Bendgate controversy: Apple knew about iPhone 6, 6 Plus design flaw before launch

The Cupertino company has never admitted that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 had a problem with bending. In a statement released to the media (via CNBC) after the devices went on sale in 2014, Apple said that issues with bent iPhones were “extremely rare” adding that at that time the two phones had been “thoroughly tested” and evaluated for “strength and durability”.

Also read: Apple iPhone 6s Plus review: Why this is Mr Dependable

Soon after “Bendgate”, reports emerged that the iPhone 6 was suffering from “touch disease”, an issue that occurs when the phone’s touchscreen fails due to its touch-controller chip malfunctioning. Apple did address the issue in an engineering change implemented in 2016, and ultimately the company (after several months) decided to offer a repair programme. However, the cost of the repair was $149 (or approx Rs 10,092).

In addition, the documents revealed that Apple started making internal changes to the iPhone 6 design by May 2016. The company started using extra epoxy for added strength in the area underneath the touch-controller chips being affected by the bending problem. Apple always denied that there were engineering issues with the phone.

Also read: Apple iPhone X review: The best iPhone no doubt, but be careful

The lawsuit is still ongoing and not all documents have been made public. Judge Koh has denied certification as an official class “because the plaintiffs could not present a sufficient model for being paid damages in the event that they win”. Apple is yet to comment on the whole issue.