Just like Apple Inc.'s iPhone 6 series, the freshly-revealed flagship phone from Samsung is also marred with a "bendgate" controversy.
Recently, an insurance company in the U.S. released a video showing a series of lab tests revealing that the brand new Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is susceptible to bending in a user's pocket. The video from the SquareTrade insurance company shows that the new flagship device from the South Korean mobile phone and consumer electronics manufacturer can get deformed and incur a crack on its screen with a 110 pound weight. It will also reach its breaking point once a 149 pound weight pushes it to its catastrophic failure. This can also cause it to stop working completely.
The insurance company also compared its deformation and breaking point to other flagship phones in the market, including the HTC One M9 that can be deformed and broken at 120 pounds, as well as the iPhone 6 Plus' 110 pounds limit.
"Last fall's Bendgate caught many by surprise, but as manufacturers strive for larger screens on thinner devices, they can be more susceptible to bending or snapping. SquareTrade Labs' tests reveal that while the iPhone 6 Plus bends, the Galaxy S6 edge cracks under pressure. The new BendBot lets people know the potential for these devices to break – before they buy them," warns SquareTrade vice president of global communications Jessica Hoffman.
But the South Korean tech giant answered the allegations of a bendable device by posting an official statement, saying, "All our devices are put rigorous high-quality validation tests before they are delivered to consumers. These tests include various conditions, such as dropping, bending, and breakage. And we are confident that all our smartphones are not bendable under daily usage."
Along with the statement is a video that highlights the company's own stress test for both its regular S6 and S6 Edge varieties. Based on the video, the products can stand 82 pounds of force at different angles. The company also expressed its confidence that their new flagship product will not break under normal conditions.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 will start shipping in stores on April 10.
