Apple launched the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to much fanfare, but it didn’t take long for the first scandal to arise. Purported throngs of iPhone 6 Plus owners noticed that their phones appeared “bent” after a few days of use (supposedly from keeping it in their pockets).
The “iPhone 6 Bend Test” video above caught fire and the web was ablaze with panic that every iPhone 6 Plus was doomed for the scrap heap. That video cited “a number of reports” from users who experienced this bend.
How many is “a number”? It could be thousands. It could be hundreds. It could be dozens. It could be a couple. Heck… it could even be zero.
The official number of complaints was 9, but that didn’t matter. Apple’s stock quickly responded, plunging almost 4% in a single day. Apple immediately rebuffed, claiming all new iPhone’s underwent rigorous durability testing that included:
- 3-point bending
- Pressure point cycling
- Sit Testing
- Torsion Testing
- Real-life user studies
Although members of online forums complained and speculated, real world tests proved the criticism was widely misleading, suggesting that regular use would do no harm. Testing aside, Bendgate provided a golden comedic opportunity with celebrities and companies alike jumping at the chance to make a funny:
- Samsung
- LG
- Kit Kat
- Conan O’Brien
- @PhoneDesigner
- iPhone 6 Plus Pants (Tim Cook)
- iPhone 6 Repair Kit
- iPhone 6 Plus 1 Week
- The Matrix
So should you be worried about buying an iPhone 6 Plus and having it suffer this hell bent fate? No… because the iPhone will typically only bend in one of three scenarios:
- You keep it in your back pocket, even when sitting down
- You wear skin tight hipster pants and keep it at a weird angle in your front pocket
- You’re a body builder bending it on purpose
If you fall into one of these two categories and refuse to change your habits, don’t get the iPhone 6 Plus. Otherwise you should be perfectly fine (despite all the fear mongering generated from a measly 9 complaints).
It all boils down to this: tech media were digging for a story to capitalize on iPhone buzz, generate clicks, and make money. They found a few idiots who bent their iPhone 6 Plus. They proceeded to purposefully bend an iPhone 6 Plus to prove it could be bent.
Wow… it could be purposefully bent easier than other phones could be purposefully bent. Instead of coming to the conclusion of “don’t purposefully bend your phone”, people flipped out, because social media. Have some common sense… and if you want an iPhone 6 Plus, buy one, just keep the below advice in mind.
Continue reading:
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- Apple Watch Pre-Order
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TAGS: bendgate, iPhone 6 Plus
