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Some are turning iPhone 4's glass back into metal

While it probably voids your warranty, you can easily replace the glass back of your iPhone with one that doesn't risk cracking.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials
  • Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
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David Carnoy
Light metal: a new flat back doesn't add weight or girth to your iPhone 4. Unpluggd

Earlier this month, CNET editor Josh Lowensohn posted about how Apple was reportedly having some issues with the glass back on the iPhone 4, which was proving to be less durable than some had hoped. Now several sites are detailing how you can replace the glass back of your iPhone 4 with a metal one.

Removing the back--or "rear panel" as Apple calls it--is pretty simple (see ifixit.com's tutorial). And in just a few minutes you can swap in an inexpensive metal back for $12.99 from Hong Kong. Other backs are available, but Unpluggd says this is one of the few flat backs that's nicely beveled. (In the future, we expect to see many more backs hit the market).

Of course, Apple does have some strict rules about messing with your iPhone and voiding the warranty, so you may want to think twice about changing the rear panel and just get a case. We also don't know how a metal back would affect reception, so let us know if you've had any experience with one of these guys.

(Source: Unpluggd via Gizmodo)