The Mas Design Titanium Back for the iPhone 4 Thread

[chris975d]

Here is the email I had received from Mas Design, they seem to have great customer service with a response in less than a day/

Thanks for contacting us. Thus far, from the feedback from our customers, around 4% of the people have reported that our Ti backs affected the signal significantly, along with their wifi. They other 96% say that that they barely see any difference.


We are trying to see why some phone are experiencing this problem, while others do not. We have suspicions that certain production lot of iPhone are more prone than others, the way that the death grip issue could be clearly demonstrated on some and not others.


At our office in LA, and Bangkok, we have had no difference in our reception and wifi, whatsoever. There was 1 customer in Texas, and 1 in Florida that mentioned that their reception is affected. In general, if you live in an area with average to poor reception to begin with, I don't recommend you change to a metallic back, just to be on the safe side.


We went with a more robust frame, since the original target was for individuals that do not use cases. The back will be compatible with most bumpers, including vapors and elements cases. Tight fitting slip on cases and clear thin acrylic cases may not fit (for example Ozaki plastic cases), so keep that in mind. When we find a supplier with the same quality in the original size, we may fix this issue in the future.


We have a 14 days return policy (with a 15% restocking fee) for all those who chose to return their backs. Normally for us, if the backs have the slightest sign of use, they will not be resold, and we take a loss on them :]


I hope I this helps,
Sunny
Mas Design



Makes me a little nervous about reception. Element Case seems to have fixed this with the Vapor Comp, but I don't need another factor.

I was one of the early testers that had issues (I'm in Georgia, maybe Sunny is confusing me with Florida). I just got both of my MAS backs out to try again, and with my iPhone 4 naked I'm showing an average of -79dB for reception. Once either back is on, it drops to -98 to -101dB. That's about a 2 "bar" hit for me (I normally have 4-5 bars here). I love the way the backs look, but in my area, I can't use them reliably. I do know through talks with fellow reviewers in different parts of the country that it seems to vary widely with location. I have a friend in N Carolina who sees little to no effect from his MAS backs. It may have something to do with the band (850Mhz or 1900Mhz) that your provider is operating on in your area. They have different penetration (of obstacles like concrete, metal, etc) properties.

 

[lazybee]

Thats great new for you.

Also, the reason I asked about which back to order was because I am in China right now and want to order an unlocked iPhone, when they are available in November, however Apple says this on their site:



So my question is should I just order the iPhone 4S back on the mas design site or is it possible that there will be two options for iPhone 4S backs in the future? One for CDMA and one for GSM?

I'm also curious if you have any idea/experience about mailing a phone overseas and putting a low value on it as to avoid paying duties?

You are good to order the 4S back from mas design. This time around Apple released a single, identical phone to all regions around the world. The reason the unlocked iPhone 4S does not work on CDMA networks is because of how carriers such as Verizon and Sprint activate phones on their networks, and not because of any hardware difference. The phones are the same.

As for shipping, it is a big risk to undervalue an item such as an iPhone. Customs knows full well the value of these phones and if the package does get checked you could run into either two problems. Either customs will confiscate the package and you may never see it again, or you will be required to pay a hefty fine to get it returned to you.

Every country will have different importation laws. For the majority of countries around the world it ends up costing something like $200 USD to Import the iPhone from Canada, assuming the package is marked correctly. Also, on another note, marking as "Gift" will often not help, as if the value of the package is over a certain dollar amount, say $50, the duties and taxes will still apply. I hope that helps.

 

[jdsun1]

You are good to order the 4S back from mas design. This time around Apple released a single, identical phone to all regions around the world. The reason the unlocked iPhone 4S does not work on CDMA networks is because of how carriers such as Verizon and Sprint activate phones on their networks, and not because of any hardware difference. The phones are the same.

As for shipping, it is a big risk to undervalue an item such as an iPhone. Customs knows full well the value of these phones and if the package does get checked you could run into either two problems. Either customs will confiscate the package and you may never see it again, or you will be required to pay a hefty fine to get it returned to you.

Every country will have different importation laws. For the majority of countries around the world it ends up costing something like $200 USD to Import the iPhone from Canada, assuming the package is marked correctly. Also, on another note, marking as "Gift" will often not help, as if the value of the package is over a certain dollar amount, say $50, the duties and taxes will still apply. I hope that helps.

That helps a ton, thanks! I will just have my friend bring it over after I order it in November and also plan on ordering the case from mas designs.

 

[lazybee]

So I got the 4S and the Mas Design back today. I removed the well stuck OEM back easily enough, took a bit more force then I thought it would. I set the titanium back in, and attempted to lock it in place but it wouldn't go all the way. I'm not sure if it's because I am not putting enough pressure, or because there is something wrong with the fit. Any suggestions? I don't want to break my brand new phone !

On a side note, the pins are the same on the 4S back and the mas titanium one.

 

[weisjt]

So I got the 4S and the Mas Design back today. I removed the well stuck OEM back easily enough, took a bit more force then I thought it would. I set the titanium back in, and attempted to lock it in place but it wouldn't go all the way. I'm not sure if it's because I am not putting enough pressure, or because there is something wrong with the fit. Any suggestions? I don't want to break my brand new phone !

On a side note, the pins are the same on the 4S back and the mas titanium one.

you did get the coma version of the has design back correct? i have changed a lot of backs out on my phone and had them not slide down all the way, i just pushed then down as far as they would go and slowly worked the screws in and they fit fine never breaking anything. don't be to forceful but the way they attach to the back doesn't leave much room to break anything unless you go crazy.

 

[lazybee]

I believe you meant to say 'CDMA' instead of 'coma' and yes I did! I'll give your suggestion a go. It definitely looks like it SHOULD fit, but it seems to be a very close. I'll report back.

 

[lazybee]

Ok. So I took a better look at things, and I think I found why it will not push on all the way... It seems the 4S and the CDMA version is not the same. very minor difference, but it will not close as it is now. I'm going to contact Mas Design about this.

Bottom left: OEM 4S back
Top left: Mas Design Titanium
Bottom right: latch where tounge of back locks into place.

 

[det2004]

Anyone have any experience with the prototype series Ti Rust backs on a black iPhone?

I'm looking at the Rust Patch design, and was all set to order until I saw that it was OOS at the moment.

 

[gugy]

WOW these Ti backs are fantastic. Damn, my area the reception is a bit tricky. Too bad, they look awesome.

 

[Mactagonist]

Ok. So I took a better look at things, and I think I found why it will not push on all the way... It seems the 4S and the CDMA version is not the same. very minor difference, but it will not close as it is now. I'm going to contact Mas Design about this.

Bottom left: OEM 4S back
Top left: Mas Design Titanium
Bottom right: latch where tounge of back locks into place.

[xurl=http://i55.tinypic.com/2afiypj.jpg]Image[/url]

Any more news around this? I have one on order that will be used in a 4s and I am quite interested in the outcome...

 

[lazybee]

Any more news around this? I have one on order that will be used in a 4s and I am quite interested in the outcome...

OK. So I've been in contact with the company. They have been very helpful in trying to diagnose the issue. As of this morning I sent it back for them to take a look. Following their recommendation I filed the metal latch a little. Getting it closer to the size of the original glass back. This still didn't allow me to fully install the back.

It seems to be narrowed down to two possible cases. Either the back I received was a unique one off dud. Or my iPhone 4S has a manufacturing difference/defect then the one they have tested on. I will not know for sure until they test it out for themselves. I expect that will happen either over the weekend, if they get it soon enough, or the beginning of next week.

The worst possible case is that there is a very minor difference between the stock latch configuration and the Ti latches across the board. Although this outcome is highly doubtful.

 

[jdsun1]

OK. So I've been in contact with the company. They have been very helpful in trying to diagnose the issue. As of this morning I sent it back for them to take a look. Following their recommendation I filed the metal latch a little. Getting it closer to the size of the original glass back. This still didn't allow me to fully install the back.

It seems to be narrowed down to two possible cases. Either the back I received was a unique one off dud. Or my iPhone 4S has a manufacturing difference/defect then the one they have tested on. I will not know for sure until they test it out for themselves. I expect that will happen either over the weekend, if they get it soon enough, or the beginning of next week.

The worst possible case is that there is a very minor difference between the stock latch configuration and the Ti latches across the board. Although this outcome is highly doubtful.

Thanks for the update. Hopefully your issue will be resolved soon.

 

[Mezza]

I've just received my TI back in brushed natural, and I'm having the same issue where I can't push it down enough. It just sits too high. I can still put the screws it but you can see it's higher than the front. And when I put on my Graft Leverage bumper, but bottom sits just a fraction higher than the lip of the bumper.

Is this the same issue? Any response from MAS yet? I've just sent them a message. It's quite unfortunate as the shipping costs were not cheap for such a small item.

 

[jdaniel]

When I got my 4 GSM it took a while for me to get it to fit. You have to slowly and firmly slide it in and press down on certain parts. Its not glass so theres more give...flex...

 

[Zebassis]

Just ordered the Patch for 4s yesterday AM.

email today says: Thank you for your order. We are currently back ordered on some parts for the 4S housing. But we do expect your order to ship in approx 1 week. We will notify you as soon as it is ready.

Not in a hurry, just hoping it fits when it gets here

 

[Mezza]

Just got a response from mas today.

---------------
First off, I apologize that we didn't get things perfect the first time. There is absolutely no excuses for ruining the first impression. And yes, for such an expensive back, the fit SHOULD be perfect.

It has just been brought to our attention that the CDMA backs do not fit all 4S model the same way, as originally indicated by our supplier. We double check the backs and it seems that some do fit all the way, while others do not, so we will hold all orders until only the original parts come in. This is due to the slight changes made to the 4S housing frame, which is very similar to the CDMA version, but not 100% the same.

The good news is that the iPhone 4S parts are available, and we are getting them in this week. So I will need your help in sending the item back in, and we will replace the lens cover with the original 4S cover as well as the frame for you.

We will also refund you the postage fee for sending the item back in. Please print out this email, and insert it along with the return shipment.

Return address:
-----------------------------------------

I have to say that the response and ownership from them is sensational. Got the case I ordered delivered within a week (international), and the response to my problem within a day.

They accept full accountability and don't hide behind BS excuses. This is awesome customer service. I look forward to getting my replacement TI back now!

 

[Mactagonist]

Very comforting response!

 

[jdsun1]

Some good news indeed. I was waiting for the reponse to order, even though I have a Korean iPhone 4 and not a 4s.

 

[jdaniel]

Just got a response from mas today.

---------------
First off, I apologize that we didn't get things perfect the first time. There is absolutely no excuses for ruining the first impression. And yes, for such an expensive back, the fit SHOULD be perfect.

It has just been brought to our attention that the CDMA backs do not fit all 4S model the same way, as originally indicated by our supplier. We double check the backs and it seems that some do fit all the way, while others do not, so we will hold all orders until only the original parts come in. This is due to the slight changes made to the 4S housing frame, which is very similar to the CDMA version, but not 100% the same.

The good news is that the iPhone 4S parts are available, and we are getting them in this week. So I will need your help in sending the item back in, and we will replace the lens cover with the original 4S cover as well as the frame for you.

We will also refund you the postage fee for sending the item back in. Please print out this email, and insert it along with the return shipment.

Return address:
-----------------------------------------

I have to say that the response and ownership from them is sensational. Got the case I ordered delivered within a week (international), and the response to my problem within a day.

They accept full accountability and don't hide behind BS excuses. This is awesome customer service. I look forward to getting my replacement TI back now!

yes the customer service is excellent i've experienced it myself.

 

[bl00per]

I was thinking about ordering one of these, but I have some questions:

1. What is the situation with the 4S?
2. How much is shipping and how long will it take to get here?
3. Does it already come with a flash diffuser?

Thanks

 

[McFly682]

I would like to know if it comes with a flash diffuser as well.

I would also like to see some more pics of these on actual phones. They look great. I only saw one post of a phone with a cleave installed and would like to see more bumpers if anyone has a pic with the mas.

 

[lazybee]

Ok. So I can answer to the last two posters.

Yes, a flash diffuser is installed.
The 4S required some slightly different. Components to be manufactured, they should start shipping for the 4S this Wednesday. As far as shipping, they offer expedited service to the US that takes 2 days, otherwise, priority mail.

 

[jdsun1]

Ok. So I can answer to the last two posters.

Yes, a flash diffuser is installed.
The 4S required some slightly different. Components to be manufactured, they should start shipping for the 4S this Wednesday. As far as shipping, they offer expedited service to the US that takes 2 days, otherwise, priority mail.

Let us know how reception is on your new Mas back when you get it in. Also any idea on when the brushed black PVD will be in? Its been on backorder for quite some time.

 

[iz2sick]

I'm curious as to where you ordered an unlocked iPhone 4S from and how you will avoid paying import taxes? Also why didn't you order the iPhone 4S option instead of the iPhone CDMA option on the site. I think all of the unlocked iPhones are GSM only and not CDMA anyways.

WHY ARE YOU CONSIDERING IMPORTING AN UNLOCKED IPHONE? Dang, all these people importing goods from China and overseas pisses me off!

Buy cellphones made in the USA!!! Oh wait, there is none.

You're a flaming hypocrite jdsun. Now kindly stay out of these Element Vapor threads crying about Chinese Knock-offs.

 

[jdsun1]

WHY ARE YOU CONSIDERING IMPORTING AN UNLOCKED IPHONE? Dang, all these people importing goods from China and overseas pisses me off!

Buy cellphones made in the USA!!! Oh wait, there is none.

You're a flaming hypocrite jdsun. Now kindly stay out of these Element Vapor threads crying about Chinese Knock-offs.

Buying legit Apple products supports the innovative minds behind the idea and those Chinese workers working hard at Foxconn. It is totally different from the choice between buying a fake case and a real one. Would you really buy a fake phone anyways? Maybe you would.

Your argument is baseless, invalid and in general makes you look ignorant and desperate. Nice try with your anti-American sentiment but in the end you lose. I'll go post wherever I want and hopefully more people will pickup on this concept of buying real products. Free speech and all that, right?

Whats wrong with buying an unlocked phone and taking it overseas? I have to travel a lot for work and in China I can even buy prepaid GSM cards with data plans already on them to boot.

Now back to the Mas elements thread.