Review: GRID Studio iPod and iPad Mini Offer Nostalgic Apple Wall Art [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Update: GRID Studio is aware of the mislabelled 30-pin connector, a defect with a limited number of first-batch frames, and has since corrected its design.


GRID Studio is known for offering wall art showcasing vintage devices that are an important part of Apple's history. Each device is disassembled and the components are artistically displayed in a frame that can be hung on the wall of any Apple fan.

The fourth-generation iPod Classic and first-generation iPad mini are among the newest additions to GRID's lineup of devices, selling for $499 and $249, respectively. Prices for GRID's pieces start at $40 for an A-series chip and go up to $400 for the original iPhone, but there are all kinds of options priced at around the $200 mark.

GRID's frames come well-packaged to protect them in transit and are enclosed in thick black paper, finished with a ribbon and a wax seal to make the device within feel truly special. While GRID's products come impressively packaged, I'd warn customers about getting paper cuts from the packaging – something that has happened to me repeatedly when opening multiple GRID frames.

The black wooden frames GRID uses contrast well with the white card upon which the device components are glued and go relatively easily with most interior designs. Unfortunately, the black frames seem to immediately attract quite a lot of fingerprints and dust, but they are mostly easy enough to remove with a damp cloth.

The frame contains a pane of transparent plastic rather than glass. I would have preferred glass, but it doesn't negatively affect displaying the device at all. To remove the film protecting the clear plastic, you need to open the frame from behind. This also enables you to wipe away any excess fingerprints or dust from inside the frame or the components.

The fourth-generation iPod is GRID's first display of a "classic" iPod with a Click Wheel, making it a particularly iconic piece for Apple enthusiasts. Announced in 2004, the fourth-generation iPod replaced the touch wheel from the third-generation iPod with the Click Wheel from the iPod Mini, placing the four buttons below a touch-sensitive scroll wheel, and introduced a slimmer casing. The 20GB model in the frame originally sold for $299.

Like GRID's other displays, the disassembled iPod's components are methodically laid out inside the frame, with printed details to highlight different aspects, such as a printed image below the iPod's display to give a 3D effect and show what it would have looked like in use. Annotations explain what each of the components are, a bit of the device's history, and provide a quote from Steve Jobs.

The first-generation iPad mini is GRID's first iPad display. The first iPad mini was introduced in 2012, featuring similar specifications to the iPad 2, including its display resolution, for a starting price of $329. The iPad mini takes up a lot of space inside the frame, but I'm pleased that all of GRID's frames are the same size for consistency.

The devices do have some wear and tear in places due to their age and because they are used. Nevertheless, they are more than adequate for display and it is clear that GRID has selected devices with only minimal wear. For my frames, the polished, mirror finish of the iPod, its internal hard drive, and the immaculate display of the iPad mini look particularly good and emphasize the devices at their best.

All in all, the fourth-generation iPod and first-generation iPad mini are great additions to GRID's product lineup. With attention to detail and plenty of nice touches to make the device feel special, GRID's frames are the perfect items for any Apple fan looking to bring some of the company's iconic designs into their home in a thoughtful way.

How to Buy

GRID Studio's products are available from its website, gridstudio.cc. The GRID Studio iPod Classic and iPad mini are currently $100 off.

• GRID Studio iPod Classic (fourth-generation) – $499 $399
• GRID Studio iPad mini (first-generation) – $249 $199

Note: GRID Studio provided MacRumors with a framed iPod Classic (fourth-generation) and iPad mini (first-generation) for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Article Link: Review: GRID Studio iPod and iPad Mini Offer Nostalgic Apple Wall Art [Updated]

 

[Ateam043]

I have their iphone 4 display and it's very nice! That said, these wall arts are a bit on the pricey side.

 

[jav6454]

the iPod is more memorable given it was what, in a sense, saved Apple financially and led them down the R&D path to the iPhone.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I love GRID Studio and what they do.

They need to showcase the Macbook Pro butterfly keyboard. Would love to see all the details in that.

MacBook Pro / Air Butterfly Keyboard Issues (Repeating, Stuck, Unresponsive)

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www.macrumors.com

 

[1557750]

This is really cool. I probably wouldn’t dish out the money for it, but admire it from an artistic side.

 

[jellyw00t]

GRID has a cool idea, but, at the prices they charge, they should really have someone who knows what they are doing label the components. They have the iPod's 30-Pin connector labeled as lightning. I've seen issues on other products of theirs too (such as saying the original iPhone has a flash).

 

[sugargliderdude]

The 30pin is labeled as lighting port on the iPod LOL, secondly, i have bought twice from this company, one had a dirty finger print on one and black bits all over it, second one arrived and had black bits all over it, i complained, they said the black bits are from the frame, its a design fault, yet here they are, still selling the same frame...

 

[lazyrighteye]

I have their Grid1 and can attest: their packaging and overall presentation is tops.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

GRID Studio is known for offering wall art showcasing vintage devices that are an important part of Apple's history. Each device is disassembled and the components are artistically displayed in a frame that can be hung on the wall of any Apple fan.

The fourth-generation iPod Classic and first-generation iPad mini are among the newest additions to GRID's lineup of devices, selling for $499 and $249, respectively. Prices for GRID's pieces start at $40 for an A-series chip and go up to $400 for the original iPhone, but there are all kinds of options priced at around the $200 mark.

GRID's frames come well-packaged to protect them in transit and are enclosed in thick black paper, finished with a ribbon and a wax seal to make the device within feel truly special. While GRID's products come impressively packaged, I'd warn customers about getting paper cuts from the packaging – something that has happened to me repeatedly when opening multiple GRID frames.

The black wooden frames GRID uses contrast well with the white card upon which the device components are glued and go relatively easily with most interior designs. Unfortunately, the black frames seem to immediately attract quite a lot of fingerprints and dust, but they are mostly easy enough to remove with a damp cloth.

The frame contains a pane of transparent plastic rather than glass. I would have preferred glass, but it doesn't negatively affect displaying the device at all. To remove the film protecting the clear plastic, you need to open the frame from behind. This also enables you to wipe away any excess fingerprints or dust from inside the frame or the components.

The fourth-generation iPod is GRID's first display of a "classic" iPod with a Click Wheel, making it a particularly iconic piece for Apple enthusiasts. Announced in 2004, the fourth-generation iPod replaced the touch wheel from the third-generation iPod with the Click Wheel from the iPod Mini, placing the four buttons below a touch-sensitive scroll wheel, and introduced a slimmer casing. The 20GB model in the frame originally sold for $299.

Like GRID's other displays, the disassembled iPod's components are methodically laid out inside the frame, with printed details to highlight different aspects, such as a printed image below the iPod's display to give a 3D effect and show what it would have looked like in use. Annotations explain what each of the components are, a bit of the device's history, and provide a quote from Steve Jobs.

The first-generation iPad mini is GRID's first iPad display. The first iPad mini was introduced in 2012, featuring similar specifications to the iPad 2, including its display resolution, for a starting price of $329. The iPad mini takes up a lot of space inside the frame, but I'm pleased that all of GRID's frames are the same size for consistency.

The devices do have some wear and tear in places due to their age and because they are used. Nevertheless, they are more than adequate for display and it is clear that GRID has selected devices with only minimal wear. For my frames, the polished, mirror finish of the iPod, its internal hard drive, and the immaculate display of the iPad mini look particularly good and emphasize the devices at their best.

All in all, the fourth-generation iPod and first-generation iPad mini are great additions to GRID's product lineup. With attention to detail and plenty of nice touches to make the device feel special, GRID's frames are the perfect items for any Apple fan looking to bring some of the company's iconic designs into their home in a thoughtful way.

How to Buy

GRID Studio's products are available from its website, gridstudio.cc. The GRID Studio iPod Classic and iPad mini are currently $100 off.

• GRID Studio iPod Classic (fourth-generation) – $499 $399
• GRID Studio iPad mini (first-generation) – $249 $199

Note: GRID Studio provided MacRumors with a framed iPod Classic (fourth-generation) and iPad mini (first-generation) for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Article Link: Review: GRID Studio iPod and iPad Mini Offer Nostalgic Apple Wall Art

It looks like they do an awesome job of memorializing the products. I know I loved my iPad Mini. It was perfect for traveling and reading in bed. So perfect. I pretty much stuffed my iPad in a drawer and forgot about it, giving it to a friend's parents (in their 80's) to use. It was just, for me, the perfect companion. Memorializing it like that is awesome. I sometimes wonder where it ended up. *shrug* Good times... Traveling, ripping through books, etc...

 

[roland.g]

Like others have said, their frame isn't the best for the price you pay. I was a little disappointed in the quality or my iPhone 3G frame considering what I paid. The acrylic "glass" had a scuff. Though inside it looks nice. And to call the 30 pin connector a Lightning Port is wrong. Not to mention I don't believe Apple ever called the center button a Home button, but I could be wrong. At $400 or $500 for this item, I would expect them to do better there. I believe the cost comes from the sourcing of these devices as older devices are more difficult to obtain. The iPod is tempting but I'm pretty sure I can think of better ways to spend $400, especially since I already have one of their displays.

 

[DanteHicks79]

Lolol the iPod one costs what my actual, working iPod did new...

 

[ghanwani]

Not my taste to rip out the guts and put it on display.

 

[macduke]

How did MacRumors miss that they labeled a 30-pin connector as a Lightning port? That's a huge oversight, lol. Not very good quality, eh? I noticed it immediately just glancing through photos, and yet this somehow got through approval at this company?

 

[minik]

I recently bought the iPhone 4S wall art, it's great for what it is.

 

[stiligFox]

Not to be that guy but.... to be that guy, that's a 4th Generation iPod not a Classic. Which I mean, they do make a note of on the display... but still!

That said. I'd love to have one of these. I'm hoping they take broken units to do this with. I have a couple broken ones that are beyond repair... I might try my hand at making one sometime.

 

[a.phoenicis]

GRID has a cool idea, but, at the prices they charge, they should really have someone who knows what they are doing label the components. They have the iPod's 30-Pin connector labeled as lightning. I've seen issues on other products of theirs too (such as saying the original iPhone has a flash).

They also need someone who knows how to frame. Those are far too small and crowded for the contents. Something like that needs a good 2” of matting.

 

[stiligFox]

They also need someone who knows how to frame. Those are far too small and crowded for the contents. Something like that needs a good 2” of matting.

Agreed! They don't have any room to breath. They would look better if laid out as if though transposed over a blueprint schematic, or something like that - and those always have large margins all around.

 

[BellSystem]

How did MacRumors miss that they labeled a 30-pin connector as a Lightning port? That's a huge oversight, lol. Not very good quality, eh? I noticed it immediately just glancing through photos, and yet this somehow got through approval at this company?

They didn't pay for it, it was a review sample provided by the company (as indicated in the bottom). Probably got $ for the story...not the first time I've seen this mentioned by them. Just another paid product placement story. I would not pay that kind of money for ewaste. Nothing seems like its the best quality, especially reading some non-paid reviews around the net.

 

[Ashbash75]

Only thing missing is the bugs in the frame 🤣

 

[bobmepp]

I like Apple products, past and present, but not THAT much.

 

[MarkC426]

I wonder if they offer a discount, if I send them my 'fully functional' iPod classic......🤔
Recently boxed back up for storage.

 

[lazyrighteye]

I talked with their customer service, asking them if they could take my original launch day iPod (not the click wheel shown here), which I have disassembled, and do their thing. They can not. Making my own would not be that difficult - and maybe even fun. Plus, I'd save some legit $$$ doing so. While I do own the Grid1, I also think the prices they fetch are ridiculous. I am slightly sheepish at what I paid for mine. We won't talk about that. 😜

 

[Cameront9]

What in the world is that rainbow logo sticker on the iPod board? That's not stock.

I like the look of these, but the prices are nuts and the inaccuracies in the iPod labels seen in the photos above give me serious doubts about the company.

 

[chr1s60]

I own one of the iPhone 4 GRID pieces. It's nice and it's certainly a conversation starter but definitely overpriced for the quality of the frame and whatnot. I'd say they are easily $100-200 over what they should be.

 

[SuperCachetes]

GRID has a cool idea, but, at the prices they charge, they should really have someone who knows what they are doing label the components. They have the iPod's 30-Pin connector labeled as lightning. I've seen issues on other products of theirs too (such as saying the original iPhone has a flash).

I agree that it is a very cool idea; but they have executed it extremely superficially from a technical standpoint. Mislabeling the port that every single user would've interacted and been intimately familiar with is pretty much unforgivable. To me, it seems like a lot of educational or technically-fascinating potential is just squandered here. If it's just "art" (which I think it is), then as others have said, the framing mat and materials are all wrong. Sigh.