A brave YouTuber just modded their iPhone Air with a transparent case and built-in SIM card slot thanks to a 'dream collaboration' — but it isn't for the faint-hearted

• YouTuber Linzin hacked their iPhone Air with some ingenious modifications
• The changes added a transparent back and a custom SIM card slot
• But the procedure resulted in some notable drawbacks, too

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 in China’s Huaqiangbei electronics market helped to make it a reality – although it involved a heap of sacrifices.

The device was revealed by YouTuber Linzin, who had it custom-made at the Huaqiangbei market by several of the resident traders. During the 22-minute video, Linzin explained how the paint on the iPhone’s back cover was laser-stripped and its internal thermal pads removed, leaving just a clear back plate. The iPhone was then reassembled with its new look.

This didn’t result in a non-functional device that had been made to look pretty. According to Linzin, the transparent iPhone Air could be powered on, connected to a mobile network, and function more or less as normal. However, it did need to be repaired later on, as the microphone ribbon had come loose, highlighting the risks of this kind of unofficial phone surgery.

Despite that, the new-look iPhone Air provided a striking glimpse of the device’s interior components in action. It’s unlikely that Apple will ever release a device like this – unlike the iMac G3, the iPhone’s internals are not meant for public display – but at the very least it gives a fascinating insight into what’s possible if you’re the risk-taking type.

A risky procedure

Replacing the iPhone Air’s case with a transparent alternative is not the only customization to Linzin’s phone. As well as that, they had a physical SIM card slot installed so that SIM cards could be manually added and removed.

By default, the iPhone Air lacks a SIM card slot and can only be used with eSIMs. This wasn’t an attractive prospect to Linzin, who said that they change phones so frequently that constantly registering new eSIMs is a hassle.

In order to install a SIM card slot, one of Huaqiangbei’s traders removed the haptic engine from the iPhone Air and replaced it with both a smaller vibration module and a SIM holder. The process involved machine cutting the iPhone’s frame to accommodate a SIM card slot, then adding some “custom wiring” that enabled 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 a few sacrifices. Besides the additional cost, creating a transparent case and adding a SIM card slot resulted in hotter temperatures under load, the loss of the iPhone’s water resistance, weaker haptic feedback, and a decrease in the product’s structural strength. And, of course, it also voided the iPhone Air’s warranty.

Still, it goes to show what can be achieved with a little know-how and dedication. The end result had many drawbacks but possessed a dramatic new look and handy SIM capabilities that you won’t get from any iPhone Air bought directly from an Apple Store.

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