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

[MyMcMac]

The Consumer Report test is not valid as the iPhone 6 Plus bends on the upper part. They only test it against its middle part where its strong.

 

[Max(IT)]

What's even more interesting is that if one analyses Consumer Report's data and calculate an index based on separation force divided by device thickness.

For the iPhone6 series (for separation), it came to around 15 lb/mm (14.49 and 15.49 respectively). HTC One, LG G2 and Galaxy Note 3 are 9.57, 14.61 and 18.07 respectively. iPhone 5 trumps at 19.74.

Thicker device and angular design of the iPhone 5 seemed to make a difference, which obviously stands to reason.

Similarly, separation index based on device weight puts iPhone 5 way on top at 1.34lb/g. The next closest at 0.89 was Note 3 while iPhone 6 and 6 Plus comes in at 0.78 and 0.64 respectively.

One good news of this saga is that some are being given a refresher high school lesson in physics.

What's very sad is that nobody is going to really analyze those data. Apple haters just prefer to watch YouTube videos from unknown sources doing pointless tests....

 

[sk1wbw]

The HTC One M8 performed the worse. This has GOT to chap the asses of the Android fanboys, especially those who use that phone, who were so busy gloating over this non issue.

 

[BvizioN]

Ok so does that mean it is or is not marketing? Which do you believe?
Again. Marketing is one of the most powerful tools a company has to get you through the doors. If it wasn't worth the millions of pounds that every company spends they wouldn't do it.
Trust me. Within Apple the marketing machine looks at 64 bit, they look at weight, they look at thickness and a whole horde of other things, then they will do their best to capitalise on those that work best for them OR that BEAT THE COMPETITION.
If it's the thinnest phone expect to see them emphasise it.
It it's the only 64 bit expect to see them emphasise that too.
Now have a look at the page for the Six on store.apple.com
They don't stop at great CPU or thin phone.

THEY WANT YOUR MONEY!
When they push it too far we get threads like this.

Ok then, it's marketing!
Is there anything misleading in it though that I would feel cheated for my money I have spend? And second, is there any other company that can effort but does not do marketing same way?? I honestly have rarely seen any Apple products on billboards where I live. I see Samsung products on every corner on a huge billboards. Not to mention on the Internet, everywhere. Featured on the top of YOuTube site etc.. I want to know if Apple is doing some sort of marketing that other giant tech companies aren't?

 

[MyMcMac]

The HTC One M8 performed the worse. This has GOT to chap the asses of the Android fanboys, especially those who use that phone, who were so busy gloating over this non issue.

The 6 plus does bend huge on the upper part. They only tested the middle part.

There was never any report that the 6 plus would bend in the middle. So that report is obviously not testing against the complains.

 

[Max(IT)]

Bro.
I'm an iPhone owner.

Iphone 5 is stronger than the one I want to replace it with.
If it can bend from normal use with some drops here and there, I don't like that.

Except it won't bend from normal usage and surely won't bend with some drops

 

[iBug2]

Errr... Come on, you really can't lift 90lbs with both arms??? That's only 40kg! My bike with the 5kg of locks and bags weights around that much and I'm still able to carry it daily up the stairs for the night.

Are you kidding me? My bike weighs 11 kg's. And yes I can lift a 45 kg barbell from the floor but that would be around my limit. For example I cannot lift two 22 kg dumbbells, I have tried this.

Edit: Oh you mean motorbike, my mind went to bicycle.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

you assume they bought them in the first place. For all we know CR contacted Apple to 'apologize' for that whole antenna thing (i.e. refusing to recommend the phone even after the details about how other phones had the same issue) and offered to do this test as an 'impartial' group and Apple gave them phones to destroy.

Could be but that would utterly destroy CRs decades long M.O. of being a neural arbiter by not having communications with the company whose products they test and evaluate. I think your theoy has holes b/c if such were to be found to be true it would be the end of CR since their revenue depends on subscriptions, not advertising.

A more likely scenario is that CR, like every other media outlet is trying to piggyback on Apple news for their own benefit. Conducting the the first 3rd party bend test on a much anticipated iPhone generates lots of publicity no matter what it concludes from those tests. Also, these test are not likely the final ones to be done by a 3rd party, so yet to be certified conclusive.

But it's looking like if bending is an issue its with selective users. A few people could crush an old fashioned steel soda can with bare hands, but the avg person could not.

 

[Max(IT)]

Wonderig how much did Consumer Report gets from Apple. The timing seems too odd, almost like Apple and Consumer Report made a deal that Consumer Report to backing Apple up.

Congratulations, consumer report, you just get your ticket to next Apple's iPhone event.

The same amount they got when spoke about the poor iPhone 4 antenna design.
But I would guess you were fine with Consumer Report then, right?

 

[H2SO4]

Right, I am sure CR would risk their reputation on this kind of thing. Sure.

Google: consumer reports suzuki samurai I’ve made it into a link for you so it’s nice and easy.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Have you seen this vid? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ3Ds6uf0Yg

 

[H2SO4]

Besides the sarcasm, there's some truth in this.

Who needs a bend test to buy a phone? The only value of this CR story is that it may put the hashtag to rest, but for the rest of us sane individuals, we already knew that this phone was not going to bend under normal use. Nobody needed this piece to be sure.

Definitely, and you only got one upvote too!

 

[Trapezoid]

Man the rage of some of the android fanboys in this thread amuses me. Going through the seven stages of grief.

It's over, guys. Backwards hat guy made money off you. Let's move on

 

[CEmajr]

Hmm looks like the youtube guy and his "scientific" test have been debunked as well as Macrumors own article based off random reports from 4 iPhone users. Guess it's all good though, youtube guy and macrumors both got tons of hits off of the story and made a little change. Profiting off Apple via ad revenue.

Between all this and only 9 incidents reported to Apple, it looks like this bending controversy was a joke.

 

[mdlooker]

The Consumer Report test is not valid as the iPhone 6 Plus bends on the upper part. They only test it against its middle part where its strong.

But a test from random people on the street is valid?

 

[fmcarv]

Strong enough is the only point you should consider. Is there something stronger? Sure. But we are speaking about different design, materials, thickness and weight, so who care?



Strong enough to use it every day is what we need

Don't you see the new trend is to go round the streets bending phones...

When we all thought phones were for making calls, texting and using the Internet now this young generation goes around pumping iron by bending phones.

Forget about specs it's all about the bending capabilities

 

[H2SO4]

Ditto.

I feel physically ill when I watch iphone 6 drop test.

Please tell me you are joking/exaggerating.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

It will bend at the upper part, maybe for some but for most no, not in the short term.

 

[MyMcMac]

But a test from random people on the street is valid?

The complain is that the iphone 6 plus bends very easy on the upper part.

The official test it against the middle part. It can not prove or disapprove the complains.

If there is an official test agains the upper part, then this test is valid.

 

[Max(IT)]

Well in the interest of balance, the iPhone 6 is pretty darn strong when dropped:

I was mightily impressed I have to say.

There is not a single drop test with any objective data backup, so all the drop test on YouTube are junk, favorable or not, all trash reports.

 

[tobybrut]

Errr... Come on, you really can't lift 90lbs with both arms??? That's only 40kg!

I don't think you understand what they mean when they say 90 lbs. That's 90 lbs concentrated on an area smaller than a dime. If you were to translate that to the entirety of the phone's back, that's probably over a thousand pounds of total pressure. Can you lift that much? If you were to go underwater and experience 90 pounds per square inch (less than the pressure on the iPhone), you'd be crushed into a smudge. Normal air pressure is only 15 psi.

 

[H2SO4]

Strong enough is the only point you should consider. Is there something stronger? Sure. But we are speaking about different design, materials, thickness and weight, so who care?

Strong enough to use it every day is what we need

Isn’t that what I said?
If you bought a hammer and then they brought out a newer lighter, thinner and bigger hammer, (so what if it’s used to hit things), you’d still expect that newer hammer to be able to knock the same nails in, unless they expressly told you otherwise.
In fact you’d probably expect that although it doesn’t feel substantial it will somehow be at least as strong as the old model for doing what you’d always done with it?
I don’t mean that you only ever used the first one to pop nails into wood where you’re using the new one to knock masonry nails in either.

But yes, strong enough to treat virtually the same as we did with the old one.

 

[Codestud]

I think that there is clearly a particular weak spot on the 6 Plus which Apple must have missed during QA testing and even in its own testing labs. It is possible for this to happen.

I mean, NASA launched the biggest ever mirror designed for the Hubble space telescope, and it had an imperfection which escaped the best engineers probably in the world.

Clearly the guy from Unbox Therapy has had access to the phone for several days and knew the exact spot to press to get the effect.

I remember the nightmares I had with the shattering of glass on my iPhone 4 and really a case is going to be essential for the 6 Plus until Apple fix it, which they probably will only do when the 6S comes around.

 

[Max(IT)]

why can't just a reputable source such as consumer reports, or any of the tech blog, try to replicate the bending by hand test.
We know the testing machines don't bend it easily, we get that, Apple tested it, Consumer reports tested it....

And then we have a guy that everybody claims to be a fake, easily bending the phone by hand.

Can't we just have a reputable source do that test?

What is the meaning of try to bend a phone with your hands? Is what you are going to do with your expensive smartphone after buying it?

Geez, I think a lot of people need a reality check here. YouTube blown their mind.....

 

[fmcarv]

Errr... Come on, you really can't lift 90lbs with both arms??? That's only 40kg! My bike with the 5kg of locks and bags weights around that much and I'm still able to carry it daily up the stairs for the night.

Besides, we have videos of guys bending it with their fingers... Either these guys should compete for Mr Universe or it's actually not that hard to exercise 90lbs... There is a difference between lifting a weight and just exercising strength for a very brief time!



And we're not talking about bending it with your arms, but with your hip flexor - if the phone is in the front pocket of your pants, it's bend when you flex your leg from the pressure between leg and hip. You certainly can exercise more than 90lbs with your hip flexor, that's the strongest muscle in the human body and if you couldn't you would be unable to walk or to climb stairs...



Note: Yes, I'm aware that force is not measure by a unit of mass but in newtons... But since consumer reports has chosen to use that unit in its scientific report...

It's nothing to do with lifting.

Imagine 40 Kg pressing on one tiny point in your body...

Like a 40kg pencil

The guys bending phones are not only apply a moment at both ends of phones with their palms of the hands but also a two pint force with their thumbs.

Come one these guys hands are going white with the amount of effort they need to bend the phone