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Ipod - anybody know what material is used for the back?

P

phonic pol

macrumors regular
Original poster
I'm curious, I just got an ipod photo for Christmas 🙂 I always assumed that it was metalised polycarbonate with the etching done behind a clear layer but on closer inspection it looks like polished stainless steel. Does anyone know for sure?

The more I use it the more I love it. It's an exquisite mix of design & materials.

Cheers
 
I don't know for sure, but the back is metal and acts like a heat spreader. I'd guess that it is polished aluminum because aluminum is a better heat conductor that steel.
 
How about polished titanium? I think the heat dissipation qualities of titanium are good, it's just more expensive than aluminium i.e. not used so often. I get the feeling that the metal is harder than aluminium because if you look around the hold button and head phone sockets there's evidence of the material warping slightly when the holes are punched - something that is much easier to avoid with softer aluminium.
 
The back of the iPod is aluminum which is electro-plated with chrome. The chrome is only a few microns thick, so the thing scratches rather easily. The etched part is actually etched down into the bare aluminum.

-Jason
 
bluemonkey said:
The back of the iPod is aluminum which is electro-plated with chrome. The chrome is only a few microns thick, so the thing scratches rather easily. The etched part is actually etched down into the bare aluminum.
Click to expand...

I think on the older models it's steel, but with the same chrome plating that scratches easily.
 
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