Stunning!
Something we don’t really write about here at iPhonewzealand is modification to your iPhone, whether that be of the Jailbreak or hardware kind. However this modification doesn’t void your warranty and for a very low price can really make your iPhone 4 stand out from the crowd. Keep reading to see our look at the metal replacement back for the iPhone 4 including a short installation video (it’s short cause it doesn’t take long to do).
I love my iPhone 4 however something I have always had a worry about is ruining the back. I know it is made of glass, but in the back of my mind there was always a chance of something happening. Easy fix is to get a case, right? Well sure but then I have the issue that my iPhone no longer fits in its perfectly formed dock and also no longer fits into my TomTom car kit [without taking the back off].
Now it fits in my dock!
So what do you do?…. after tying this out for myself my solution to anyone would be to get a replacement back. This does a few things: One; it protects your original glass back, cause it’s packed away and no longer on the device. Two; it makes your iPhone stand out from the crowd. Three; enables the iPhone to be used in accessories that require it to be ‘naked’ (TomTom and Dock). Four; it costs bugger all. And Five; doesn’t void your warranty.
Awesome attention to detail
If you’re anything like me you are probably sat there looking at this thinking, “Yeah they look OK I suppose, but I wonder what they are really like”. Well let me tell you that quality is fantastic and the attention to detail is superb, even down to the model numbers that are printed on the back.
iPhone 4 with metal back
It has a slightly grainy finish where it has been polished and a awesome looking black Apple logo. In fact, would you look at that… my iPhone 4 and my iPad now match! The only thing is it doesn’t have the “flash lens” built into it, but to be honest doesn’t make any real difference.
Missing Flash Lens
With and Without Flash Lens
It really does make a difference to me using the iPhone. I can now use exactly how I want. I don’t worry about putting it down somewhere and it getting scratched or damaged in any way and I can use it with all my accessories.
Installation a breeze
Installation was a breeze too. I mean it literally takes you 2 minutes to do. Watch the video below and you will see what I mean. All you need is a mini phillips screw driver for early model iPhone 4′s or a Pentagram screw driver for newer models.
If you want to grab yourself one of these you can get one sent to New Zealand for around $20NZD via the link below. There’s also someone selling them on TradeMe, but you will be looking at paying around $60 for the same thing. They come in a range of colours and styles and you can even get a hallowed white one (although the OEM one will set you back around $45NZD + Postage).
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- With and Without Flash Lens
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- iPhone 4 backs compared
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- Stunning!
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- Metal iPhone 4 Replacement Back
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- Metal iPhone 4 Replacement Back
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- Old and New
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- Up Close Camera
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- iPhone 4 with metal back installed
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- Awesome attention to detail
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- Installation a breeze
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- iPhone 4 with metal back installed
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- iPhone 4 with metal back
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- Now it fits in my dock!
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- Missing Flash Lens
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- Inside Back Cover
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- Metal iPhone 4 Replacement Back
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- Inside metal cover
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- Metal iPhone 4 Replacement Back
If you are considering getting a case for your iPhone 4 and you are only worried about it protecting the back of the device then you can seriously look no further than this.
UPDATE: We just received word from a stockist based right here in Christchurch. VoBack mainly sell to the U.S and as such the prices are in USD. But they have advised that they can get them sent to New Zealanders ready for Christmas (I am assuming you would need to order it today/tomorrow for that.
Here’s the link for New Zealand Stockist – voBack.com
– SW-Box.com
Ordered mine just now….great review and advice team. How long did yours take to arrive (standard post?) Not expecting it by Xmas but was just curious turn around time frames.
(camtab has made 468 comments)
It only took 5 days to get to me (ordered on the 15th and arrived 20th) however I used the “DHL save 36%” shipping method as I wanted it before Christmas. It cost me $21.37USD for shipping.
All up it cost $42.85 NZD but as I say that’s because I wanted it before Christmas.
Just ordered a couple myself, I love that the metal back matches the look of other Apple products like the MacBook Pro, iMac and iPad. Nice price, too.
(Steve Lawrence has made 645 comments)
i want top order one asap and i think ill get the black metal one too. but just a quick question which one matches the macbook pro best? grey or silver? i used to love my 2g for the metal back and now i can have it one my Iphone4. booyyaa!!!
(GRUNT5 has made 2 comments)
Two questions – one – is the brushed metal of the MacBook Pro best represented by the silver or grey one? And does the back add any extra width to the iPhone? Wondering whether it’ll fit into my existing case.
(suburban_ennui has made 74 comments)
I ordered a bevel type metal iPhone back from CNN.cn a month or so ago, great purchase, looks awesome, only downside is the logo can scratch easily but doesn’t matter too much
(skewt has made 2 comments)
Looks very cool but have read that it effects reception & the plastic locaters can break? Can anyone confirm?
(benh has made 52 comments)
Far yous are luky with ya flash ip4z have you tried changing the back cover on a 3g? Its a mission took until 3am monday morning for me to finnaly get it back together all the time freaking out that i had ruined my iphone, cant wait for the 5th gen iphone tho hopfully the same shape as the 4 so i can get one of these metal housings they look pretty flash
(deFusion has made 12 comments)
@Benh
No problems at all with reception here
Unsure about the clips however
(skewt has made 2 comments)
@suburban_ennui if you get the flat one (i.e. not the bevelled one), then the dimensions are identical to the original, so you can use cases or accessories that were designed for a ‘naked’ iPhone 4.
@Benh again no problem with the reception for me either and the the clips (I assume you are talking about the ones which hold it in place) are also fine.
Although I can only say from the Silver point of view, I would suggest that the silver one looks more like the iPad/MacBook/iMac range. Grey seems to be too dark.
That’s really nice! Makes me far less concerned about the back too, knowing how easy bit is to replace. Thanks for the review, vid and link!
(JAD12 has made 13 comments)
Can you tell me, is there a clear cover in the new back over the camera hole? Or is it just a hole?. I somehow got a scratch on mine.
(blade900 has made 5 comments)
Thanks – have ordered one – came to about NZ$20 using the standard/cheapest shipping option.
That being said, my iPhone will soon be fully covered by the rather awesome Etch-a-Sketch case my friend is bringing me back from the US
http://www.getaheadcase.com/iphone4.html
(suburban_ennui has made 74 comments)
blade900 wrote:
Yes there is a clear cover. If you have a scratch on yours you could always get the Black OEM cover. It’s an original cover replacement. Bit more pricey than the metal ones but well worth it.
I saw a couple of these the other day – from a different supplier. They really do look quite nice.
The only thing I noticed was that the text on the back was not quite as refined as Apple’s own glass back. An easy way to notice is to compare the ‘i’. But you wouldn’t notice unless you had them side-by-side and really gave it a good looking over.
(pknz has made 92 comments)
looks good. I just use one of the carbon fibre stickers for the back that i got from http://www.theluckylabs.com/ it looks good and saves the back.
(azdsgnr has made 3 comments)
I just called into the offices of the guys and picked up a couple – burnt orange and as the brushed silver is so popular put one on order – I have to say these are very well made and so far no issues with the clips breaking or reception – reception is as crap as ever on Vodafone
I would highly recommend grabbing a few of these while you can and remember you will still have your original safely stowed away if you change your mind at any point
(s.p.w has made 30 comments)
Is it the grey or the silver metal one in the video?
(Moobz has made 22 comments)
It is the silver one
@ Dan:
I just brought one! cant wait to get it! might purchase the blue metal one to
Thanks
(Moobz has made 22 comments)