DIY: Give your iPhone a mirrored rear-panel

Rumor Has It host Emily Dreyfuss shows off an iPhone 4S with a mirrored rear-panel.

(Credit: Sharon Vaknin/CNET)

There's not much you can do in the way of customizing your iPhone's hardware. Unless you bedazzle it with Sworvski crystals, apply a Gelaskin, or give it a funky case, your iPhone will continue to stand undistinguished among its fellow cookie cutter siblings.

iFixit, a Web site that offers to tools and parts to allow owners to repair, mod, and upgrade their iPhones, has another option for customizing your iPhone: unique rear-panels.

After seeing iFixit's mirrored rear-panel, I knew I had to have it. No, it's not a vanity thing -- I'm just tired of firing-up the front-facing camera or squinting into the black rear-panel just to see if there's something stuck in my teeth.

The finished product is so seamless and impressive, my iPhone now goes case-free. (Besides, how else would I show off my iPhone mod?)

Installation is really simple, and requires just the replacement backplate and a Philips screwdriver, or a pentalobe screwdriver for the newer iPhone models.

Watch the video to get started:

Give your iPhone a mirrored rear panel

You'll need:

• An iPhone 4 or 4S


• A screwdriver that matches the screws next to your dock connector (Philips or pentalobe)


• A new rear-panel (transparent, mirrored, or replacement)


• About five minutes

To install your new rear-panel, turn your phone on silent and power down. Then remove the two screws next to the dock connector and put them somewhere safe.

Push up on your iPhone's rear-panel so that it slides a couple millimeters, the lift to remove. Finally, remove the protective plastic from your new rear-panel and slide it onto your iPhone. Replace the screws and you're done!

It's really that easy.

Note that it's unclear whether or not this voids your warranty, so if you need to take your phone to the Genius Bar for repair, be sure to replace your rear-panel with the original black or white backplate.

Source : http://howto.cnet.com//8301-11310_39-57439317-285/diy-give-your-iphone-a-mirrored-rear-panel/