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baconcheezdelux

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 29, 2011
7
0
Had a broken glass backplate and replaced it with a brushed aluminum back. Got it in on ebay for maybe 7 bucks I think. Fits perfectly and looks pretty nice. Super easy to install. Sorry about the blurry pics.

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Here's the seller I got it from:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310308207969

Obviously aftermarket, but looks great, and has metal legs to screw into, not plastic. My phone had the #00 Phillips screws, not the pentalobe, so it took maybe 5 minutes.

Shipped from Hong Kong in a sturdy Styrofoam container, arrived in less than two weeks.

Thanks!

Do you think this is the same one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Silver-Back-C...asesPouches&hash=item415847d96d#ht_1794wt_907
 
Yes, it sure looks the same. It has the same metal legs to screw into and the plastic clips that hold it in place. For an non-Apple part, it really fits nicely and looks good.
 
ordered one of these a few months ago and within a month the lettering on the back starts wearing off and it looks like crap.

Also it bulks up the phone a few mm.

I went back to the glass plate b/c it looks so much sleeker.
 
Don't see it adding any bulk myself. Same as the glass.

Lettering wearing off? A tragedy. 7 bucks? What do you want? Perfection?

Camera and flash work fine. Can't tell a diff between my black glass back and this phone.
 
There are two types available. The ones that add bulk are the bevel or convex backs. Get the regular or flat backs and they won't add bulk.

None of the metal backs on eBay or elsewhere have the flash diffuser. I've tried a couple of different ones and have the washout problem with flash :(
 
Do you have any issue when taking photos with flash on with the new back housing?

I read that it will only properly works with diffuser.... (the flash) and the problem is the cheap casing from ebay doesn't have any diffuser.
 
I hadn't noticed. Took several pictures with the new back on, with and without the flash, but didn't compare to my other phone.

I have a black back OEM iP4 and this one (my girlfriend's). I'll take some pics with both of the same object in the same lighting with the flash and post some comparisons.
 
Do you have any issue when taking photos with flash on with the new back housing?

I read that it will only properly works with diffuser.... (the flash) and the problem is the cheap casing from ebay doesn't have any diffuser.

Yes, there is no diffuser in the metal backs sold on ebay. Hence, I do get a washout effect with flash.
 
Don't see it adding any bulk myself. Same as the glass.

Lettering wearing off? A tragedy. 7 bucks? What do you want? Perfection?

Camera and flash work fine. Can't tell a diff between my black glass back and this phone.

7/month X 24 months = $168 for a typical two yr contract.

and the pictures are definitely not the same. take a pic in low light setting and you will see a huge difference.
 
7/month X 24 months = $168 for a typical two yr contract.

That's not the point. The point is that when you buy a replacement (non-OEM) part for $7 you have to have a reasonable expectation of quality.

But even if you do replace the aluminum back every month if the lettering starts to wear off you've still spent less than having Apple replace the glass back (which costs $199 I believe).
 
That's not the point. The point is that when you buy a replacement (non-OEM) part for $7 you have to have a reasonable expectation of quality.

But even if you do replace the aluminum back every month if the lettering starts to wear off you've still spent less than having Apple replace the glass back (which costs $199 I believe).

apple charges $29 to replace the back glass.

i guess we have different expectations for reasonable quality. If I purchase a 25 cent piece of brushed-aluminum-look piece of plastic for $7 I expect it to last longer then 20 some odd days.
 
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