The New iPad Pro May Bend Under Pressure, But This Isn’t ‘Bendgate 2’

This probably goes without saying, but you should try to avoid bending your new iPad Pro. A new video by a popular YouTuber demonstrates why.

JerryRigEverything’s Zach Nelson has conducted his usual routine of damage testing of the new 2018 iPad Pro. He scratches the tablet, burns the display, and subjects it to other forms of arguably unnecessary device-violence to test its durability.

The video culminated in Nelson’s signature bend test. Unsurprisingly, the YouTuber was able to bend and destroy the new iPad Pro without much exertion or force.

But to call that a startling revelation is probably a stretch. The new iPad Pro is an extremely thin piece of metal, glass, and plastic. It’s going to bend — and possibly be irreparably destroyed — if you intentionally put pressure on it.

While there are justifiable concerns with the new iPad Pro’s durability, they aren’t specific to the new Apple tablets. All tablets are prone to bends since they’re larger and have more surface area than smartphones. That’s especially true as tablets have gotten thinner over the years.

Because of that, users should take obvious precautions. If you carry the iPad Pro in a backpack or other bag, make sure that it’s positioned in a way that won’t put too much pressure on it. Similarly, you should avoid keeping it on a couch or seat where it might be sat on.

On the other hand, Nelson’s conclusion that the new iPad Pro has a design flaw or hasn’t undergone rigorous testing likely isn’t entirely accurate. Again: it’s a large, thin piece of metal and glass. It’s going to break if bent.

In other words, the results of the video are pretty obvious. This video probably isn’t going to spawn a new “Bendgate” controversy. And if it does, it’ll undoubtedly be fairly unfounded.

Smartphones, being fairly rigid devices that are often carried in a pocket, should undoubtedly be fairly resistant to bending. But a tablet doesn’t need to meet that requirement. As Nelson points out in the video, you aren’t going to keep your new iPad Pro in your back pocket.

The iPad Pro is a thin but expensive device — and users should treat it as such. If you’re particularly concerned about its durability, buy a case or keyboard cover and take care of it.