iPhone 6 and 6 Plus bending: Apple claims only nine complaints of 'bent phones'

Customers claimed their iPhone 6 Plus handsets had bent in their pockets

An Apple iPhone 6 stands on display at the Apple Store (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Apple has responded to reports from disgruntled iPhone 6 Plus users that their new smartphones bent just from being carried in their pockets, by claiming that only nine customers have officially complained.

As ‘bendgate’ reports spread online this week, one user released a video showing them bending the iPhone 6 Plus using their bare hands.

It is thought that the issue is simply because the 6 Plus is so much larger and thinner than previous phones, that the aluminum case simply doesn't have enough strength proportional to its length.

“Through our first six days of sale, a total of nine customers have contacted Apple with a bent iPhone 6 Plus,” Apple told tech website Re/code.

“With normal use a bend in iPhone is extremely rare,” Apple told the Wall Street Journal.

It also told CNBC, that “the new iPhones feature steel/titanium inserts to reinforce stress locations and use the strongest glass in the industry.”

But amid the debacle, Apple's stock fell nearly 3 percent on Thursday.

Apple’s quick and extensive response to the situation is unusual for a company which often seems to ignores complaints and waits before commenting on criticism.