I already built an iPhone 14 Pro with a 3D-printed housing. But what is it actually like to use? There are two advantages I really like, and one downside that makes this experiment a little more complicated.
If you missed the full project, start with the original build article. This is the quick follow-up.
Fifty Grams Makes a Difference
The finished phone is 50 grams lighter than the original, and it feels amazing in my hands. Printing the housing also costs a lot less than buying a replacement housing.
Those are two pretty good reasons to try it. Getting a housing that actually fits, though, is where the easy part ends.
Six Attempts to Get It Right
There are a lot of little details to get right. It took me six different variations before everything worked.
Making a custom design is part of the fun.
Then There Is the Heat
The downside showed up when I used the phone: I noticed it gets a lot hotter. The lighter housing feels great, but that extra heat is harder to enjoy.
That is the catch with this build. A housing can fit, look good and make the phone lighter, while still changing how it feels during use.
Final Thoughts
I still love being able to make a phone housing of my own. The next thing I would want to solve is that heat. Would you trade some extra warmth for a lighter, custom phone, or is that where the experiment stops being practical?
See you in the next article!
