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Thats fugly, it looks cheaper than the black glass back plate.

It's arguable whether it looks better then a stock back, but it does look a lot better then any case. Many people want to do this mod in light of the high damage rate of the IP4 (see MR front page).

The beveled backs remind me of the Zune style cues, while the flat back hearkens back to the iPhone 2G
 
I don't think it looks bad but it would have been better if the camera and diffuser was the same as the original part. It's better for me than putting on a bulky case and taking away the look of the iPhone.

The flat one looks better than the beveled edge for me because it's closer to the original design. I will be buying one of these next week just to see how it looks for myself.
 
Here are some pictures from the beveled one , I ordered from the ebay and after few days I can say it doesn't effect the signal at all.
link link link link


I dunno about you but I have the same kind of back and it does effect signal. I work in an office building and some areas it shows 1 bar or no service, or would hop between edge and 3g. Heres some pics to show the difference, first one is glass back with black bumper and second one is beveled back with black bumper.

um222.jpg


Ikx75.jpg
 
I got the beveled one from cnn.cn, a few thoughts:

Overall it looks nice and gives the phone a unique look; however, in my opinion it makes the phone feel cheaper than with the stock glass back. Not sure why, but the phone just feels better to me with the original back.

The screw holes are plastic compared to the metal ones ont he stock back, I was never really able to get them tight, which resulted in the screws falling out eventually. Now that I've lost them, the back slides off easy, which is annoying.

In most instance the camera doesn't appear to be effected; however, in some cases, because of the distance between the lens and the cover, you can notice dark circular corners on the edges.

As far as reception, its hard tell because reception is always pretty good in orlando, but it seems like there is a drop of at least a bar, sometimes two.

After using it on and off for about a week, I'm going back to stock, though I'll have to find some replacement screws :/
 
I got the beveled one from cnn.cn, a few thoughts:

Overall it looks nice and gives the phone a unique look; however, in my opinion it makes the phone feel cheaper than with the stock glass back. Not sure why, but the phone just feels better to me with the original back.

The screw holes are plastic compared to the metal ones ont he stock back, I was never really able to get them tight, which resulted in the screws falling out eventually. Now that I've lost them, the back slides off easy, which is annoying.

In most instance the camera doesn't appear to be effected; however, in some cases, because of the distance between the lens and the cover, you can notice dark circular corners on the edges.

As far as reception, its hard tell because reception is always pretty good in orlando, but it seems like there is a drop of at least a bar, sometimes two.

After using it on and off for about a week, I'm going back to stock, though I'll have to find some replacement screws :/



lol I'm in orlando too. Most of orlando I get full to 4 bars but with the metal back it drops it to about 3.
 
@Sam you can get some iphone4 screws on eBay just search for them!!

Yeah, I know... Waste time/money though, if this product was manufactured correctly it wouldn't be an issue. Also, something I forgot to mention, the glue that holds the metal back onto the plastic isnt very strong, its starting to at the top left corner.
 
looks quite unique but there's no way in hell I am going to sacrifice functions (camera / reception) for subjective aesthetic.
 
looks quite unique but there's no way in hell I am going to sacrifice functions (camera / reception) for subjective aesthetic.

What functions of the camera are you sacrificing? what functions of reception?

None. Seriously people? I've taken over 40 pictures in different lighting since having this on and no diminished quality. If anyone is to say these diminish reception I will call shenanigans in a heartbeat.
 
^^^Are you saying that Camera and Reception are unaffected and is comparable to the OEM Glass plate?

If this is the case...I'll definitely reconsider ordering this back plate as I prefer the iphone naked....

However, there's been other users in this thread stating that Camera and Reception are affected.

Going to wait for more user review before I order....
 
What functions of the camera are you sacrificing? what functions of reception?

None. Seriously people? I've taken over 40 pictures in different lighting since having this on and no diminished quality. If anyone is to say these diminish reception I will call shenanigans in a heartbeat.

reception- no issues noted during the past 3 weeks.
picture quality- this attached picture of a picture was taken with my ip4 with the new back. the picture is from 1973. Looks dam good to me.

outside/inside pictures seem to be just as good
 

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I have a total of 4 backs. 1 from cnn.cn and 3 from an ebay reseller.

all 4 seem to be of the same build/material. The cnn.cn came with screen protectors and packaged in a box and had 2 pink and white stickers on the plastic parts.
i have a red one which looks sharp with a bumper but with out I hate it as it has a white plastic border.
the black and silver ones look awesome with or without a bumper as they have a black border.

My colleague was expecting his bevelled one today but somehow it was in boston last night and in Atlanta this after noon. He lives in boston. lol
 
Got mine today

My brushed aluminum iPhone 4 back came in today. It was super easy to install and was a direct replacememt. It looks great also. It takes on the look of newer Apple products like macbook pro,iPad etc. with the brushed aluminum. This is a Simple and great product that will make your iPhone 4 stand out in the crowd while making it less likely to shatter some glass
 
Great that people are receiving these babies. Can we get some more feedback on how they affect the camera/reception?!
 
Same here I ordered mine the 18th and was told on the 27th that the ordered had been back ordered and that my order could be sent the next day. Next still nothing so I emailed to see what happen, but no reply. So I canceled the order haven't received an refund yet. I just think they didn't expect the response they initially received. I'll order one later.


Doesn't look good to me. Why not just stick a metal skin on the back of your phone if that is the look you are going for?
 
aluminum back issue

I installed the aluminum back on my iPhone 4, it looks and feels awesome. Reminds me of a mini iPad. Anyway I was just messing around with my cases 2 in particular, the otterbox defender and the incase slider. These cases WILL NOT fit with the replacement from cnn.cn in Hong Kong which is where I got mine from. I have no issues at all with naked device or when my iPhone 4 is in my Piel Frama case. So if any of you are planning on getting the aluminum replacement back and was going to get rid of the original glass back, keep in mind you will be very limited to what cases will ever fit it. This is just an FYI, I know many of you wont even be putting it in a case after you install the new metal back. But down the road you may change your mind so the moral to the jibberish is........ keep your original in the closet or in the iPhone box for a rainy day. (also no camera or reception issues, other than the size being a tad bit bigger it's a direct replacement) :apple:
 
starting to regret buying one of these...sounds like they're really cheaply constructed

guess ill sell it and just get the wooden skin sticker like I knew I should have in the first place...anyone interested in buying one of the beveled aluminum backs?
 
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