Nope, Bendgate is far from over.
Much to the chagrin of Apple, the subject of bending iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices remains a hot topic. But at least now, it is getting a scientific treatment.
Consumer Reports has released a new video very recently, tackling the issue of the purported bending tendencies of the new iPhone versions. And unlike previous Bendgate-related YouTube videos that have cropped up lately, Consumer Reports video promises to adopt a more scientific approach to testing the Apple devices' bendability issues.
To be fair, Consumer Reports also tested smartphones from other phone makers. The selected devices were subjected to 150 lbs of pressure to check which handset would not revert back to its original shape. The phones tested included the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6 Plus, the iPhone 5, Samsung's Galaxy Note 3, the HTC One (M8), and the LG G3.
According to the results of the test conducted by Consumer Reports, it appears that the new iPhones were not the strongest of the bunch. But wait -- it turns out the Apple devices were not the weakest either. The HTC One (M8) gave way under only 70 lbs of pressure. As for the iPhone 6 Plus, it held out until 90 lbs, which makes the device the 4th sturdiest among the 6 smartphones tested.
Coming in at 1st place is the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which managed to survive until 150 lbs of pressure. The iPhone 5 and the LG G3 are tied on 2nd place -- both devices bent at the 130-lb mark.
Consumer Reports also went the extra mile by testing how much pressure was required to cause the display screen to dislodge from the phone's casing. Four of the phones tested needed about 20 to 30 lbs of extra pressure to separate the displays -- for the other two, no additional pressure was needed to do the deed.
According to the Consumer Reports tests, it seems that while the new iPhones may not be the strongest, they will not likely bend as easily as recent reports suggested.
This may come as a relief to Apple who had to bear the brunt of several days worth of negative feedback regarding the structural integrity of the newest version of its flagship device. It is not clear how effective the Consumer Reports test will be in changing people's perceptions considering that Bendgate has already reached almost viral levels. But at least, there is a new report that does not put Apple and its immensely popular device on a bad light. With the recent iOS 8 update fiasco and of course this iPhone bending controversy, the company could use a break.
