In the past week or so that the iPhone 4 has been available, there’s been one major thing holding people back from from getting one. No, not the antenna issue. Instead, more people I talk to say they’re simply waiting for the white one to come out. Sadly, that’s not happening until the end of this month. But if you have cash to burn and don’t mind taking some risks, you can get one right now. Sort of.
The site WhiteiPhone4Now.com is promising to make you “one of the first in the world to own the white iPhone 4.” How? They have a DIY kit they’re selling to convert your black iPhone 4 into a white one.
The $229 kit includes the following:
- 1 x iPhone 4 Retina Display
- 1 x White iPhone 4 Front Panel
- 1 x White iPhone 4 Back Cover
- 1 x White iPhone 4 Home Button
- 1 x White iPhone 4 Digitizer (enables touch function)
- 1 x White iPhone 4 Front Panel Support Frame
Now, I have no clue if this is simply a bunch of parts from the black iPhone painted white, or if this site has made their own new parts to house your iPhone in a white case. (I assume the former if they’re including a Retina display — or at least, I hope that’s the case.) Hell, I don’t know basically anything about this site. But if you’re really, really desperate to get that white iPhone first, this may be your best bet.
The site includes a link to an iFixit guide for disassembling your iPhone 4 — this is how you’re going to have to build the phone around these new parts yourself. While the site promises that these are “easy to follow instructions,” the whole process involves some 30-plus steps including unscrewing a bunch of things, and using special tools for others. And that doesn’t include putting it back together. Yeah, it basically sounds like a big pain in the ass.
But for an extra $54 + shipping, WhiteiPhone4Now.com claims that another site, BrokeMyiPhone.com, will do the entire process for you (you include the iPhone 4 and these white parts).
The “Terms of Conditions” page on the WhiteiPhone4Now.com also notes at least one big caveat:
You will need to salvage your current iPhone 4’s front earpiece grill, the back cover’s lens cover and LED diffuser for a “complete look”, but the iPhone 4 will be 100% functional without them. As these small parts are not sold anywhere.
So obviously, this is very much try-at-your-own-risk. But if you’re desperate, this may be a way to go. Or you can just wait a few weeks and save yourself $229 and potentially one giant headache.
WhiteiPhone4Now.com promises to ship the first unit July 8. They’ll be doing so on a first-come-first-serve basis.
After WWDC this year, I got a chance to play with the elusive other color. It’s just like the black iPhone 4, but white!
