Bendgate has taken over the Internet the last three days with reports claiming the iPhone 6 Plus bends in users’ pockets during normal everyday use, but after staying silent on the issue all week, Apple is finally speaking out against Bendgate, claiming the issue is ‘extremely rare.’
An Apple spokesman told the Wall Street Journal this morning that only nine people have actually reported bent iPhone 6 frames since its release last Friday. An investigation into the issue is still underway, but as we suspected when the Bendghazi controversy first broke, the bending problem has been blown out of proportion by the media.
Apple used rigorous tests throughout iPhone 6 dev cycle: 3-point bending, pressure point cycling, sit, torsion & user studies @CNBCtech
— Jon Fortt (@jonfortt) September 25, 2014
Apple said that both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus passed a rigorous series of testing before launch, and SquareTrade even ranked the two new phones as the most durable devices Apple has made yet. “With normal use a bend in iPhone is extremely rare,” an Apple spokeswoman told WSJ. Apple also told CNBC that the iPhone 6 features steel and titanium inserts to reinforce stress locations.
Over 10 million new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus units were sold on opening weekend, so even if the number of bent iPhone 6 Pluses is greater than just nine, they still only represent a fraction of 1% of total units shipped.
Source: WSJ
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
76 responses to “Apple claims Bendgate is overblown, says only 9 iPhone 6s got bent”
The other 999,991 customers can’t reach Apple customer support line because of the iOS 8.0.1 updategate..
Is school out already?
Haha :)
Sorry I doubt it was only 9. She’s just a spokesperson I wouldn’t expect her to know much of anything lol. From past experience its something that happened even on the iPhone 5 and the 5s’s.
dumbest thing I’ve ever read. spokespeople are well versed to company issues. their job is also to mitigate concern so they obviously won’t air more dirty laundry to the public. diplomacy is what they are paid for dumbass.
Yet she specifically said only nine were reported Im sure I could search the internet and easily find more than 9.
She said nine users complained, meaning they actually told Apple about the problem. Not anonymous apple trolls on the Internet who could be android users or anyone with an apple beef trying to make a big deal. I don’t have a 6 yet but I could have posted anywhere that mine had bent in half and who’s to know. “Searching the Internet” is a stupid way to research a problem like this.
I have a 6 and it hasn’t bent yet, all Im saying is Im sure that there is more than 9 users that either haven’t complained yet or she just wasn’t aware of yet.
Dude use your head please. I could bend my car if I were so inclined. The point is their is nothing wrong with the phone. It’s the moronic users who have too much money or care too little about a 1000 dollar gadget to not sit on the damn thing. I mean are you serious?
Or (I apolgiize I’m straying into “their” territory now) competitors could have easily started this knowing how many sheep are online.
You people are the reason the worlds governments are able to and use propaganda as a major tactic during wartime.
It’s really, really, sad.
My head tells me anything thin will bend and the pressure needed for it to bend differs across the devices.. I bought it after the fact that people already started to bend theirs if I bend my device from exerting too much pressure on it its my fault and I’d own up to it. Could it have been avoided using a different material? Yes. Do I care? No!
Why now?
The HTC One family, including the phablet variants did not have this type of issue being reported, the previous iPhones did not either. The issue seems to be that the copycat Apple device bends a little quite easily, rather then that it bends at all as this would be common sense.
In addition to its *bendancy*, the area it is weaker in is in my opinion a fairly obvious place to strengthen since there is less rigidity here due to the volume rocker being cut out the metal chassis.
There are at least two reasons why the the certain HTC’s don’t bend. I have seen bent HTC one s’s and sv’s But the M8 and also the new Moto G or X I forget which one it was are not flat on the back. They all have an additional curve to help with the rigidity. Another reason is probably because they are a bit thicker.
Both true. And plastic along the back. You can’t argue with kids. And you know what they say about arguing with idiots.
I can break (not even bend) something much stronger than a smartphone by sitting on it. I’m astonished this has developed to this point. The android kids will go to any lengths to find anything.
To be fair, I would to if I was outperformed by something with half the cores, half the MHz, and half the ram. Oh and if I were pre high school age.
Are u retarded? Might I point to….the materials used? No the android phones just BLOW up hahaha.
On a more mature note, read the article. Do the math. End of conversation.
(Btw folks – he just used copycat in reference to Apple in a smartphone context) bwHahaha
LOL PERFECT EXAMPLE!
We all know to believe everything we read on thar intarwebz deeerp
Hate to disappoint but what if it were 90? What if Apple lied by a margin of 100x and it were 9000!!!! That’s 9000 out of more than 10 MILLION phones.
IN case it’s still not registering with you.. That would still be irrelevant. Do the math. (Use your calculator). That is so many fractions of a percent it would still be WEEEEEEEEEELL within tolerances and STILL wouldnt be close to news.
Then again, theirs the fact that again, mine sure seems fine. Or was it built using different material? Then again, Apple actually bothered to even respond to this (more than you deserve) and let news crews in. These things are bent 15000 TIMES to ensure they are hardy enough for sale.
Put down the narcotics and work real hard in school – it will help avoid ignorance, naivity, and gullibility in the future!
Bendghazi? Really?
incredibly disrespectful, but what do you expect these days?
Are they sure? watch this incredible video!!!! iPhone 6 can be bended for sure! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkD3xIH28tM
“only nine people have actually reported bent iPhone 6 frames” is quite different than “only 9 iPhone 6s got bent”.
Sad. Just not accurate journalism.
You come to Cultofmac for journalism?
What would you come for?
Buster’s manly facial hair.
You get a ONLINE for accurate journalism? :(
To be fair – real journalists have to take an oath and believe highly in accuracy and integrity. Online it seems like they dig to find or create a rumor and let it rip.
If I didn’t have a brain of my own and some common sense it would almost be scary tbh.
There isn’t any chance in hell it is only 9 people, more reviewers then that have seen bends. Even just the affect of it being a issue would have caused more then 9 people to complain. Do people really buy this?
The point is, Apple claims how many have complained. The number of bent phones could be more, if not every one of their users has complained.
Whether people buy it? Yes. Based on past iPhones people expect a good iPhone. Not every interested buyer does a bend test at the store.
I know right. Cause the web kids are known for their honesty and integrity. Whereas Apple and quality are basically one in the same. It’s infinitely easier to believe 9 idiots sat on and ruined their Phone than Apple released a sub par product.
Thank god – someone with a brain. Notice how many android kids flock to these stories like flies on doodoo? Yikes. I’d hug you if I could, just for having common sense, objectivity, and a brain of your own.
Yes
Why wouldn’t we? It’s the truth. What hurts is the fact your dumb enough to believe the contrary.
Please enlighten me. Would 90 make a difference? How about I do you one better – how about 900?
I’ll save you some thinking. Don’t want to be responsible for any injuries. The answer is no, it wouldn’t.
THATS OUT OF TEN MILLION PHONES.
ugh /facepalm
Total facepalm comment lol
So far, I’ve heard too many negative reviews on this device. First off, people say its not designed well ergonomically. Pretty slippery and for whatever reason, they had to make it even longer then the note 4 while putting a smaller screen then the note. Probably because its so thin that they had to stretch it out. Apple’s new “reachability” mode is not being well received. Landscape mode is hard to type. The default KB lacks numbers and the comma without having to shift to them. The device is not very grippy and feels like you could drop it. I definitely knew this would be Apple’s response as far as the bending. There is too much at stake. We are talking big money here. They will say anything at this point to deescalate this story. But looking at this device it surely looks delicate. Very long and very thin. IMO, everything is compromised just for the sake of thinness. Jonathan Ive’s, has too much influence on Apple design these days. Too much emphasis on form and not enough on function. With a two year old FHD screen and only 1 meg of ram this really is a rip off IMO. In fact, this only costs Apple 200 to make. 70 percent margins here. The 5S cost the same to make. Yet they charge much more. The smaller IP6’s battery life really suffers from the thinness and small battery. I would rather have a thicker phone that is easier to handle with more battery life. This obsession with thin is crippling these devices.
Lol. There’s always pros and cons in any design. The iPhone is made of aluminum. Of course it will bend if you sit on it, especially with the bigger iPhone6. Paper plates and plastic cups won’t break if you drop them, so I guess no one will be buying glasswares from now on ;-)
Seriously. People are dumb as rocks online. Between this and them no longer teaching cursive in schools (and whites now being a minority) I worry very deeply for my child’s future.
“With a two year old FHD screen and only 1 meg of ram”. And yet reviewers are still calling it the best looking screen you can buy, and it’s smoking nearly everything in performance benchmarks. Specs mean nothing when it comes to Apple.
Not the reviews I’ve read concerning the screen. Text and movies look better on 4K. Once you start cropping your pics on the 8 megapixel your going to see pixel densities ugly head. Wait a minute, I’m on cult of mac.. Its no use debating this here.
“Not the reviews I’ve read” is just another way of saying that different reviewers disagree. That’s not an actual argument against Nick’s point. Nick is probably referring to the Display Mate review (though there are others that rate the 6 Plus just as favorably): http://www.displaymate.com/iPhone6_ShootOut.htm
“Wait a minute, I’m on cult of mac.. Its no use debating this here.”
Right, and you came here to rant about how bad iPhones and Apple are (even though there’s “no use debating” on this site), which kind of makes you a troll. And everyone knows there’s no use debating a troll.
In the spirit of fairness, you’re absolutely right that Apple sacrificed too much for thinness. I would be fine with a slightly thicker phone that had twice the battery life (but… I must admit, holding the iPhone 6 in my hand is a delight. Thin and round definitely has a strong appeal).
4k on 5 inch screen- you think you would notice the difference?
Yeah, you are on cult of Mac, you should have turned left 100 yards back for cult of android.
You gotta realize, the kids only care about numbers. Thank you for making me feel a little better though. Between my wife announcing she’s pregnant and having to see how many morons actually spread this bend crap around when the most trivial amount of brainpower should have indicated otherwise – lets just say it’s been a rough day.
1GB RAM, not 1 meg.
iOS performs better than Android on less beefier hardware as it is more efficient.
People keep ranting endlessly about wanting better hardware but seriously what will people use HD resolutions at 4″ for? Now that display sizes are increasing the resolution can be scaled up appropriately.
As a developer I am thankful Apple has maintained an aspect ratio across 4″/4.7″/5.5″. And we simply use assets at scales 1x/2x/3x for 3.5″/4-4.7″/5.5″ respectively. Our android brethren struggle to make good looking apps across various dpis, sizes, resolutions.
I agree with the rest.
You forgot that many iOS apps are not optimized for big screens yet. These are stretched out and won’t allow for more material to be read on screen. Android already does that. This will improve with time. Just reporting what Leo Laporte said when he reviewed his IP6+ the other day. And he is a huge apple head.
Yes it costs $200 or a little more but that’s just parts, maybe labour too. There are other costs to factor in so you might as well double it. Then you can take the rest as profit margin, so it’s not a 70% markup.
Sorry to burst your bubble. http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/apples-iphone-6-profit-margin-at-least-69-per-cent-report-20140924-10ld37.html
Apple fans always have this notion that these devices are so expensive to make.. because they are so pretty. The fact is, Apple products have enjoyed extremely high margins for years. This is not the first time they hit 70 percent. This a way overpriced piece of tech. You better believe it.
Look it up. Its hitting 76 percent margins in Austraila. Google it. This is more or less know that these devices have huge margins with mark ups over 300 percent in some markets.
I suggest reading this.
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/apples-iphone-6-profit-margin-at-least-69-per-cent-report-20140924-10ld37.html
Wut? You lost me at “negative reviews about this phone” LOLOLOL.
Are we playing that elementary school game where everyone says the opposite of what they mean?
really? Too many negative reviews? Most reviewers are overly positive – you choose to see the small deviations from overly positive and call them negative instead.
Summa summaries: you are equipped with less than average intelligence.
Even if it were true that only 9 complaints have been filed with Apple, it’s not a smart thing to say it because will sound like you are daring people to complain. They’re sorely missing whats-her-name the head of communications who recently left.
She’s merely saying that the issue is overblown, and it is. You do not put any phablet in your rear pocket and sit on it, period. The iPhone is not an indestructible device. It can take some beating, but it will break or bend if given to a stupid and reckless user.
Exactly. Thank you. The media is the one who is over blowing this crap. If your dense enough to put a 900 dollar phone in your pocket and sit on it, then you deserve a bent iPhone…in my book.
Right. They should be thanking Apple and the media should be praising them for actually replacing the damn things.
What truly and sincerely scares me is people actually bought this whole thing and ate it up and then spread it around.
I pity Apple for having to deal with such ignorance but I pity the perpetrators who are that simple even more :(
So that would suggest the sheer negligence and stupidity of those who go for such simple devices that they would put them in their back pocket and then either sit down or climb something.
Plus no iPhone since the 4 has been durable by any stretch. I work in IT support and we Unfortunately carry iDevices as business phones for our sales, marketing, etc you know the ones who can’t find ‘print’ in word 2010 or join a wifi network without caking IT. We go through so many iPhones that we have our own box, full of them waiting to be repaired.
IOS 8 is doing a number on the 4S battery life and slow updating of exchange email as well.
Can’t wait until the business contract is finally up.
Seriously. These are high end phones ffs, not rubber sheathed nextels. Wtf were people doing sitting on them period?
A sheet of solid aluminum only 6mm thick would bend too. Durrr deee durrr bob
They shouldn’t even be replacing any of these. It’s user error and the people should be kissing their ass. I bet Apple is preparing the legal stuff as we speak.
If u want a phone for your hillbilly mudbogging or whatever they call it. Get a Nextel. Seriously; who has the gall to sit on an iPhone and THEN complain about it when it gets messed up??! Lol.
Even worse – who is stupid enough to spread and repeat this as a design defect. I sincerely feel bad for people who are so simple. I mean that in the nicest most heartfelt way possible.
Which one is it? iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus? This article and the Apple statement seem to be using the two interchangeably.
6 Plus. Because it’s so much longer than the 6, but almost just as thin, it bends a little easier.
The “unbox therapy” guy did a second test on the iPhone 6 and it did not bend like the 6 Plus.
I don’t like you atm.
I can bend my six and my six plus at the same time. Wanna see? Can’t bend my galaxy though. It would just snap :(
Neither
Sure Apple can claim it was “only 9 people” but how do we know that for sure? Also out of the 10 million pre-sold or sold over the weekend a great many are still on back order so not everyone has their phones. The phone isn’t made of a block of steel it does have flex to it, but its NOT meant to be bent. Put a case on it and carry on.
Cause if it were TEN TIMES that, what would that change? I’ll be generous. If it were A HUNDRED TIMES that number… So? Still points to…. Nothing? If we are being real A THOUSAND TIMES the reported number is still so far within tolerances…
No news here guys. I know the android guys are super sad and grasping at straws but drive through.
Ya, my macbook Pro would bend if I sat on it too.I try and use my gray matter sometimes and not do that. I’m sorry, I have zero sympathy for these people. Get a fucking grip man. It’s very nice piece of tech. Move on to ShameShit if your unhappy. Please… Please please.
Preach on with your bad self!
Clearly Apple didn’t test their product enough… Shame.
Or perhaps they want some publicity.
“Or perhaps they want some publicity.”
Nope. Not a chance. This isn’t the kind of publicity Apple would ever want.
I can’t tell if your trolling. Must be worn out from trying to school morons.
For good measure – I reckon 15000 applications of pressure PER PHONE is basically OVER testing.
I’ll let you off easy. In my heart I know you have to be using sarcasm. No one can be so simple unless intentional.
Seriously!? THE problem is not the phone but that guys these days are wearing TIGHT jeans. And by that I mean too freakin’ tight. Where do they manage to stash their equipment? Maybe I’m old skool but get some proper fitting jeans and problem solved!
When I first heard about this, I thought it was one of the silliest things ever. I pulled my iPhone 6 out of my left side pants pocket and guess what, it wasn’t bent. Then I hear the people reporting this were carrying it in their back pocket like a wallet. Seriously? I would be afraid to put any electronic device that has any kind of length to it in my back pocket because I know my ass would crush it, forget bend it. But it’s Apple so I guess something has to be attacked. LOL
I know right. It’s not even about Apple anymore for me. It’s about the literal crisis in our society with our media and our young people being dumb enough to not only buy it but to spread it around.
If they bought something so trivial and simple – /shudder even typing it scares me.
Way overblown, I’ve been reading articles for years about the iPhone bending going right back to the iPhone 4. Even recall it being a fairly big story last year with the iPhone 5S and it’s really a non-issue. For some reason it’s gone viral this year and being made out to be bigger than it is. The issue isn’t just limited to the iPhone either, other smartphones bend, they just don’t get the attention and headlines because they’re not the latest Apple device.
Exactly. More money more problems basically. Except with popularity in this case.
What’s pathetic is people bought this. Even more sad is news outlets reported this.
Shame on you all. Every one of you. The news outlets for having NO journalistic integrity and for the people being gullible and naive enough to believe it, and pathetic enough to repeat and spread misinformation. Even if 1000x the phones that were reported had issues – it would still be WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL within tolerances.
The morons that wrecked their phones should be sucking Apple off and praising them to the heavens for replacing them.
I truly lose faith in people every day via the web. No excuse for ignorance. Now I’m not Einstein but I knew this was bs since day one. Ironically my phone is still fine mind you.
I truly feel bad for Apple. Due to all these sheep that can’t be bothered to use a trivial amount of brain power to think for themselves – God knows how many millions of dollars this cost them.
Seriously – Apple … Build quality issues?… Yea mmkay.
Are my comments being deleted? Bwahaha. This another UK site? In the USA we have a constitution which at the very top is listed freedom of speech. It’s things like this which make me realize I shouldn’t take it for granted.
This web site won’t allow me to respond to what somebody posted. I just want to clear it up that these new Iphones are hitting 74 percent profit margins in Australia. Well over 300 percent markup.
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/apples-iphone-6-profit-margin-at-least-69-per-cent-report-20140924-10ld37.html
I understand brand name recognition and selling things for a premium. But this is a rip IMO.
.000009% bent. Hmmm.
Anyway, iPhones 3G and 3GS been the best designed (shape) iPhones ever!
How ’bout this?
Or this?