Apple’s ultra-thin iPhone Air was already designed to stand out, but one modder has taken it in a completely different direction, by making the back transparent and adding something Apple deliberately left out: a physical SIM slot.
The project was documented by YouTuber Linzin Tech. In a 22-minute video, he walks through the process of turning the standard iPhone Air into a clear-backed, SIM-enabled custom build.
The first step involved removing the opaque coating from the rear glass panel. Using a laser process, the modders carefully stripped away the paint layer without damaging key components underneath, particularly the MagSafe coil, which sits just beneath the glass.
Once the coating was removed, the result was a fully transparent back, revealing the battery, logic board layout, shielding, and internal connectors. The Apple logo remains visible, but now it floats above exposed hardware rather than a solid color finish.
Adding what Apple removed
The bigger challenge came next: installing a nano-SIM tray into a phone designed to rely entirely on eSIM.
To make room, the team milled a cutout into the bottom frame of the device. That modification required removing the original Taptic Engine, Apple’s large and finely tuned haptic motor, because there simply wasn’t enough internal space to accommodate both it and a SIM tray.
In its place, a smaller third-party vibration motor was installed. The SIM reader itself was wired in through board-level microsoldering, and according to the video, the modified phone successfully connects to mobile networks using a physical SIM card. It’s a significant hardware alteration, especially considering how tightly packed ultra-thin smartphones are.
As impressive as the mod looks, it wasn’t without consequences. Removing thermal pads during the laser process reportedly affected heat dissipation, leading to faster throttling under sustained load. The structural modifications also eliminated the phone’s IP68 water and dust resistance. And, of course, any warranty coverage was gone the moment the frame was cut open.
Performance of the iPhone Air mod with affected heat dissipation
For most users, the trade-offs wouldn’t make sense. But for hardware enthusiasts, it’s a fascinating reminder that even the most closed-off designs can still be opened up.
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