Apple: iPhone News and Discussion Thread
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 46,052
Likes: 11,809
From: Florida
One Clever Explanation of Why the iPhone 6 Plus Might Bend
Pundits have blamed the iPhone 6 Plus bending non-scandal on dozens of potential issues, from the weak aluminum case to the crushing force of their own butts. But while we don't know for sure about why a few phones have been bent, one here's one plausible structural explanation with moment diagrams and everything.
A user by the name of alleras4 took to Imgur to speculate that the reportedly bendable body of the 6 Plus isn't just due to the strength of the aluminum body. There's no way to verify this is true, but it's interesting to see how their explanation corresponds with iFixit's teardown. They argue that the bending is caused by the design of a reinforcement inside the phone, behind the volume buttons. There, the metal reinforcement ends with a screw, leaving the body prone to stress.
"This means the metal insert isn't able to absorb moment so close to the screw because it doesn't have any other substantial point [to] hold on to thus it spins following the bending," says alleras4. Here's the view from iFixit's teardown:
alleras4 explains that this is where the highest stresses accumulate, and he or she illustrates this using a moment diagram, above, which is a simple tool to draw where forces (in this case, your hands/butt) come down on a beam (in this case, the 6 Plus) and result in the largest moments (the points most prone to deformation, or bending). That also explains why most phones that we've seen bent—especially the one that was purposefully so—experienced the most stress in that particular spot.
In other words, it has nothing to do with strong thumbs or weight. It has to do with hitting the 6 Plus in a very specific place, from a specific angle, where Apple's internal hardware design has a flaw:
Update: We asked industrial designer Don Lehman to take a look at the explanation and respond. "It makes total sense," he says. "If you look where the creasing happens in the aluminum, it makes sense because it's directly next to a very rigid bolt." He also points out that this has only happened to a minuscule fraction of users, and it's unlikely that the design will change. "If we opened up a 6 Plus a few months from now, would it be the same? My guess is yes."
http://imgur.com/gallery/FBegH
Pundits have blamed the iPhone 6 Plus bending non-scandal on dozens of potential issues, from the weak aluminum case to the crushing force of their own butts. But while we don't know for sure about why a few phones have been bent, one here's one plausible structural explanation with moment diagrams and everything.
A user by the name of alleras4 took to Imgur to speculate that the reportedly bendable body of the 6 Plus isn't just due to the strength of the aluminum body. There's no way to verify this is true, but it's interesting to see how their explanation corresponds with iFixit's teardown. They argue that the bending is caused by the design of a reinforcement inside the phone, behind the volume buttons. There, the metal reinforcement ends with a screw, leaving the body prone to stress.
"This means the metal insert isn't able to absorb moment so close to the screw because it doesn't have any other substantial point [to] hold on to thus it spins following the bending," says alleras4. Here's the view from iFixit's teardown:
alleras4 explains that this is where the highest stresses accumulate, and he or she illustrates this using a moment diagram, above, which is a simple tool to draw where forces (in this case, your hands/butt) come down on a beam (in this case, the 6 Plus) and result in the largest moments (the points most prone to deformation, or bending). That also explains why most phones that we've seen bent—especially the one that was purposefully so—experienced the most stress in that particular spot.
In other words, it has nothing to do with strong thumbs or weight. It has to do with hitting the 6 Plus in a very specific place, from a specific angle, where Apple's internal hardware design has a flaw:
It's not about if it bends or not, as seen in the video we know it does where other phones don't or less so. It's not about how much force must be applied and if a pocket will do the trick or not. It's just that under a particular type of flexing, the phone is prone to bend mainly because a metal insert meant to reinforce instead spins in an axis too close to the critical point. If they were further apart allowing better support to counter the flexing and not spining, it would make it more resistant.
Of course, as alleras4 points out, this is based on simple structural logic and the teardown. There may be another explanation entirely. But it would also explain why official reports of bent iPhones are so limited, and why the normal every day use Apple says it will hold up to does seem like it should be fine.
So there you go: Wedge your iPhone into your tightest jeggings with impunity. Just don't bend it at this one spot. [Imgur; Ifixit]Of course, as alleras4 points out, this is based on simple structural logic and the teardown. There may be another explanation entirely. But it would also explain why official reports of bent iPhones are so limited, and why the normal every day use Apple says it will hold up to does seem like it should be fine.
Update: We asked industrial designer Don Lehman to take a look at the explanation and respond. "It makes total sense," he says. "If you look where the creasing happens in the aluminum, it makes sense because it's directly next to a very rigid bolt." He also points out that this has only happened to a minuscule fraction of users, and it's unlikely that the design will change. "If we opened up a 6 Plus a few months from now, would it be the same? My guess is yes."
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 46,052
Likes: 11,809
From: Florida
Clpower you might find this site useful
One of the Nine - Apple Stores that refuse or replace bent iPhone 6
One of the Nine - Apple Stores that refuse or replace bent iPhone 6
Wow that sucks.
Not going to lie...this issue plus the fact I've got a fresh battery in our 5s means I won't be upgrading this year.
You can't deny the materials and slight design flaw. A 50% drop in rigidity YoY is nothing to turn away from.
Not going to lie...this issue plus the fact I've got a fresh battery in our 5s means I won't be upgrading this year.
You can't deny the materials and slight design flaw. A 50% drop in rigidity YoY is nothing to turn away from.
teh Senior Instigator
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 44,094
Likes: 980
From: Huntington Beach, CA -> Ashburn, VA -> Raleigh, NC -> Walnut Creek, CA
I'll flip shit if they try to make me pay for it. Absolutely lose it, I bought 3 of these things end of september, 2 of them full price. Have bought 6 iPads for clients since July....11 macbook pro retina's since January...i'll absolutely lose it.
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The Third Ball
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 50,493
Likes: 5,869
From: Los Angeles, Ca
SHOULD that happen...keep your calm
Contact Apple Corporate. The product you buy and quantity you purchase at should qualify you for their business line alone. And if that fails. Seriously, email Tim Cook. A resolution will come of it. It did for me a few months ago.
Apple attempts to keep a tight reign on their retail stores...but they can't keep eyes on them 100% of time and things fall through, and human behaviour slips in.
You should get a beefier case and stop wearing such tight pants
Ive had my 6 plus in a tech21 case (which has give) and keep my phone in my on me even when working on set moving heavy shit and slamming things around. I take it out of my pocket when I drive.
Sidebar: Yes, Stunna is an idiot. We all know it. He is the jackass who screams fire in a public place when he sees steam.
teh Senior Instigator
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 44,094
Likes: 980
From: Huntington Beach, CA -> Ashburn, VA -> Raleigh, NC -> Walnut Creek, CA
I've got some good contacts at apple, so should they not do it...I will lose my shit and reach out to them
Still regret not getting a plus
Still regret not getting a plus
Go Giants
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: PA
Sanest Florida Man
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 46,052
Likes: 11,809
From: Florida
Apple Watch framework was released today, one of the big takeways is that apps won't be native on the device the first go around, not until the next release. Apps mostly are on the phone but code for UI is local to the watch, all other app processing is done on the phone.
11 things we just learned about how the Apple Watch works | The Verge
11 things we just learned about how the Apple Watch works | The Verge
nnInn
Joined: Mar 2006
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Goodbye.
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: BroCal
nnInn
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 37,670
Likes: 1,084