Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone 6 vs 6 Plus, and bending

M

marty1990

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 25, 2011
418
25
England
Hey guys. After having a bad experience with the Nexus 6, I've decided to move over to iPhone - makes sense with me having a Mac, Apple TV and iPad.

However, I could use some help.

Since having the N6, I'm used to the size of it, so the Plus would be fine for me, however, the form factor of the 6 is real nice, but I lose out on the better battery, OIS and obviously the screen.

The thing that deters me from getting the Plus is this whole bendgate thing. I mean, is it really an issue, and is it still an issue a few months on from launch? I mean I plan on using a case on it either way, but apparently it can still bend in a case? Is this the same with the 6?

Sorry if I'm bringing up a non-issue, I just want to make sure before I go ahead and buy one.
 
my explanation to this bending thing.

The iPhone 6 is a big phone. When put in the front pocket of jeans, a lot of people are going to find that the phone will go against the movement on your leg, as it goes up (ie. when sitting).

This is especially the case when the jeans are tighter and the pockets are sewn in a certain angle that causes the phone to dig into your body/leg, when sitting.

When that happens once or twice, it's not like to cause any damage. But done repetitively, bends may occur.

To me, this is a non issue. One, it's unlikely to get the bend to begin with - like i said, it's probably a repetitive action that causes this. Two, it's super uncomfortable to sit with a phone as big as the 6, let alone the six plus. I take it out anyway. This is just an inherent downside to having a bigger phone.
Tthree, slight bending doesn't impede usage. The phone still works. Phones warp from time to time. It's not a big deal, unlike 'antenna gate, where the call itself would cease. Four, Applecare+ exists, in the unlikely event that something will happen to your phone.

Get the 6+
 
marty1990 said:
The thing that deters me from getting the Plus is this whole bendgate thing. I mean, is it really an issue, and is it still an issue a few months on from launch? I mean I plan on using a case on it either way, but apparently it can still bend in a case? Is this the same with the 6?
Click to expand...

A very small group of folks have either bent their phones or received bent phones. I'm not going to get into how it happens because honestly it doesn't matter. It's not a large, widespread problem by any means.

For the record, my iPhone 6+ is in good shape and I expect it will stay that way. I keep it in my pockets when I'm working and when I'm driving. I don't treat it any differently than I've treated any of the other phones that I've owned.
 
I'd look at it this way: Apple sold a record number of these things in the past quarter, and yet the drumbeat of people who bent their iPhones died down. Even oneofthenine evidently got bored and went inactive as of early December, probably finding some other shiny object to troll.

If Bendghazi had ever been a serious issue that even 1% of iPhone customers actually encountered, Apple would've been in serious trouble in the press, and I'm sure sales would've tanked. But that clearly didn't happen.

This isn't to deny that iPhone bending never happened. Clearly, it did happen. Clearly, iPhone 6's and 6 Pluses bend if you're really careless, or really deliberate. But the overwhelming, vast majority of iPhone owners just aren't experiencing this problem, or people would still be pretty shrill about it.

Also, there appear to be reports on reddit and here that for those people who DO still bend their phones, apple has been a bit more willing to replace them depending on circumstance, and as long as it doesn't seem obvious that you bent it on purpose.

Add to that: a lot of people who've had launch day iPhone 6 Pluses, and don't have any bends.

Lastly, there were a lot of "me too" reports from iPhone 6 users during the height of bendghazi, that their phones bent too. So, if you're destined to bend your iPhone, it's doubtful that getting the 6 over the Plus will reduce your risk.

Tl;DR: If you want an iPhone 6 Plus, get one. If you're worried about it bending, get AppleCare+ to hedge your bets and reduce you financial hit. It's good to have anyway, in case your break your screen or something else happens. But the chances of you bending your phone accidentally are pretty slim.
 
iPhone 6 vs 6 Plus, and bending

Either phone can bend. Neither most likely will.

I bought a 6 Plus. It wasn't bent and didn't bend.

I bought a 6, and out of the box, it was bent slightly at the volume buttons, such that the screen was slightly concave. Apple exchanged it for a new 6.

The new 6 was straight out of the box, and after several weeks of normal but not overly-cautious usage, it's still straight.

Just get the phone you want and don't worry about the bending stuff.
 
marty1990 said:
Hey guys. After having a bad experience with the Nexus 6, I've decided to move over to iPhone - makes sense with me having a Mac, Apple TV and iPad.

However, I could use some help.

Since having the N6, I'm used to the size of it, so the Plus would be fine for me, however, the form factor of the 6 is real nice, but I lose out on the better battery, OIS and obviously the screen.

The thing that deters me from getting the Plus is this whole bendgate thing. I mean, is it really an issue, and is it still an issue a few months on from launch? I mean I plan on using a case on it either way, but apparently it can still bend in a case? Is this the same with the 6?

Sorry if I'm bringing up a non-issue, I just want to make sure before I go ahead and buy one.
Click to expand...

Your phone is not going to bend unless you bend it purposely yourself. Otherwise it's a non issue.

Mines a launch day phone and not bent in the slightest.
 
marty1990 said:
Hey guys. After having a bad experience with the Nexus 6, I've decided to move over to iPhone - makes sense with me having a Mac, Apple TV and iPad.

However, I could use some help.

Since having the N6, I'm used to the size of it, so the Plus would be fine for me, however, the form factor of the 6 is real nice, but I lose out on the better battery, OIS and obviously the screen.

The thing that deters me from getting the Plus is this whole bendgate thing. I mean, is it really an issue, and is it still an issue a few months on from launch? I mean I plan on using a case on it either way, but apparently it can still bend in a case? Is this the same with the 6?

Sorry if I'm bringing up a non-issue, I just want to make sure before I go ahead and buy one.
Click to expand...
Did you have the reboot issue on the N6? Had mime replaced because of that and the second one doesn't do it: it's clearly a hardware issue.

I like both the 6 Plus and the N6, but prefer the N6. Also, the N6 feels sturdier than the iPhone.
 
I have both phones, I initially have that concern as well but upong using them, I'd say it'd be pretty hard to bend them unless you apply a lot of force. I use a case because I'm rather careless, but I always put my phone in pants pockets, I wear a rather tight pants too. No problem so far. If you're really worried, AppleCare+ is good with giving you a peace of mind. I'm now actually more worried about dropping the phone and shaterring the screen than bending it.
 
Can you sit down with the 6 Plus in your pocket without any issue?

I intend to get a case anyway, but in work, I have to keep my phone in my pocket/out of sight, or just leave it at home.

Also how common is it for iPhones to ARRIVE bent? I had a terrible time with my N6 and build quality issues, so don't want to go through that all over again.
 
marty1990 said:
Can you sit down with the 6 Plus in your pocket without any issue?

I intend to get a case anyway, but in work, I have to keep my phone in my pocket/out of sight, or just leave it at home.

Also how common is it for iPhones to ARRIVE bent? I had a terrible time with my N6 and build quality issues, so don't want to go through that all over again.
Click to expand...

Phones shouldn't be arriving bent out of the box. However, it could be possible that it might but I would unbox it at the store to check before walking out of the store. This is why when I buy phones whether from the carrier store or Apple store, I always open it and inspect the phone in front of them to make sure that I have 0 scratches on the screen, including the back, no yellow tints, no dead/stuck pixels and make sure that it's not bent before I walk out the store. Also saves me the trip back and forth.

I generally wear khaki's and keep my phone in my front pocket (I do have a case) and have no issues sitting down with the phone in my pocket, and never bent yet.
 
marty1990 said:
Can you sit down with the 6 Plus in your pocket without any issue?
Click to expand...

This is largely dependent on you - how loose you wear your clothing, how much pressure is put on the device from sitting. I would say in most cases, yes you can sit with it in your pocket without any issue.

marty1990 said:
Also how common is it for iPhones to ARRIVE bent? I had a terrible time with my N6 and build quality issues, so don't want to go through that all over again.
Click to expand...

I would say very, very rarely. Apple is pretty good with QC.
 
Roessnakhan said:
This is largely dependent on you - how loose you wear your clothing, how much pressure is put on the device from sitting. I would say in most cases, yes you can sit with it in your pocket without any issue.
Click to expand...

Uhm, trousers/jeans etc. I wear fitted, not skinny or whatever, but not baggy.

I also have my phone around the side of the pocket, not at the very front. I started doing this with my Nexus 4 because I had a double layered case on which was thick so got into the habit of sliding it round to the side of my leg, so I assume, with a case, that should be enough protection for the 6/6 Plus?
 
Last edited:
Apple, a public company with a 700b market cap, has reported only 9 phones bending.
Everything else is just rumors from anonymous people.
Given that and the quality of photoshop to doctor photos I wouldn't worry about it
 
If you give an idiot a Ferrari, he will find a way to bend it. If you treat your phoe like crap, you will damage it. My 6 Plus gets carried in my fron pocket daily, sitting, standing, walking. Razor straight, had it since release. ;)
 
Well in that case...

Bigger screen, better battery, slightly better speakers (?) means the Plus... :D

Is there any performance differences between the 6 and the Plus? I mean, with the Plus powering the bigger screen?
 
marty1990 said:
Okay then lol, any MAJOR differences?
Click to expand...

Not really. I went with the 6+ for the 1080P screen and the better battery life. I was thinking that the OIS on the camera would make a big difference but in the comparison reviews it really doesn.
 
What about in a years time or so? Will the fact the Plus has the higher res screen mean the 6 will eventually outperform it on a future iOS update?

It's not gonna be like the iPad 3 is it? Pushed out to have a sharp screen, but suffers due to it? 2 years later it's nothing like it once was?
 
Last edited:
marty1990 said:
Well in that case...

Bigger screen, better battery, slightly better speakers (?) means the Plus... :D

Is there any performance differences between the 6 and the Plus? I mean, with the Plus powering the bigger screen?
Click to expand...

I personally see reduced framerates with the plus versus the 6 during various activities. Others don't. YMMV.

I personally don't see it being quite as bad as the iPad 3, but I don't expect it to have the longevity of the 5S. That phone runs as well as the day (at launch) I bought it.
 
marty1990 said:
What about in a years time or so? Will the fact the Plus has the higher res screen mean the 6 will eventually outperform it on a future iOS update?

It's not gonna be like the iPad 3 is it? Pushed out to have a sharp screen, but suffers due to it? 2 years later it's nothing like it once was?
Click to expand...

I think it's really going to depend on what Apple does with the next couple of iOS updates. Currently it is rumored that iOS 9 will mainly focus on bug fixes and optimization.
 
See, not sure what to do, I keep going back and forth between the two.

If I got the Plus, it would render my iPad 3 pretty much obsolete. I've only been using the iPad recently because I don't have a phone right now, and it's easier to grab that than go on my Mac.

And after having a N6, I know what it's like to have a 'phablet' in my pocket so that doesn't particularly bother me, just I'm going to have a decent case on it which will add bulk.

I like the fact the Plus as OIS, but I keep thinking if I buy the Plus, when whatever version of iOS comes out next, depending what it does, is it going to run terrible on the Plus, when the 6 handles it great because of the lower res screen.

Decisions...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back