iPhone 5 bending, replacement likely?

Invertigo · 13 Apr 2014 at 16:11

So, I've just taken my phone out of its case to apply a new screen protector, and it appears that its bent backwards near the volume buttons. Having had a quick google, it seems I'm by far the only one to have experienced this, but it does bring me to ask how likely it is that Apple will replace it for me?

It's been in a case pretty much since day one, and has never been dropped or anything like that, and as it appears to be an issue more common than it really should be...

Opinions?

Terminal_Boy · 13 Apr 2014 at 16:19

Are you Uri Geller?

lamboman · 13 Apr 2014 at 17:00

It's not going to bend unless force has been applied. So to be honest it's pretty unlikely.

deusexlumina · 13 Apr 2014 at 20:58

unlikely I'm afraid.

shiver · 14 Apr 2014 at 09:16

Invertigo said:
So, I've just taken my phone out of its case to apply a new screen protector, and it appears that its bent backwards near the volume buttons. Having had a quick google, it seems I'm by far the only one to have experienced this, but it does bring me to ask how likely it is that Apple will replace it for me?

It's been in a case pretty much since day one, and has never been dropped or anything like that, and as it appears to be an issue more common than it really should be...

Opinions?

If it's under warranty and has no points of impact it should be covered

Invertigo · 14 Apr 2014 at 15:32

lamboman said:
It's not going to bend unless force has been applied. So to be honest it's pretty unlikely.

Rational, I guess, but there genuinely has been no force applied. I suppose its up to them whether or not they believe me.

shiver said:
If it's under warranty and has no points of impact it should be covered

Well the warranty ran out about 10 days ago, but they've always been decent with me in the past regarding out of warranty products, and I've heard stories of people having 2-3 year old phones sorted without cost

On Holiday · 14 Apr 2014 at 15:36

Show us some pics.

I can give you a pretty accurate decision

Invertigo · 14 Apr 2014 at 19:19

_MG_2998.jpg by Mark_Jennings, on Flickr

Not particularly easy to get a photo showing it properly, but that shows how its bent backwards at the volume down key

Howard · 15 Apr 2014 at 11:41

Invertigo said:
Rational, I guess, but there genuinely has been no force applied. I suppose its up to them whether or not they believe me.

Well I certainly don't believe you, so I don't think they will!

How on earth do you bend an iPhone?! Are you one of these people who puts it in their back pocket and sits on it?

sbi5ar · 15 Apr 2014 at 14:03

If you had noticed something like this within the first week of using it then I think they would have changed it out no problem... After a year of use... Not a chance

lamboman · 15 Apr 2014 at 14:10

To be brutally honest, just because you didn't bend it or didn't realise doesn't mean that force wasn't applied. Same way that a car won't dent itself.

I guess the frustrating thing is that there is no perfect way around it, as there is no perfect material. Aluminium will bend but at least it won't snap, and is light. Plastic is a case of either snapping but feeling better in the hand, or having slight flex but feeling cheap. Steel is heavy but strong. Either way, people shouldn't be applying force to their phones...

As for warranty, due to the EU Statutory Warranty they're usually pretty nice to people who are out of the one year warranty period. However, that's for obvious cases - this one will be a bit hit and miss, probably more towards miss.

I'd suggest bending it back, but the volume key is one of the stress points so it'll be difficult to fix it properly.

wildman_33 · 15 Apr 2014 at 15:43

My one did that too although not as badly. I only noticed when it would rock about on a desk. Apple replaced mine although I was still in warranty. Apparently its fairly common on the 5 and has something to do with heat.

sbi5ar · 15 Apr 2014 at 19:29

wildman_33 said:
My one did that too although not as badly. I only noticed when it would rock about on a desk. Apple replaced mine although I was still in warranty. Apparently its fairly common on the 5 and has something to do with heat.

If it is a fairly common and known problem then it would be covered under EU law for 2 years (I think... clarification need from others). I would have thought it was user related though so no warranty claim.

Invertigo · 16 Apr 2014 at 15:40

I'll be heading out to the Trafford Centre next week anyway, so I guess it cant hurt to make an appointment and see what they say. Seeing as it spends 99% of the time in a Hardshell case anyway, it isn't particularly an issue I guess!

Howard said:
Well I certainly don't believe you, so I don't think they will!

How on earth do you bend an iPhone?! Are you one of these people who puts it in their back pocket and sits on it?

Nope! Always in my front pocket, screen towards my leg and in a case, I'm genuinely confused as to how it occurred!

FishFluff · 16 Apr 2014 at 17:05

OP, I had the exact same problem on mine. Like you, I hadn't drop it, sat on it or anything like that. My personal theory is that it was due to the phone getting insanely warm when streaming video and charging at the same time and then putting it in my jeans packet when sat down.

Took mine to the Apple store and they replaced it without question as it was obvious that the phone hadn't been abused.