Apple was aware that its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices were more prone to bending than their predecessors. That’s according to documentation that reportedly came to light during a class-action lawsuit against the company.
In documents supplied to the court, Apple admitted that the iPhone 6 was 3.3 times more likely to bend compared to the iPhone 5S, while the iPhone 6 Plus was 7.2 times bendier. Apple’s legal team claimed that bending was only possible if the device had been repeatedly dropped on a hard surface beforehand. “Bendgate” caused controversy when the device was released back in 2014. Subsequent iterations were reinforced with space-grade aluminium.
The company also apparently developed ways to reinforce the touch input technology within the device, in the wake of so-called “touch disease”, where a proportion of the devices’ touch screens stopped working, despite vehemently denying the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus were defective or flawed in their designs in any way.
The case is ongoing, although Judge Lucy Koh has denied the plaintiffs’ class certification, because they could not provide an adequate model for receiving damages, should the case be ruled in their favour. The plaintiffs have indicated that they will appeal.
