- YouTuber Linzin Hacked His iPhone Air With Some Nifty Mods
- The changes added a transparent back and a custom SIM card slot.
- But the procedure also resulted in some notable drawbacks.
Would you be tempted to buy a transparent version of Apple’s iPhone Air? You can’t get one from any official source, but one YouTuber has recently documented how a “dream collaboration” with enterprising engineers at China’s Huaqiangbei e-marketplace helped make it a reality, although it involved a lot of sacrifices.
The device was revealed by YouTuber Linzin, who had it custom-made by several of the resident merchants at the Huaqiangbei market. During the 22-minute video, Linzin explained how the paint was laser-stripped from the iPhone’s back cover and the internal thermal pads were removed, leaving only a transparent backplate. The iPhone was then reassembled with its new appearance.
This did not result in a non-functional device that was designed to look pretty. According to Linzin, the transparent iPhone Air could turn on, connect to a mobile network, and function more or less normally. However, it needed to be repaired later as the microphone ribbon had come loose, highlighting the risks of this type of unofficial phone surgery.
Despite that, the new iPhone Air provided a surprising glimpse of the device’s interior components in action. It’s unlikely Apple will ever release a device like this (unlike the iMac G3, the iPhone’s internals aren’t designed to be displayed in public), but it at least offers a fascinating glimpse into what’s possible if you’re the risk-taking type.
A risky procedure
Replacing the iPhone Air case with a clear alternative isn’t the only customization of Linzin’s phone. On top of that, they had a physical SIM card slot installed so that SIM cards could be added and removed manually.
By default, the iPhone Air lacks a SIM card slot and can only be used with eSIM. This wasn’t an attractive prospect for Linzin, who said they change phones so frequently that constantly registering new eSIMs is a hassle.
To install a SIM card slot, one of Huaqiangbei’s merchants removed the haptic motor from the iPhone Air and replaced it with a smaller vibration module and SIM holder. The process involved machine cutting the frame of the iPhone to accommodate a SIM card slot and then adding “custom wiring” that allowed the phone to connect to the SIM card.
If you’re feeling brave and want to try something like this yourself, you’ll have to make some sacrifices. In addition to the additional cost, creating a transparent case and adding a SIM card slot resulted in higher temperatures under load, the loss of the iPhone’s water resistance, weaker haptic response, and a decrease in the structural strength of the product. And of course, it also voided the iPhone Air’s warranty.
Still, it shows what can be achieved with a little knowledge and dedication. The end result had plenty of drawbacks, but it had a dramatic new look and handy SIM capabilities that you won’t get with any iPhone Air purchased directly from an Apple Store.
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