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#Bendgate: Bent iPhone 6 Plus, Apple support and warranty replacements – Here’s the deal

#Bendgate: Bent iPhone 6 Plus, Apple support and warranty replacements – Here’s the deal

Alexandra Burlacu

The Internet is buzzing in regards to the whole iPhone 6 bending/ warping issue, but what does Apple support have to say about this fiasco?

For some context, Apple recently released its latest iPhone 6, which sports a 4.7-inch display, alongside its larger sibling, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. As always with new Apple product launches, the devices drew lots of attention and many fanboys rushed to get the latest and greatest smartphones from Apple.

Just days after the official retail launch, however, reports started to pile up in regards to a warping/bending issue affecting the larger iPhone 6 Plus. More specifically, all sorts of reports and images popped up online showing how the iPhone 6 Plus became distorted after being subjected to normal pressure, such as keeping the device in a front pants pocket. A video showing a wibbly-wobbly iPhone 6 Plus went viral in no time, while the Internet had a field day with all sorts of jokes and mock material under the #bendgate phenomenon.

Apple has yet to issue an official statement in this regards, but the folks over at TheNextWeb have contacted Apple support to inquire about the issue and find out just how the company's warranty would handle this.  

When asked whether a bent enclosure of an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus would qualify for a replacement if it occurred during normal use, the Apple support representative said the damaged smartphone in question would have to pass a test.

"That is 100% up to the Genius you speak with at the store. There is a test called a Visual Mechanical Inspection that the device will have to pass. If it is within the guidelines, they will be able to cover it. If not, the replacement will be a paid one," the representative told TheNextWeb.

When asked for further details regarding the Genius Bar guidelines, the representative said that chat support staff did not have that information. However, the Apple support team noted that Apple is "looking into this with an insane amount of detail."

The report further reveals that Apple is apparently willing to replace some bent iPhones, as long as the device owners have not obviously tampered with them. In other words, if you have an iPhone 6 Plus unit that gained a new shape after facing some normal pressure, you may have a shot at getting a replacement unit from Apple. If you wanted to test its limits and subjected the smartphone to a tough bend test, that will likely be on you.

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