It was a Samsung fan’s wet dream last year when reports regarding the iPhone 6 Plus’ tendency to bend in pockets surfaced online. What never used to be a standard test for smartphone superiority quickly turned into the only argument that mattered when choosing between the two brands, and there was very little to defend on the Apple side of life. The Samsung Galaxy S6, ironically, might have gone a bit to far with the plagiarism this time around though.
According to tests by SquareTrade, who test the durability of products to sell warranties, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge both have the most embarrassing feature of the iPhone 6 Plus: they bend, and quite easily. The tests carried out on the 6 Plus, S6 and HTC One M9 showed that the Apple and Samsung branded phones both bent horribly under the same amount of pressure (110 pounds of force), while the S6 also had its screen crack.
The phone was still operable, which is a step above the M9 which becomes absolutely useless at 120 pounds. All three phones were dealt pressure on the top-side, which Samsung believes is a misleading testing methodology. Responding to the claims, Samsung stated that there are in fact three major pressure points on the handset, and that the back of the phone features greater resistance to the bending force.
In fact, Samsung went as far as to refute the SquareTrade video in its entirety, posting their own version on testing that produced some very different results. According to Samsung, the S6 doesn’t bend under an exuberant 79 pounds of force – the equivalent of snapping five pencils in your hand.
When it comes down to it, I tend to side with the neutral party in this case. Does that mean you should skip on the S6 entirely? Probably not, even if it ends up bending just as much as the iPhone 6 Plus. The reality is that smartphones nowadays are trying to be thinner and lighter all at once, so excessive force will eventually lead to damage. It’s up to you to mitigate that, or choose a phone that tosses thin aluminum backs aside altogether.
Still, it is a little hilarious to see Samsung with egg on their face, especially after their confident “this stuff won’t bend” statement at the S6 reveal last month. The Galaxy S6 is out locally this week.
Last Updated: April 7, 2015
SlagywaG
April 7, 2015 at 17:50
Samsung fan boys are eating their words…
Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)
April 7, 2015 at 23:13
Not really, pretty much everyone sided with Apple as to how ridiculous the whole “bendgate” thing was in the first place.
Ghost In The Rift
April 7, 2015 at 18:01
I just got a Sony Z1, very happy with it.
Greylingad
April 7, 2015 at 18:08
The Xperia series is probably one of the best smartphone series’ I’ve ever seen!
Brandon van Reenen
April 7, 2015 at 19:46
My Sony Xperia Z3 > Samsung S6 or iCrap 6.
Mossel
April 7, 2015 at 20:36
110lbs = 489.3 N
An average oke that weighs 80kg will exert 784N if all the weight goes to one point (his foot for instance).
Chances of all the force going through a single point load is unlikely, it will likely be distributed over the surface area of the phone. Also a big portion of the weight of the human will be in the legs.
Now you know.
Greylingad
April 7, 2015 at 21:55
Exactly! In other words, If you are going to be a buffoon and hold your phone under a steam roller, stand on it while holding an oil tanker above your shoulders or attempt to skydive using your phone as a cushion, the phone will break, but most likely after you have….
Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)
April 7, 2015 at 23:11
Yes, because the everyday use entails putting our cellphone into a hydrolic press and trying to bend it. I hate the sensationalist situations that the media creates. The phone won’t bend – just like the iPhone 6 *won’t* bend – unless you put an intentionally inhuman amount to pressure on it with the sole intention of “bending” it.
What next? Complaining that out TVs, cars and furniture bend under incredible hydrolic pressure?
Nathillien
April 8, 2015 at 03:50
It is well documented that iPhone 6 bends not in the middle like the rest of the phones, but around the volume button. How much force can iPhone bear there before permanently bending? Lets see:
Yeah 30 kg of force, while Galaxy S6 can hold 50kg. Almost double.
That is why even kids could bend the iPhone in the Apple Store.
Xcalibersa
April 8, 2015 at 07:22
Dont use logic to an Apple fan. They can’t handle it.
Hammersteyn
April 8, 2015 at 09:09
PEARS!
Ranting Raptor
April 8, 2015 at 06:51
Just got a Vodafone smart 4 power and I am happier with it than I’d be with a Samsung. Honestly I don’t like Samsung any more. Bloated, fidgety and terrible implementation of the Android OS. Their TouchWiz UI is horribly slow when compared to any other implementation of the AOS anywhere else.
Admiral Chief
April 8, 2015 at 07:29
…almost marked this as spam
Ranting Raptor
April 8, 2015 at 07:52
Seriously dude. Samsung is going down the toilet. I’m pointing out that a cheap device feels better than a Samsung currently.
I’m all for Android phones. Just not Samsung Droids
Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)
April 8, 2015 at 15:53
Apart from the Note4, I agree with you. I’m sure that is made by a separate team or something.