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Cape Town - The Apple iPhone 6 Plus is tougher than reports of "bendgate" or "Bendghazi" suggest, says a consumer group.
The larger iPhone has been criticised for bending in pockets and social media has been lit up by users who suggest that Apple has dropped the ball in the design of its latest device.
However, according to test conducted by ConsumerReports.org, the iPhone 6 Plus is tougher than at least two other smartphones in the market.
The group tested the iPhone against the HTC One (M8), iPhone 6, LG G3, iPhone 5, and Samsung Galaxy Note 3.
The results show that the iPhone 6 Plus beat the iPhone 6 and HTC device.
The test was conducted by applying a "three-point flexural test" - essentially supporting the phone at the ends and applying force in the middle.
The test applied force incrementally and found that the HTC and iPhone 6 deformed at 31kg, followed by the 6 Plus at 40kg.
The LG and iPhone 5 made it all the way to 58kg, and the Samsung topped out 68kg.
Watch this News24 Live video on whether South Africans will buy the new iPhones regardless of bending:
ConsumerReports was careful to point out that the LG and Samsung displayed better build quality in that the smartphones bend and recovered as the force was increased.
Apple said that it only received nine complaints over the bending of the iPhone and it is unclear whether the company will offer free replacements for bent devices.
The new iPhones are expected to go on sale in SA by the end of October.
Watch this video on the bending tests:
