The new iPhone Air has arrived, and it is incredibly thin. At just 5.6 millimeters thick, it sets a new record for Apple. This slim design immediately brings a familiar worry to mind: the “bendgate” problem that plagued earlier models.
Many remember the uproar from 2014. That year, the iPhone 6 and especially the larger iPhone 6 Plus were prone to bending. Users often found their phone warped after simply sitting on it in a back pocket. The aluminum chassis in those devices was just too flexible.
Apple quickly said these bending issues affected only a few people. They called damage from normal use “extremely rare.” Still, the company made changes. Later iPhone generations featured much stronger aluminum to avoid repeating the problem. The iPhone 6 marked a big design change for Apple, introducing a much thinner profile at 6.9 millimeters. Now, with the iPhone Air being even thinner, worries about a repeat of “bendgate” are growing.
This time, Apple assures us they are prepared. They took every step to ensure this controversy does not repeat. During a recent interview, Apple’s head of marketing, Greg Joswiak, and head of hardware, John Ternus, invited journalists to try bending the iPhone Air. The journalists could not bend it.
John Ternus explained the science behind it. He said that with enough force, the device might bend slightly. However, its special chassis is designed to spring back to its original shape. This durability comes from the iPhone Air’s titanium frame. It uses 80% recycled titanium. This makes the iPhone Air stand out, as it is the only model in the 2025 iPhone lineup to feature this strong material. Other iPhone 17 models still use aluminum.
Apple’s overall plan for its new iPhones is clearly focused on making them tough. The iPhone Air also sports Ceramic Shield 2 on both the front and back. This protective coating is three times more resistant to scratches than the first version. For those waiting for a truly foldable Apple phone, expect to see that next year.