iPhone 6: The Size Jump & “Bendgate” (September 2014)
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, launched September 19, 2014, marked Apple’s belated entry into larger smartphones — shattering sales records (10M opening weekend) while immediately sparking “Bendgate” controversy over structural integrity.
The Big Leap:
- 4.7” and 5.5” screens (vs 4” iPhone 5S) after years of Apple claiming one-handed use superiority
- Thinner design: 6.9mm (vs 7.6mm 5S), contributing to bending issues
- Rounded edges: Departure from iPhone 4/5 flat design, return to 3GS curves
- Protruding camera: First iPhone with camera bump (designers’ nightmare, engineers’ necessity)
- Apple Pay launch: NFC chip enabled tap-to-pay (finally caught up to Android 2011)
Bendgate Scandal:
- Week 1: Users reported phones bending in tight pockets (jeans, especially 6 Plus)
- Viral Tests: YouTube tests (Unbox Therapy 67M views) showed hand-bending 6 Plus
- Apple Response: “Only 9 customers” complained (week 1), then admitted structural testing flaws
- Real Issue: 7000-series aluminum weaker near volume buttons (stress concentration point)
- Fix: Quietly strengthened 6S (2015) with 7000-series aluminum + internal steel reinforcement
Sales Phenomenon:
- 10M opening weekend (record, beating 5S/5C’s 9M)
- 220M+ sold lifetime (best-selling iPhone ever until iPhone 6S/7)
- China factor: Larger screens crucial for Chinese market (Android had dominated with phablets)
- Plus model: 30% of buyers chose 5.5” despite $100 premium, validating big phone demand
Cultural Impact:
- Killed “one-handed use” argument (Apple never mentioned it again)
- Popularized phablets (Android already there, but Apple validated category)
- Protruding camera became permanent (every iPhone since, now massive camera bumps)
- Apple Pay kickstarted mobile payments (though took years to achieve critical mass)
Other Firsts:
- Optical image stabilization (6 Plus only, video game-changer)
- Barometer sensor (elevation tracking for fitness apps)
- Reachability mode: Double-tap home button lowered screen (admission one-handed use dead)
Design Philosophy Shift:
- Abandoned iPhone 4/5’s industrial flat aesthetic for consumer-friendly curves
- Thinner-is-better obsession peaked (bendgate forced rethink, 6S went slightly thicker)
- Camera bump acceptance (form followed function, designers lost)
Legacy:
- Defined iPhone size template (4.7”/5.5” lasted until iPhone X/XS)
- Bendgate taught Apple structural engineering matters (never repeated mistake)
- Best-selling iPhone generation (6/6S/6S Plus combined 500M+ units)
- 2019 “batterygate” lawsuit ($500M settlement) stemmed from 6/6S iOS throttling
Discontinued 2017 (sold 32GB budget version until 2019 in some markets). Still sees use in 2024 as kids’ first phones, though iOS 15 was final supported version.
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