Most of us are aware that it’s pretty easy to bend an iPhone. What fewer of us are aware of is what to do about it, especially how to fix a bent iPhone 7. So lets’ take a look at the iPhone 6s and 7, both the standard and Plus versions, to see what to do in the case of bending.
Obviously, any device constructed of thin aluminum will be prone to bending, even under slight force or pressure. This condition, which is especially applicable to even a brand-new iPhone 6s or 7, has been aptly termed “Bendgate.” The good news is that Apple is not ignoring this problem. The company is offering an exchange for bent or damaged devices – so long as they are still under warranty and can pass a rigorous visual examination.
Your best bet, then, is to contact a local Seattle iPhone 7 screen repair company to fix your bent iPhone. If, however, you don’t live in the Seattle area, you can check out our iPhone repair home pagefor a complete list and map of iPhone repair shops near you.
Here is a short video showing how the new iPhone 7 bends compared to the iPhone 6s and 6
iPhone 6 or 7 Bending Problem
Apple, in response to consumer complaints and #bendgate grievances, has offered to exchange bent and/or malfunctioning iPhone 6 Plus devices, even when the bending/malfunctioning occurred while being carried in owners’ pockets. This #bendgate phenomenon comes chiefly as a result of a concerted social media complaint campaign. A large number Apple iPhone 6 owners publicly complained about the device’s tendency to flex/bend under slight pressure, such as occurs in a back pocket during sitting.
While the device usually remains functional, the slight bend in the middle or just above the middle of the iPhone 6 Plus not only noticeably detracts from aesthetics, but also makes it harder to use. The large size of the iPhone 6 Plus – it has a 5 and a 1/2 -inch screen – its slim profile, and the light-weight aluminum frame all contribute to the flexing/bending problem. As you would expect, the smaller iPhone 6 is much less susceptible to bending under pressure.
bent iphone repair in seattle
Bent iPhone 6 or 7 Replacement
Keep in mind, too, that this problem sometime manifests more as a gradual, yet noticeable, curve rather than a sharp bend. In either case, Apple will replace the damaged device free of charge if it passes the visual examination it is sure to be subjected to when you bring it in to an Apple store. This examination is called the Visual Mechanical Inspection, and its purpose is to determine whether the bending damage is covered by the service warranty of the iPhone 6 Plus.
Still, it’s not completely clear what the Visual Mechanical Inspection’s standards and criteria are. Support staff have even indicated that this hasn’t been made entirely clear to them. The assumption is that Apple will replace devices that have been inadvertently bent and not as a result of misuse or abuse.
Visual Mechanical Inspection iPhone
So the major purpose of this inspection is to determine whether the flexing/bending of a customer’s iPhone 6 Plus was damage that occurred accidentally, as could happen when carried in a back pocket. If, however, it is determined that the damage was intentionally inflicted or occurred as a result of abuse/misuse, then the warranty would likely be voided, with no possibility of replacement.
It’s good to see that Apple isn’t ignoring this problem, especially since it is owing to the iPhone’s construction. For any device made of very thin aluminum will be prone to bending under pressure. The only thoroughgoing solution would be heavier, stronger construction, but that isn’t likely to occur soon.
Iphone 6 Plus users’ publicly aired grievances on social media have forced Apple to confront this issue. But it remains to be seen exactly what determines whether Apple will replace a bent phone or the customer will just have to deal with it.
So far Apple hasn’t been able to offer any information on what the test inspection includes. One representative, however, suggested that the inspection consists of nothing more than comparing the bent phone against a set of reference images in order to distinguish between accidental damage and damage from abuse. But the representative also asserted that they are “exploring this with a crazy quantity of detail.”
There are, then, two main points to this so-called Bendgate phenomenon concerning the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus: 1) showing that the thin aluminum cases of these phones are prone to bending and that this is a design flaw and 2) proving that carrying these phones in a back pocket for long periods is not a form of misuse. If these two points can be adequately supported, then it is likely that the bending will be covered by the service warranty and that Apple will then be required to replace phones suffering such damage.
It seems that Apple’s main concern was enhancing display dimensions and offering upgrades. So Apple included lots of attractive bells and whistles while neglecting physical function and sturdy design. The upshot is that stinting in these areas has resulted in a device that can flex and/or bend in the course of normal everyday use.
Further, as it stands right now, you are pretty much on your own if you have invested in one of Apple’s “bendable” devices. Until the Visual Mechanical Inspection has been clarified so that is is actually useful, your current best option may be simply to “unbend” your iPhone 6 Plus.
iPhone Bent and Cracked Screen
Apple saw record sales for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus on the launch weekend. But that great reception has since been tarnished by bending issues and malfunctions in software updates. Currently, Apple is counting on sales of other new devices to fund and fuel further development. Of the company’s annual $171 billion in revenue, a large part is made up of sales of a host of other devices, including iPads and the Apple Watch.
And this isn’t the first time Apple has had to confront consumers’ ire. It happened before in 2010 with the launch of the iPhone 4, the antenna of which lost function when held in a certain way. This fiasco came to be known as “Antenna-gate.”
How to Un Bend iPhone
So the iPhone 6 Plus, constructed of a thin aluminum outer casing with some stainless steel and glass components, was touted as the thinnest version ever, even with its big 5 1/2 -inch screen. The bending problem, then, is confined mostly to the iPhone 6 Plus.
But some repair business have also seen this problem in the past with the iPhone 5s and 5c. Still, the general state of repair shops is that they don’t yet have a solution/service for the newer bent phones. Many of them are still studying the issue with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus to determine the best course of action.
But don’t let this deter you from seeking assistance at a qualified repair shop or Apple store. So if you need to fix a bent or even a broke iPhone, find the iPhone repair shop nearest you at our home page: iPhone Screen Repair Near Me