A brave YouTuber just modded their iPhone Air with a transparent case and built-in SIM card slot thanks to a ‘dream collaboration’ — but it isn’t for the faint-hearted

• YouTuber Linzin hacked their iPhone Air with some ingenious modifications
• The changes added a transparent back and a custom SIM card slot
• But the procedure resulted in some notable drawbacks, too

Would you be tempted to buy a transparent version of Apple’s iPhone Air? You can’t get one from any official source, but one YouTuber has recently documented how a “dream collaboration” with enterprising engineers in China’s Huaqiangbei electronics market helped to make it a reality – although it involved a heap of sacrifices.

The device was revealed by YouTuber Linzin, who had it custom-made at the Huaqiangbei market by several of the resident traders. During the 22-minute video, Linzin explained how the paint on the iPhone’s back cover was laser-stripped and its internal thermal pads removed, leaving just a clear back plate. The iPhone was then reassembled with its new look.

This didn’t result in a non-functional device that had been made to look pretty. According to Linzin, the transparent iPhone Air could be powered on, connected to a mobile network, and function more or less as normal. However, it did need to be repaired later on, as the microphone ribbon had come loose, highlighting the risks of this kind of unofficial phone surgery.

Despite that, the new-look iPhone Air provided a striking glimpse of the device’s interior components in action. It’s unlikely that Apple will ever release a device like this – unlike the iMac G3, the iPhone’s internals are not meant for public display – but at the very least it gives a fascinating insight into what’s possible if you’re the risk-taking type.