A YouTuber's 22-minute video revealed how technicians in Huaqiangbei transformed an iPhone Air into a transparent device with a working SIM slot. The modification involved laser-stripping the rear glass and milling space for a physical SIM tray into the ultra-thin frame.

Technicians performed delicate board-level microsoldering to enable the eSIM-only iPhone Air to work with a physical SIM card. The modified phone powered on, connected to a carrier, and functioned normally, though it ran hotter under load and lost water resistance. The device also experienced degraded haptics and required repair when a microphone ribbon came loose.

The transparent iPhone Air modification illustrated the trade-offs Apple makes in its design. Factory thermal layers, water resistance, and haptic feedback were sacrificed for the see-through aesthetic. The modification process voided Apple's warranty and demonstrated why the company balances aesthetics, thermals, haptics, and structural integrity across millions of units.