Gallium vs. iPhone 16 Pro: The Ultimate Transparent Mod
The iPhone 16 Pro has one of the most refined internal designs Apple has released to date, making it a perfect candidate for a transparent back modification. In this project, we went beyond our typical base model mods and introduced gallium to remove the aluminum plate from the rear glass achieving a truly transparent finish without compromising the phone’s structure or functionality.
Why the iPhone 16 Pro?
We’ve done a lot of transparent mods on iPhones before, but this time, we’re doing something completely new and way cooler. This is the iPhone 16 Pro Transparent Mod, and it's the best one we’ve ever done.
It even features a steel-cased battery that the 16 Pro Max doesn’t have. Combine that with the new internal layout and you’ve got a phone that needs to be shown off.
Cracking It Open
We started by loosening the back glass with a suction cup. This phone hadn’t even been turned on yet so yeah, we’re fully committed.
After removing a few internal screws and the Apple-logo shield, we lifted the back glass. Underneath it:
Wireless charging coil
MagSafe magnet ring
Rear microphone
Water damage indicator
To make the phone fully transparent, everything had to be removed carefully.
Prepping the Glass
We began by removing the graphite sheet and MagSafe magnet ring, applying heat to loosen adhesive. Once done, we pulled off the charging coil, disconnected the flex cable for the mic and flash, and popped them out.
The trickiest part? Removing the wireless charging coil. We used heat gun, gloves, and a MagSafe puck to pull it off in one clean piece. There was a minor hiccup the coil split into two layers but a bit of glue fixed that.
The Acetone Bath
Next, we soaked the rear glass in acetone to weaken the glue holding the aluminum plate. We left it in for three days (oops), but the result was perfect. The adhesive turned mushy, and we peeled off the aluminum easily.
Or so we thought...
Meet Gallium: The Aluminum Destroyer
Apple says the backplate is 100% recycled aluminum, and it's super tough to remove, especially around the camera bumps. So we used gallium, a liquid metal with a crazy low melting point.
Warning: This part gets messy. A chemical reaction between gallium and water likely released hydrogen gas, causing bubbling on the surface.
But cleanup? Surprisingly easy just hot water and soap.
Scraping and Cleaning
With all the metal gone, it was time to slowly scrape off the paint layer from the inside of the glass. This step takes time, but the final look is 100% worth it:
Matte finish
Fully transparent Apple logo
No residue left
Rebuilding the Phone
Now came reassembly:
Glued the camera bumps back to the glass
Reinstalled the MagSafe magnets, charging coil, flash, and mic
Heated everything up to reactivate the adhesive
Pressed the back glass into place
Done.
The Final Result
This is, without question, the best transparent mod we’ve ever done.
From the steel battery and Taptic Engine to the glowing Apple logo and visible internals, this iPhone 16 Pro looks like a tech masterpiece.
And yes we tested everything:
✅ Flash works
✅ Wireless charging connects instantly
✅ All cameras are fully functional
Final Thoughts
This transparent mod is by far one of the cleanest and most technically impressive we've ever done.
The iPhone 16 Pro stands out not just for its performance, but for its internal beauty—and now, that beauty is visible. The camera, flash, MagSafe, and wireless charging all remain functional, making this mod more than just visual it’s fully practical.
If you're considering your own transparent iPhone project, remember: the right tools, patience, and a solid understanding of the materials involved are key.
More crazy mods are coming soon. Stay tuned!
