Apple said on Thursday it had received just nine complaints about bent iPhones since it released its newly enlarged smartphones last week, after facing an internet furore over claims that the design of its 6 Plus device was fundamentally flawed.

Its unrepentant response to what pundits have dubbed “bendgate” contrasts with its swift apology for the “great inconvenience” of Wednesday’s botched iPhone software update.

“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,” Apple said, highlighting the array of “rigorous” physical tests that each device is subjected to before it launched. “iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus meet or exceed all of our high quality standards to endure everyday, real life use,” it said.