Apple responds to claims of bending iPhones, calling cases 'rare'

Apple responds to claims of bending iPhones, calling cases ‘rare’

People wait to buy the new Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices outside an Apple store in Hong Kong. Apple has responded to early complaints from customers that the new, larger iPhones can bend when left in pockets.

Sept. 25, 2014 8:46 PM PT

Apple Inc. has responded to complaints that the newest version of its flagship product, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, are vulnerable to bending in users’ pockets.

Reports have been surfacing on social media and on message boards that the new, larger phones are somewhat malleable, and that their frames can actually bend when left in front pockets.

In a statement, the company said bent iPhones are “extremely rare” with normal use. Only nine customers have come forward to complain to Apple about their iPhone 6 Plus being bent out of shape, the company said.

“Our iPhones are designed, engineered and manufactured to be both beautiful and sturdy,” the company said in a statement, adding that the new iPhones are constructed from aluminum that’s “tempered for extra strength,” are reinforced in “high stress” areas, and undergo a series of tests, including “3-point bending” tests.

On Thursday, the company invited journalists to its testing facility.

“We chose these high-quality materials and construction very carefully for their strength and durability.... As with any Apple product, if you have any questions, please contact Apple.”

Despite record sales for the newest – and largest ever – iPhone, Apple has been plagued with a few issues since its release last week, including the release of an update to its new iOS 8 operating system that apparently disabled cellphone service and the Touch ID functionality for many users.

The company had to quickly pull the update from its App Store, advising users to roll back to the previous version until it could find a fix.

Apple released the fix, iOS 8.0.2, on Thursday evening, confirming that it fixes problems with loss of cell service and Touch ID usage in the new iPhones that downloaded iOS 8.0.1 on Wednesday.

Apple also apologized to customers affected by the bug.

There have been other anecdotal reports that the new iOS 8 software has led to slower Wi-Fi and shortened battery life.

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