iPhone Air—its thinnest phone ever at about 5.6 mm thickness and weighing around 165 g—many tech fans immediately wondered: would it suffer another “Bendgate” like the iPhone 6 era? Apple claimed its new design, with a Grade-5 titanium frame and updated Ceramic Shield 2 front glass, met very high durability standards. 9to5Mac
The famous durability YouTuber JerryRigEverything (Zack Nelson) put those claims to the test. Here’s what he found—and what it means if you’re worried about bending your phone in daily life.
What Apple Says
Before independent testing, Apple demonstrated its own bend-and-stress tests:
Apple also emphasized that its internal durability metrics for bend strength are being “exceeded” by the iPhone Air. Its titanium band, structural reinforcements, and the new front shield are central to that. MacRumors
In official demonstrations, Apple applied ≈ 130 pounds (≈ 59 kg) of force on a mechanical rig bending the iPhone Air at its center. The device returned to its original flat shape with no lasting deformation. WIRED
iphone Air and The JerryRigEverything Bend Test
JerryRigEverything ran a more extreme version of the bend test, intended to find the breaking point of the device—what happens when you push far beyond what most users would ever do.
Below are the key observations:
| Test Phase | What Was Done | Results / Observations |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-bend / manual | Zack tried bending the iPhone Air manually (front/back) using his hands. | The frame flexed slightly, but returned perfectly to its original shape. No visible damage; phone continued working. Notebookcheck 2iPhone in Canada |
| Mechanical pressure with crane scale | He progressively increased force (using mechanical set-ups) to see at what weight / pressure the device fails. | Up to ≈ 216 pounds (~98 kg) of point force in the center before front glass cracked. Even then, back glass stayed intact, phone remained powered on. 9to5Mac 3Notebookcheck 3iPhone in Canada |
How It Performs
From these tests (Apple’s and JerryRigEverything’s), here’s what we can conclude:
The screen (Ceramic Shield 2) also resists scratching better than earlier versions. In scratch tests, it held up well at levels 6-7 on the Mohs scale before deeper grooves. Notebookcheck
The iPhone Air does bend under force, especially when significant pressure is applied in its weakest axis (center). But it does not fail catastrophically until quite high force.
Up to ~ 100-150 lbs of force, it’s largely safe: it flexes, but returns to shape. For pressures up to 216 lbs, damage begins—front glass cracks—but parts remain functional.
The titanium frame plays a big role: it gives both stiffness (resistance to bending) and some elasticity (allowing slight flex rather than snapping). Notebookcheck
Comparison: Real-World vs Extreme Tests
It’s important to separate what these tests show from what you might experience in everyday use.
Accidental abuse / extreme loads: heavy weights, intentional bending, stepping or sitting on it with pressure precisely applied to center—it may bend more, and possibly crack the screen. Such conditions are rare for typical users.
Everyday stresses: sitting while phone is in back pocket, bending when carried in tight spaces, minor flex from grip etc. In those cases, the iPhone Air is very likely to survive with little to no damage.
Does This Finally End “Bendgate” Fears?
Yes, to a large extent.
So for most users, worries about the phone bending under normal conditions can probably be put to rest—unless you regularly subject your phone to extreme force.
The original Bendgate controversy (iPhone 6 / 6 Plus) involved modest everyday uses, like sitting while phone is in a back pocket, which caused visible bending or frame deformation. MacRumors
With iPhone Air, both Apple’s internal tests and JerryRigEverything’s extreme testing show that bending under everyday pressures is very unlikely to lead to permanent damage.
Weak Points / Caveats
Even though the iPhone Air performs very well, there are still some limitations and warnings:
Use of protective accessories: Even strong phones benefit from a case or screen protector; glass is still glass.
Front glass: While the titanium frame holds up, the front glass cracked in tests above ~ 200 lbs. So glass remains a vulnerability under extreme stress.
Anti-reflective coatings: Some reviews (including JerryRigEverything’s) mention that while scratch resistance improved, the anti-reflection coatings are noticeable (glare) and not quite at “perfect” levels. Notebookcheck
Weight / thickness trade-offs: Its ultra-thin design sacrifices battery capacity somewhat compared to thicker phones, and it may feel more delicate when handled roughly (drops, twists etc.).
Summary
The iPhone Air passes one of the most brutal bend tests done so far for a modern smartphone. It flexes under pressure but returns to its original form up to very high force levels—much higher than you’d see in most accidental uses. It only finally fails when pushed past ~ 216 lbs of point pressure.
If you’re buying it, here’s what to keep in mind:
Be a bit more careful if you often place large weights or pressure directly on the phone (e.g. putting it under thick books, stepping on it accidentally, etc.).
You can confidently carry it without excessive fear of bending in everyday usage (back pockets, light satchel bags, etc.).
Still use a protective case or cover—just for drops, impacts, and protecting the screen.
References & Further Reading
“Watch the iPhone Air survive 130 pounds of pressure in extreme bend test” — Tom’s Guide Tom’s Guide
“The iPhone Air bends in JerryRigEverything’s test — but thankfully, it’s not ‘Bendgate 2.0’” — NotebookCheck Notebookcheck
“iPhone Air bend test affirms Apple’s claim of most durable iPhone ever” — 9to5Mac 9to5Mac
“iPhone Air Survives 175-Pound Bend Test, Ends Bendgate” — PCMag Gadget Hacks
Final Thoughts
The iPhone Air is a striking piece of engineering. Apple has clearly prioritized both aesthetics (thinness, lightness) and durability in this model—and the bend tests suggest that balance is more than just marketing.
Unless your usage involves extreme conditions, you’re unlikely to ever push the phone to its breaking point. The “Bendgate” fears are largely addressed. The iPhone Air seems designed for life—not just for the showroom.
