#Bendgate: Samsung & Other Phone Brands Poke Fun At iPhone 6 Bendgate; Consumers Wary Of Flexible Apple Flagship, While Apple Shares Drops 3%

It took 9 bending complaints to steal the thunder from the successful launch of Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus which saw 10 million orders in 24 hours. Now, the pliant flagship seems to be the "laughing stock" of the smartphone world as rival gadget makers poke fun at the flexible device.

Read:

Results Of Torture Tests Indicate iPhone 6 Is More Durable Now

iPhone 6 Bends When Owner Sits Down

Leading the jeerers is Seoul-based Samsung which released a mock-up ad material for its Galaxy Note 3 showing a straight and bent smartphone with the line "Bend to those who are worthy."

Another promotional material for the Galaxy Note Edge, which features a curved edge phone, also teases with its descriptor "Curved. Not bent."

A lot of readers of the Web site Uproxx.com found the Samsung adverts funny and hilarious. Patant Consultants commented: "I love the headlines on this article. Cool, hip and catchy ... and so appropriate. The kind that gets people clicking."

However, some readers - presumably Apple fans - retorted by hitting the Note 3 which has a stylus. Rob Smithson wrote: "I need a phone with an F-ing stylus about as bad as a landline phone." Iron Mike Sharpie added, "I remember having Palm way back in 2000 that had a stylus and thinking, wow, this is so cool. 14 years ago."

Other telcos also rode on the #bendgate phenomenon.

LG, another South Korean phonemaker also created an ad featuring five smartphones lying on its side in a semi-circular arrangement, with the caption: "Our phone doesn't ben, it flexes on purpose."

HTC did not need images, just these words to make a jab: "Designed to withstand the most demanding environments. Like your pockets."

Chocolate-maker Kitkat, which is used by Android as the name of its OS originally named Key Lime Pie, showed a chocolate bar cut in half and the words "We don't bend, we #break."

Other brands that joined the Apple bashing are beer maker Heineken, gum manufacturer Chex Mix, confectioner Slim Jim and fastfood Whataburger.

Read: Report Of Bending iPhone 6 Leads To Spoof Page; Device Loses To Galaxy Note 3 In Bend Test

While only 9 complaints have been received by the Cupertino-based tech giant, the negative publicity generated by bendgate could spoil the successful launch of the flagship as news of bending phones had some buyers having second thoughts about buying the "soft-bodied" device.

Read: Apple To Replace Bent iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus

However, it is not just the bendable body that turns of iPhone 6 buyers. Jay Yarow, in a Business Insider article, shared his frustration over the very large screen of the iPhone 6 Plus that he is considering returning the unit.

Yarow gave himself a week to adjust further to his big device as he shared further, "The problem for me and perhaps for anyone who buys the 6 Plus, is more mental than physical. In my head, this is an 'iPhone,' and so I expect it to behave like an iPhone. But in reality, it is something totally different."

Reflecting the sentiments of a number of iPhone 6 owners still adjusting to their latest toy, Yarow concluded, "The big screen is gorgeous, but after 12 hours with it, I'm not sure it's worth the trade-off of a truly easy-to-use little mobile phone."

Even the financial world has reacted to bendgate with a 3 per cent drop in Apple shares on Thursday morning when the images of the bending phone became viral on social media. Apple's defense that it has received only 9 complaints of bending phones didn't help as shares of the company closed on Thursday night down by 4 per cent.

YouTube/robin show