Apple Addresses 'Bendgate' By Strengthening Weak Points of 'iPhone 6s' Shell
Following the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus last September, some users began experiencing issues with the larger-sized smartphones bending in their pockets after normal day-to-day usage. The issue -- informally known as "Bendgate" -- became widespread after a video test revealed it does not take much force to cause a slight curvature in the device.
iPhone 6 Plus bend test by Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy
Apple later commented that an iPhone 6 Plus bending under normal use is "
extremely rare," adding that it had received only nine complaints from customers about the issue at the time. The company said the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus feature a "precision engineered unibody enclosure" constructed from 6000 series anodized aluminum and "stainless steel and titanium inserts to reinforce high stress locations" on the devices.
Nevertheless, it appears that Apple engineers have tweaked the design of the so-called "iPhone 6s" by strengthening the weak points of the smartphone's rear shell. A new YouTube video shared by Unbox Therapy shows that the areas around the Home and volume buttons on the "iPhone 6s" appear to be notably thicker -- 1.9mm versus 1.14mm -- suggesting that Apple's next iPhones could be less susceptible to bending under normal usage.
Interestingly, the video shows that the "iPhone 6s" rear shell is also slightly lighter, despite having a thicker shell at certain weak points. The purported "iPhone 6s" rear shell weighs in at 25 grams, compared to 27 grams for the iPhone 6 rear shell, suggesting that Apple could be using a new material such as the rumored
7000 Series anodized aluminum for its next-generation smartphones.
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Top Rated Comments
I suppose every model since iPhone was introduced meant the previous model was broken by your definition.
The current devices never really bent unless you tried to. And if you try to bend a current 6 Plus, of course it will, anything does.
Of course, purposefully applying a lot of pressure with the intention of bending the phone will result in bending it just as kicking in the door of my car with the intention of denting it will dent it. This whole thing was always aimed at an easily impressionable audience and naysayers.