estimation overblown. I may be wrong, but I don't think so.

 

[dustinfarris]

So, don't sit on your iPhone if you weigh more than 70 pounds.

 

[Trapezoid]

So, don't sit on your iPhone if you weigh more than 70 pounds.

Whoooosh! I didn't think that was possible.