Here’s a person who is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to get their hands on the iPhone Air.

      Zellzoi / Digital Trends

      The anticipated “iPhone Air” appears to be on its way, even though Apple is being typically reserved about discussing the device.

      Multiple leaks indicate that the iPhone Air, expected to launch this fall alongside the iPhone 17, will be a mere 5.5mm thick, making it Apple's slimmest phone to date.

      Given this, many are eager to see how the device performs in the rather unscientific bend test conducted by tech YouTuber Zack Nelson from the well-known JerryRigEverything channel.

      Whenever a high-profile smartphone is released, it isn't long before Nelson subjects it to a cringe-worthy stress test that includes scratching, scraping, burning, and ultimately bending.

      Over the years, at least five smartphones have failed Nelson’s infamous bend test, which simply involves him bending the device with his hands. Several models, such as the OnePlus 10 Pro, have snapped in half. Watching these tests is always painful.

      In 2023, Nelson was able to break the glass back of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. “You’ve been watching me test smartphone durability for about 11 years now, and most phones survive,” he commented at the time. “iPhones, in particular, rarely break … almost never.”

      While most people will likely never exert the same level of pressure on their phones—even inadvertently—one can bet that Apple has been diligently working to ensure that the Air avoids a repeat of the “bendgate” scandal that affected the iPhone 6 and the larger iPhone 6 Plus back in 2014.

      The problem was attributed to the device’s larger size and thinner aluminum frame, with vulnerable areas near the volume buttons and antenna lines causing the phone to bend, especially when placed in tight pockets.

      The tech giant is likely taking steps to make sure the iPhone 17 Air maintains its structural integrity despite its ultra-slim design, but we will need to wait for the phone's launch to fully understand how Apple has engineered it to face this challenge.

      Even so, it seems almost certain that the iPhone Air will not pass Nelson's tough test, and it may very well crack, crunch, or even splinter and shatter before breaking apart in his hands. On the other hand, perhaps we will be pleasantly surprised…

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