Samsung, HTC, BlackBerry, and Others Mock 'Bendability' of Apple's iPhone 6 Plus

[cube]

phablets are not "pocket phones" and need to be treated differently.

Said who? What is all this talk about gorilla glass and Samsung’s buttrobots about?

 

[StoneJack]

One of the ironic aspects of this "controversy" is that most pants/jeans that are manufactured specifically to fit tightly are usually made with a percentage of spandex or similar flexible material…which means that although the pants look tight, they're not actually tight in terms of pressure. They flex to minimize pressure.

This.
Unless the guys had iron pockets, sitting with unibody metal in cotton trousers won't bend metal.

 

[jgfceit]

Not sure why this surprises anyone. Of course other companies were going to make hay out of this. Time will tell if it actually impacts sales. All the hyperbole around antennagate didn't. I guess it will all depend on if it's a widespread problem and how Apple responds.

I think what surprises people is how many non-competing companies have jumped on the attack-Apple bandwagon. However, I do agree that the seriousness of the issue will be decided based on Apple's response.

 

[AlexH]

It's all part of competition, which is a good thing for us little people. I say bring out the trebuchet of PR mockery and let loose the dogs of Twitter!

 

[gooberq]

These companies feel threatened so now they're taking every opportunity to mock Apple.

I see it as they are forcing apple to respond and are joining iphone users to make the phones more durable and magical

 

[apolloa]

These companies feel threatened so now they're taking every opportunity to mock Apple.

So Apple must also feel threatened too seeing as they mock their competitors at their press events.

 

[ghettochris]

I'm really struggling with that argument myself. Several people have pulled the Barney Stinson line and simply said put it in your jacket pocket. Well, what if I take my kids to an amusement park. Sorry kids, daddy can't ride because sitting with my phone will break it. Imagine all the phones lost because you couldn't keep it in your pocket when not in use? Oh wait, fanboys are infallible, they'd never forget anything, it's ingrained into their psyche like their own smug superiority...

phablets are less portable and convenient than phones. if you expect to treat your phablet like a phone, you're going to have a bad time...

 

[runeapple]

Why don't they just do what they did with iPhone 4, give away a free case.

Might not be the ideal solution but will stop people's phone getting bent

 

[Dontazemebro]

Meanwhile Apple sells another million phones...

If anything, this quote makes a mockery of Apple fans. If people are willing to buy a phone that might bend. Doesn't it say more about the people buying it than the ones selling it?

 

[gnasher729]

That was never forgotten, Apple held a special one off press event for Steve Jobs to apologise for their design and tell everyone 'you are holding it wrong'!

At that time, I checked both phones in my household, and both told in their instruction manuals that holding the phone in certain positions would affect reception negatively. So yes, they were holding it wrong.

Psychologically, people who want to use their phones to make phone calls will instinctively change the way they hold it until it works. People who want to demonstrate that their phone is faulty will instinctively change the way they hold it until it stops working. That's why back in the day we had lots of people complaining with lots of other people having no idea what the complaint was about.

 

[melendezest]

There is no excuse for the iPhone bending so easily, like it does. Period. This is a HUGE mistake; we're talking about sh**tty hardware design here!

This is way, way worse than the Maps so-called "fiasco".

Is Apple going to issue an apology again for this?

Is Apple going to finally get rid of Jony Ive? I'd love to see that.

There. I said it.

 

[Rogifan]

It's light hearted fun. Nothing more. Apple do the same given a chance.

Mac vs PC ads last ran in 2009. Outside of jabs here and there during keynotes I can't think of an ad Apple has run under Tim Cook on the internet or TV that specifically poked fun at a competitor. Do you have an example?

 

[johnnyjibbs]

From the Next Web article:

In the meantime, you can always consider the more resilient Galaxy Note 3 if you’re worried about the issue.

No thanks!

 

[gnipgnop]

I haven't been following this too closely so I'm not sure I grasp the issue. Are people with bent phones putting in them in their front pockets? And horizontally? That just seems so unnatural. Even then wouldn't a leg be wide enough to distribute the force and prevent such a harsh bend at the buttons, which isn't even at the center.

Exactly, which is why none of the videos show someone putting the phone into their front pocket, sitting down, then taking it out bent. They have to use their hands or a machine to get the permanent bend.

 

[Ramchi]

I really have an excuse!

I was hoping for iPhone 6 Plus 128 GB which is beyond my budget (in grey markets this is sold @ USD 2300) even if it is available at Apple store for $1300 - $1500.

Now with all these I am closing down my option for iPhone 6 or 6 plus. Looking at Blackberry Passport @ $500-$600!

 

[maflynn]

In all fairness, this is what Apple gets for designing such a thin phone made of soft metal.

While its competitors are not faultless, the fact remains Apple continually likes to place itself as a premium device (and in years past they've lived up that). Premium products should not bend when placed in pockets.

 

[Stanick]

"Curved, not bent." What are they talking about...?

Galaxy Note Edge

 

[Ian walker]

Apple had a bad day yesterday but people absolutely love bashing them and it's simply because they are the best and everyone wants to knock them off there perch.

 

[S.B.G]

Premium products should not bend when placed in pockets.

...and then sat upon.

 

[Rogifan]

That was never forgotten, Apple held a special one off press event for Steve Jobs to apologise for their design and tell everyone 'you are holding it wrong'!

When did Steve Jobs apologize for the design? And whatever they changed to fix the problem didn't change the overall look of the phone.

 

[cube]

that's the thing... phablets are no longer small enough to do so.

Maybe for poorly engineered me-too phablets, I see no proof of such a statement.

 

[sbailey4]

Antennagate wasn't solved by software either. Unless those free bumper cases were software.

Nice try, though. Thanks for playing.

The Plus will be resolved this way too. Free 1/2" Stainless Steel bumpers!


Whine. Now my phone is big AND heavy. Dang it Apple!

 

[negrohero9]

Just remember, when you bend a KitKat it breaks, so at least the 6+ doesn't have that issue!

 

[milo]

how hard is it to take out your iPhone when you sit down.

Frankly, it's completely unacceptable. I have always kept my phone in my pocket for years, now if I got this phone I'd suddenly have to stop?

"You're pocketing it wrong"?

 

[audioruckus]

I really don't view this as a design "flaw" but rather a design choice. This choice, to make an already thin phone even THINNER, has side effects and downsides, as we are now seeing with the 6 Plus.

Not making excuses, but this is typical of companies during their first iteration of a new product. And the backlash is understandable, because Apple is known for putting other Android manufacturers down, so Apple needs to take its medicine here.

Also, if you are an early adopter you have to go into it knowing ANYTHING can happen. I am always wary when a company decides to put out both new hardware and software at the same time. That's usually a recipe for problems to occur as we are seeing.

As with any device like this, I expect some fragility and you just have to be careful. I was careful with all the Android phones i've used, all the Windows Phone's I've used, and I'll be careful with the 6 Plus when I finally get my hands on it.