text: After the launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, several new owners complained that the slim aluminium phones bent out of shape after being placed in tight pockets. So to avoid another ‘bend gate,’ Apple is rumoured to be planning on using stronger materials to construct its next generation smartphone. The forthcoming phone could feature the same 7000 series aluminium as its forthcoming Apple Watch Sport edition, which is reportedly also used in competition bicycles. Scroll down for videos . And to avoid another ‘bend gate’ Apple is rumoured to be planning on using stronger materials to construct its next generation smartphone. This image shows a bent iPhone 6S . The material would make the next iPhone 60 per cent harder than the iPhone 6, Taiwan-based Economic Daily News reported. The metal is the same as that used to make professional sports bikes but has been altered by Apple to make it lighter, according to Cult of Mac. The forthcoming phone could feature the same 7000 series aluminium as its forthcoming Apple Watch Sport edition (pictured), which is reportedly also used in competition bicycles . The Apple Watch Sport has a lightweight anodised aluminium case. Apple used a new alloy of 7000 Series aluminium that's 60 per cent stronger than standard alloys. The same alloy is used to make racing bikes. The display is protected by strengthened Ion-X glass. Together, the materials make the Sport edition 30 per cent lighter than the other Apple Watch models. Apple polishes the aluminium used in its Sports watch then anodises it to using tint zirconia beads to create a hard and scratch-proof outer layer. ‘We believe this aluminium alloy sets a new standard both in the way it performs and the way it looks,’ Apple’s Senior Vice President of Design Jony Ive said previously. The next generation iPhones, which are expected to be called the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, are expected to be unveiled in September and may include a A9 chip and Force Touch Feature, which also features in the Apple Watch. It’s also possible that the Californian tech giant will release a four-inch version of the phone called the iPhone 6C. Days after the launch of the iPhone 6, owners revealed they can be bent out of shape when stowed in a pocket. The handset is made from a combination of 6000 series anodised aluminium and stainless steel with titanium inserts, Forbes reported. Apple polishes the aluminium used in its Sports watch then anodises it to using tint zirconia beads to create a hard and scratch-proof outer layer . Addressing ‘bend gate’ after the phone’s launch, Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said: 'With normal use, a bend in iPhone is extremely rare and through our first six days of sale, a total of nine customers have contacted Apple with a bent iPhone 6 Plus.' Tests showed that the phone bent out of shape under 100lbs of pressure - the same as the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. But accusations of unintentionally bendy handsets have dogged Apple since 2012, when some users claimed the iPhone 5 and later the iPhone 5S had a similar weakness. The reason for the bend is due to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus being made out of aluminium. Aluminium is a relatively soft metal and is fairly ductile and flexible so, if enough pressure is applied, it will bend and move. According to iMore, no part of either of the new iPhones has more than a quarter of an inch (0.64cm) of aluminium in any spot. This means that, in areas of the phones that are weakest, it’s possible it could be susceptible to bending. This is noticeable in images, with many of the bends occurring near the volume buttons and the SIM card slot. These areas have segments of the shell cut out to make room for the buttons and SIM card, so there is less aluminium - and they are more likely to bend. To stop the phone bending, users need to ensure that they do not put increased pressure on the middle of the phone. For example, do not have it sideways in a pocket, as your pocket will push it against your leg, possibly causing bending. Putting it in your back pocket could also have a similar effect, so storing it in a shirt pocket or bag might be a better option. Another option would be to make sure you have a case for the phone so that it can maintain its rigidity even when pressure is applied.
target: Rumours suggest Apple will used 7000 series aluminium in the next iPhone .
  Alloy is already used to make sports bikes and the Apple Watch Sport .
  Would make next handset 60 per cent stronger than the iPhone 6's case .
  Just days after its launch the handset was shown to be easily bent .