Apple Execs challenge interviewers to bend the iPhone Air

During an interview, senior Apple execs put the iPhone Air to the test by challenging people to bend it. This is how it went.

It's been just a couple of days since Apple launched the iPhone Air (yes, it's not iPhone 17 Air), and interesting stuff has started to float on the web. The iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone ever made, measuring 5.6mm, which might spark curiosity about its durability.

The strength of the iPhone Air was put to the test when Apple's head of worldwide marketing, Greg ‘Joz’ Joswiak, and head of hardware engineering, John Ternus, sat down for an interview with Tom's Guide.

According to Apple, the iPhone Air is thin and strong because of its grade 5 titanium frame and Ceramic Shield combination, complemented by the Ceramic Shield 2 on the front. Different components, such as the cameras, speaker, and Apple Silicon, live in the "camera plateau" to achieve a thin design, while the battery takes up most of the remaining space below it.

There came a point when the interviewers mentioned the iPhone 6/6 Plus and the infamous "Bendgate" controversy. When asked what measures Apple has taken to avoid similar mishaps with the Air, the senior executives echoed Apple's claims that its "design makes iPhone Air more durable than any previous iPhone."

Some drama unfolded, and to prove their point, Joswiak even threw an iPhone Air at one of the interviewers and challenged them to bend it. After the iPhone Air accidentally got tossed onto the side table, the interviewers took turns to bend the device and noted that "it bows, but it comes right back into shape."

"Sure, if you play enough load, you can get it to flex a little bit, but it goes right back," Ternus said.

"That's the idea. It's kind of like a seismic building, right? It's the idea that it should give a little and then come back," Joswiak added.

When asked how such a torque or flex could affect the battery of a device this thin, the Apple executives pointed out that a metal can is placed on top of the battery to make it a much stronger component.

iPhone Air will surely be put to the test in countless scenarios in the real world when it reaches the hands of customers. It will be up for pre-order in more than 63 countries and regions on September 12, starting at 5 am PDT. The device starts at $999 for the 256GB variant and maxes out at $1,399 for the 1TB variant. Speaking of which, Apple is charging $2,000 for its priciest iPhone right now.