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My TIGHT PANTS made my HUGE iPHONE go all BENDY!

Twisty whoppers pop out of snug bottoms

Apple's new embiggened iPhone 6 Plus has been snapped up by buyers for, among other things, its thin case and its 5.5-inch touchscreen.

But Apple didn't mention that it also appears to be the company's most flexible handset – whether you like it or not.

A handful of early adopters have reported that after carrying the phablet around in a pocket, their iPhone 6 Plus has become slightly bent. The pictures were posted to the MacRumors forums and later joined by images from other blogs. The condition was then replicated in a video test.

According to peeps, the devices get slightly warped after being carried around in a front pocket. One owner said his phone became bent after attending a wedding that involved sitting, standing and dancing. The phones do not break or become unusable, but do have a noticeable bend.

Youtube Video

The problem, as many have noted, is likely due to the combination of a larger screen size and thin aluminum casing which work together to make the iPhone 6 Plus more prone to stress and bending when placed in tight spaces such as pants pockets. One solution would be to not pocket your phone when wearing tight trousers or, if you carry a bag, to place the phablet there instead of your pocket.

On the other hand, we might suggest that a phone which can't be carried in one's pocket hardly qualifies as a mobile phone at all in this day and age.

Meanwhile, a report from supply chain analysts at IHS suggests that Cupertino is reaping an even better profit than usual from its 5.5in iPhone. The company said that while the 6 Plus carries an additional $100 retail price over the iPhone 6, it costs the company just $15.50 more to manufacture.

The higher price, say analysts, allows Apple to collect a premium on the phablet handset and improve margins - although it always bears noting that cost of manufacturing estimates don't include R&D costs around building the larger device.

"Apple has always been adept at offering higher-end iPhone models with enhanced, desirable features—and then pricing those versions for maximum profitability,” IHS senior director for cost benchmarking services Andrew Rassweiler said.

"In the past, the premium versions of iPhone offered higher memory configurations for additional profit. While Apple continues this memory strategy, the company is also taking a similar approach with the iPhone Plus, structuring its pricing to add bottom-line profit on models that have a very desirable feature: a large phablet-sized display." ®

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