iPhone 6 Plus Bendgate: Apple examining issue with ‘insane’ amount of detail, replacements promised

Apple isn’t having a particularly good week, even though on Monday the company announced it broke all past iPhone launch sales records with the bigger iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets. Soon after that, an unexpected design flaw affecting some iPhone 6 Plus buyers came to light – the bigger phone can be bent when inside pockets – also known as #Bendgate on social networks, and then Apple released a buggy iOS 8.0.1 update that affected some crucial features, including cellular connectivity and Touch ID sensor.

While Apple already acknowledged the iOS 8.0.1 problem on its support pages after stopping its rollout, the company has yet to publicly recognize Bendgate issues. However, Apple is very much aware of the problem, The Next Web reports, and free replacements may be in order for those people who bend their devices.

In a chat with an Apple support person, the publication found out that iPhone 6 Plusowners who have bent their devices while in pockets may receive a free replacement, but only after a Visual Mechanical Inspection from a retail store Genius.

“So does a bent enclosure occurring during normal use fit under the warranty?” the publication asked.

“That is 100 percent 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 would be a paid one,” Apple support responded.

Interestingly though, it looks like Genius Bar guidelines for this issue aren’t available at this time, but Apple is looking into it very attentively, apparently aware of the problem.

“Something told me to throw your symptom in the big chat room,” Apple support said. “Turns out, we’re looking into this with an insane amount of detail.”

That means Apple will likely have a response for Bendgate in the future, although an official statement on the matter is still not available from the iPhone 6 maker.