In recent years, transparent designs have taken the technology world by storm. Devices like smartphones, earbuds, handheld gaming consoles, and even laptops are showcasing this trend—everyone seems to be on board except for Apple. Typical, right?
However, that hasn’t deterred daring enthusiasts with the right skills and tools from cracking open a high-end iPhone and transforming it into a transparent work of art. The latest endeavor comes from Phone Repair Guru, who has given the iPhone 16 Pro’s frosted glass back a clear upgrade.
Before diving into just how stunning the iPhone 16 looks with a transparent casing, a word of caution: the entire process is incredibly intricate. From disassembling the phone to delicately reattaching the clear shell to the exposed components, it’s no easy task.
Although it might appear as a simple swap-and-go project, it’s far more complex in reality. The glass backing of the iPhone houses several essential components, including the wireless charging coil.
The finished product—a transparent iPhone 16 Pro—would certainly catch any tech lover’s eye with its sleek makeover, complete with visible microphone elements, a MagSafe setup, and LED flash module.
The process begins with using a hot air jet to peel away the graphite paper, which already looks like a complicated step. The most challenging part involves detaching the wireless charging coil from the glass panel.
According to the video, removing it is not as straightforward as you might think. It demands a combination of heat, extra adhesive, and a MagSafe puck, all while being careful not to damage any wires. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this demanding aesthetic transformation.
The team behind this project subjected the rear glass panel of the iPhone to an acid bath for three days. Afterward, they sanded down the aluminum plate beneath the glass and applied Gallium—a silvery metal that stays liquid at room temperature—to weaken the aluminum cover enough to be cut away easily with a knife. This messy procedure requires a hot water bath to remove the residual substance, complete with some exciting gas bubble fizz.
The final stages involve some meticulous manual labor, where a sharp razor is used to strip paint from the glass shell akin to an artisan sculpting wood.
When the shell finally transforms into its clear form, the challenge wraps up with the careful reinstallation of components such as the charging coil and parts around the camera module. Impressively, everything functioned flawlessly once the daunting task was complete, and the outcome is absolutely mesmerizing.
If you’re tempted to try something similar with that old iPhone sitting in your drawer, think twice. Despite Apple’s efforts to make their devices more repair-friendly, the engineering intricacies still pose a significant challenge for the average DIYer.
Moreover, you might find yourself spending several hundred dollars just to acquire the necessary tools for this elaborate transformation. But if the allure of a transparent iPhone 16 Pro is burned into your memory, there are plenty of transparent skins available online, including some interesting choices from Dbrand.