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White iPhone 4 Prototype purchased from eBay

I don't think it's a prototype because the description states that it has a "converted case". Let us know how it goes, though! :) This has peaked my curiosity.
 
OP, I hope for your sake it is, especially after you paid that much, but I doubt it.

Post pics when you get it, I wanna see the 'XXGB' on the back
 
Holy cow you paid $394 for an iPhone 4 for the possibility of it being fake?
You know perfect condition 16gig iPhone 4's go on craigslist for the same price you bought a broken iPhone and risking the fact that it is/isn't a prototype?
 
I'm not usually cynical, but considering the title of the article calls the iPhone "black" and it has been converted to white, I am led to believe that the person may have simply gotten bad knock-off parts.

I do hope it's a prototype though. It'd be an interesting find!
 
It's only costing ME 250$. I previously had 150$ from a sale of an iPhone 3G in my paypal account. So I'm not getting dinged that bad... but I do hope It is a prototype... but if not, oh well I'm stupid. Unfortunately I am on vacation and will be back the 21st of August in NYC where I can see the phone for my self, but once I get my hands on it I will be sure to document it thoroughly. I mean, most of the "Sketchier" prototypes are labeled as broken/for parts... so I'm hopeful. Let's hope it's a prototype. I'm not sure what I'd do with it. Should I try to fix the issue with the motherboard or leave it as is if it's a prototype?

Holy cow you paid $394 for an iPhone 4 for the possibility of it being fake?
You know perfect condition 16gig iPhone 4's go on craigslist for the same price you bought a broken iPhone and risking the fact that it is/isn't a prototype?
Click to expand...
Yes, I do know that, I am taking a gamble, this is a decent price for an eBay phone though. The best things in life are gained through gambles sometimes. Live on the wild side :p, but if it isn't then I am at fault. Hope it is :)
 
Oh and another note, I was looking through white iPhone 4 prototype pictures, and the number on my purchased one seems consistent with the others (in the 3xxx range).
 
Looks like the seller has sold a load of iPhones and knows their stuff, think they may also appreciate the rarity and potential value of a prototype.

Doesn't look like an innocent selling an unknown item..
 
Looking at the ad, you wouldn't think that. Looking at the pictures, it just may be.

You had better keep us updated and post plenty of hi-res pictures of this thing! I know I'll be following.

I think you got lucky. ;) If it's a legit prototype, that's just an awesome find.
 
You better bet yourself that I will keep this updated. I really do hope it's a prototype, and if it is I got a STEAL. But let's not get carried away, it should be at my home in a few days, so I'll have to get my friend to take pictures of it and send them to me in argentina so I can post them here and see what I got.

I messaged the seller about it being a prototype after I bought it and he said something along the lines of "How can you tell?" but when I messaged him about other things about it I got no response, which leads me to believe either:
1. He's playing dumb and knows it's a prototype and is trying to get it unloaded without getting in trouble with apple
2. He doesn't know.

Needless to say I am extremely excited about owning this and can't wait to get it. :D
 
Working off of the photos in the auction, here are a few differences that I noticed between iFixit's iPhone 4 (also concurrent with my iPhone 4 which I have open next to me comparing to these photos) are another water sensor, and a completely different set of marking on the battery with different placements. Also a bit of different colors on certain internal pieces. I myself cannot tell if these are normal variations on the different models of iPhone because I can only work with what I have here. If you want to chip in and send a photo of the back of your iPhone (glass cover removed) that would help out :)

Battery APN numbers
My supposed proto: APN:616-0512
iFixit's device: APN: 616-0513
My device (a replacement refurb from Apple) APN: 616-0521
 

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fun173 said:
What are you planning on doing with it?
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I don't really have the figured out. I may sell it, if I feel I can fetch enough for it, but if the price I'm offered doesn't seem high enough to justify not keeping a possible piece of Apple History, I'll keep it for a while and then see what happens.
This is of course is if the device is a prototype...
 
Also to those that believe that this is actually a black to white conversion, notice the White headphone jack, and dock connectors as pointed out in my photo. While I know that it is TECHNICALLY possible to change those out for white pieces, almost ALL of the black to white conversions I've seen (including my phone at one point) retained the Black dock and headphone jacks.
 
Got it. As I said, I get back to the USA on the 22nd, so I had my mom take photos of the phone. She took craptastic photos with her iPhone, but my sister is going to take pics with her DSLR when she gets home (in an hour). So this is what I have to show you so far. High quality, non blurry pics to follow soon. Looking good, and the XXGB that I predicted is there :D
 

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Side view of the buttons, which are unmarked...
more photos
213gkzm.jpg

241vvqr.jpg
 

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One thing I must point out is that the front holes for the proximity sensor are the same ones on black->white conversion kits. And not sure if its just the bright flash, but when you took the picture of the proximity sensor you can see a shiny sticker in there which also comes on alot of conversion kits
 
daaneel said:
One thing I must point out is that the front holes for the proximity sensor are the same ones on black->white conversion kits. And not sure if its just the bright flash, but when you took the picture of the proximity sensor you can see a shiny sticker in there which also comes on alot of conversion kits
Click to expand...

I believe that the stock ones had this as well... Without the shiny sticker light that is NOT IR enters the sensor and it does not work. Let me check and see if I can find any stock/prototype white iPhone 4's before they changed the proximity sensor.

EDIT:

I was browsing images of the iPhone 4 before they changed the proximity sensor and this was the Apple Stock image they used during it was not for sale. To me it looks like the proximity is shiny.
Screen-shot-2010-07-26-at-00.14.46.png
 
fun173 said:
Looks like you got a prototype. Sick!! Keep us updated
Click to expand...

Thanks! We can't celebrate just yet. I'm asking my family in the USA currently to get me the Serial # to check what interesting info we can gather from it.

Better quality frontal shot...
 

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