Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,493
37,783


Apple fans tend to accumulate old products in their homes, likely on a shelf or in a drawer collecting dust. Rather than letting Apple's history become junk items for dust collection, Grid Studio aims to turn them into artistic wall decoration.

iphone_3gs-iphone-5-1.jpg

Grid Studio, whose tagline is "Every classic deserves to be framed," takes Apple products and breaks them down component-by-component, placing them in gorgeously labeled, neat, and organized frames for your home or office that beautifully respect the devices' intricate designs.

Grid Studio offers a selection of older-generation iPhones, with the most prized being the limited-edition original iPhone. Grid Studio is only offering 999 of the original iPhones in its frame collection, and each frame comes with a special plaque that lets you know which unit out of the 999. In my case, I received the 197th frame.

first-iphone-1-min.jpeg

Each frame is labeled with the names of numerous components, but also other much-welcomed additions such as their dimensions. Additionally, while the frames come shipped with a transparent plastic cover, they can be removed, allowing you to touch the different components directly. If you do, however, be aware that the components inside are dust collectors and can be challenging to clean.

iphone-3gs-min.jpg

For this review, Grid Studio sent not only the first-generation iPhone but also the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, and the original Apple Watch. Besides each frame featuring a different device, they're very similar in design. Each one has the name of the device alongside a short paragraph explaining its introduction and history.

iphone4s-iphone-5.jpg

Every device in the collection is genuine, as is each part that's broken down, including the screen, logic board, speaker, and cameras. The lone exceptions are the batteries, which due to safety concerns are replicas. Beyond the level of detail within the frames themselves, Grid Studio also takes into account the packaging.

iphone-history-timeline.jpg

All of the packaging for the frames includes neat glyphs of iPhones, the original Mac, and the iPod. With the original iPhone frame, however, Grid Studio includes some extra special items. Most notably, the original iPhone frame comes with a printout timeline of the history of the iPhone, including 3D foldable images of Steve Jobs and the information for all current models. The quality of the printout is superb, with an excellent glossy finish.

Conclusion

What's certain is that Grid Studio took into account every possible detail, not only in deconstructing and framing a range of Apple's products but also in the experience from when your package first arrives. For anyone with love for Apple's products or who simply wants to put on display the evolution of products through the years for themselves or as a gift, Grid Studio without a doubt offers a terrific way to do just that.

How to Buy

On its website, Grid Studio offers frames for most of Apple's iPhones, including the iPhone X, first-generation iPhone SE, the iPhone 5S, iPhone 8, and more. Pricing varies depending on the significance and rarity of the devices. For example, the original iPhone frame retails for $599; however, as noted above, Grid Studio offers a limited supply of the original iPhone and it is currently listed as sold out.

Frames for other iPhone models are typically priced at $169 and up, although Grid Studio is currently running a sale. Apple Watch Series 0, as well as the iPod touch, are also available, as are an assortment of other smartphones and handheld gaming systems.

Article Link: Review: Grid Studio Turns Apple's History Into Beautiful Home Decoration
 
I want my OG Homepod framed, like that’s when my favourite Apple product ever. For people who just live and breathe Music, the appreciation for Audio stuff Apple puts out is like 👍. Gonna have to be a big frame tho, lol.
 
I received the 4S last year, in September. Still haven't found a place I'd like to display it, but it is pretty cool seeing all the parts.
 
seems a shame to destroy functional devices, but maybe they're no better remaining whole if they're just in a drawer
 
Well, this would put my OG iPhone to better use for sure, though my 4 or 4s might look cooler.
 
They are all pretty cool. The Blurb on them is awful and not needed. This is actually one of the better ones!

This iPhone is named “3GS” where “S” stood for Speed. It was released on June 19th, 2009. Within the first weekend of it’s release, over one million (1,000,000) units were sold.
 
Very interesting collectors pieces 👍. Wish they do this for all models instead of a select few iPhones.
 


Apple fans tend to accumulate old products in their homes, likely on a shelf or in a drawer collecting dust. Rather than letting Apple's history become junk items for dust collection, Grid Studio aims to turn them into artistic wall decoration.

iphone_3gs-iphone-5-1.jpg

Grid Studio, whose tagline is "Every classic deserves to be framed," takes Apple products and breaks them down component-by-component, placing them in gorgeously labeled, neat, and organized frames for your home or office that beautifully respect the devices' intricate designs.

Grid Studio offers a selection of older-generation iPhones, with the most prized being the limited-edition original iPhone. Grid Studio is only offering 999 of the original iPhones in its frame collection, and each frame comes with a special plaque that lets you know which unit out of the 999. In my case, I received the 197th frame.

first-iphone-1-min.jpeg

Each frame is labeled with the names of numerous components, but also other much-welcomed additions such as their dimensions. Additionally, while the frames come shipped with a transparent plastic cover, they can be removed, allowing you to touch the different components directly. If you do, however, be aware that the components inside are dust collectors and can be challenging to clean.

iphone-3gs-min.jpg

For this review, Grid Studio sent not only the first-generation iPhone but also the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, and the original Apple Watch. Besides each frame featuring a different device, they're very similar in design. Each one has the name of the device alongside a short paragraph explaining its introduction and history.

iphone4s-iphone-5.jpg

Every device in the collection is genuine, as is each part that's broken down, including the screen, logic board, speaker, and cameras. The lone exceptions are the batteries, which due to safety concerns are replicas. Beyond the level of detail within the frames themselves, Grid Studio also takes into account the packaging.

iphone-history-timeline.jpg

All of the packaging for the frames includes neat glyphs of iPhones, the original Mac, and the iPod. With the original iPhone frame, however, Grid Studio includes some extra special items. Most notably, the original iPhone frame comes with a printout timeline of the history of the iPhone, including 3D foldable images of Steve Jobs and the information for all current models. The quality of the printout is superb, with an excellent glossy finish.

Conclusion

What's certain is that Grid Studio took into account every possible detail, not only in deconstructing and framing a range of Apple's products but also in the experience from when your package first arrives. For anyone with love for Apple's products or who simply wants to put on display the evolution of products through the years for themselves or as a gift, Grid Studio without a doubt offers a terrific way to do just that.

How to Buy

On its website, Grid Studio offers frames for most of Apple's iPhones, including the iPhone X, first-generation iPhone SE, the iPhone 5S, iPhone 8, and more. Pricing varies depending on the significance and rarity of the devices. For example, the original iPhone frame retails for $599; however, as noted above, Grid Studio offers a limited supply of the original iPhone and it is currently listed as sold out.

Frames for other iPhone models are typically priced at $169 and up, although Grid Studio is currently running a sale. Apple Watch Series 0, as well as the iPod touch, are also available, as are an assortment of other smartphones and handheld gaming systems.

Article Link: Review: Grid Studio Turns Apple's History Into Beautiful Home Decoration

This is not “beautiful home decoration”. This is tech fetishism, and turning your home into a tech museum.
 
Interesting idea. I already have a bookcase where I display some of my old tech including an abacus I learned to use decades ago, and original polaroid cameras. It makes a great backdrop for zoom meetings. But I like the idea of taking apart old mobile phones. Maybe I will create a display with a bag phone.
 
After reading the opening paragraph, I thought it was going to be a kit that let you take your own old devices apart and frame them. That seems more useful and meaningful than buying someone else's old device.
 
After reading the opening paragraph, I thought it was going to be a kit that let you take your own old devices apart and frame them. That seems more useful and meaningful than buying someone else's old device.
Agreed. I'd buy one of these frames with the custom printed background for like $50 and then make it a project to pull apart my old devices... This just seems too pricy.
 
Agree with others: I thought I was going to be able to use my old items I have hanging around (several iPhones including a 3G, 6, 7-plus, X - and an original (series 0) Apple Watch) and ship it to them and have them put it in the frame (or buy the frame and do it myself).

It turns out that neither are possible... the only option is to buy a frame with a product already broken down in it (so you have to pay for that product too). Bummer.
 
Me in 2007: Buys iPhone for $599
Me in 2021: Buys iPhone for $399

This is really tempting…

I actually still have the original iPhone, original iPad, and original Apple Watch. They all still power up (well, at least as of last autumn when I last tried) so I'm hesitant to deconstruct them to make something like this, but maybe I will someday if their resale value never improves.

Although I will say that there's just something about holding the original iPhone that still gives me goosebumps. It takes me back to waiting in line on that blistering hot June 29, 2007 day and stepping inside the AT&T store where I first held it in my hands. All at once the future of computing sprung to life and felt real to me for the first time as I tapped and swiped at the smooth glass display. I'm not sure if I'll ever have a moment quite like that again in my lifetime where a new piece of tech just knocks the floor out from under me and shatters my pre-conceived notions.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.