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iPhone 6 Plus embroiled in #Bendgate, but it probably won’t happen to you

Big phones and pockets don’t get along too well. Sometimes even small phones protest against unfortunate pocket placement. Now that Apple’s released the larger iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus on the public, reports of bent iPhones are floating around the Internet. The scandal, known affectionately as #Bendgate on Twitter all started when one iPhone 6 Plus owner found that his brand-new phone was slightly bent after being in his front pocket all day.

The iPhone 6 Plus owner explained how it all happened on a MacRumors forum page. Other users quickly responded with their own pictures and tales of bent iPhone 6 models. Most of those who reported bent iPhones said they’d held the phone in their front pocket, thinking it would be better protected than if they accidentally sat on it while the phone was in their back pocket.

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On Twitter, those who weren’t crowing about Apple’s blunder placed the blame squarely on iPhone 6 users themselves. Jokes about hipsters and tight jeans were rife, as were ironic jokes about what Apple’s response to all this would be.

While some accused Apple of screwing up big time, Cult of Mac pointed out that almost every metal phone ever has suffered from #Bendgate in the past. The site posted a series of photos, showing bent phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S4, Sony Xperia Z1, BlackBerry Q10, multiple iPhone models, and other Android smartphones.

Surprised you haven’t heard about #Bendgate before now? Don’t be. From all appearances, bent smartphones are a rare occurrence, even though most men who use smartphones carry them in their front or back pockets.

Although it’s entirely possible that your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus could end up bent if it’s in your pocket for extended amounts of time, it strikes us as unlikely. Neither of our iPhone 6 review units has suffered from #Bendgate, despite many hours spent in pockets.

Regardless, we can’t discount the story entirely. If you’ve noticed your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus getting bent out of shape, let us know in the comments.

Malarie Gokey
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
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