This Is How To Get A Galaxy Note 8 With A Clear Glass Back
To cut to the chase: don't. But if you're loaded or have nothing to lose by potentially sacrificing a nearly $1,000 Galaxy Note 8 on the altar of aesthetics, then by all means go ahead. The glass backs of many of this year's flagship smartphones have caused the likes of JerryRigEverything's Zack Nelson to dream of transparent smartphone cases. But since that is unlikely to become an offer that OEMs will make, your only real option is to do it yourself and live with the consequences.
The first step in this painstaking process is to accept what you will lose. That is, if your Galaxy Note 8 does make it to the end intact. The phone's prized IP68 waterproofing is sure to go, even if you successfully give your Galaxy Note 8 a completely clear back. You are, after all, cutting away at the strong adhesive that gives it its waterproof qualities.
The second step is to accept the risks that may or may not happen in the process. For one, you can crack the glass back beyond repair if you apply just a little too much pressure. And if, like Nelson, you are cutting away blindly, you might find yourself without a fingerprint sensor. On the flip side, you will have less reasons to accidentally smudge your camera lens.
If you still want to push through, then be prepared for a long and perilous journey. The adhesive underneath the back is so stubborn and the back itself so fragile that this is an undertaking not fit for the impatient. You will also need some pretty abrasive chemicals to weaken the paint and lamination to peel it off. Definitely not for the faint of heart either.
Should you successfully finish the quest, you will be rewarded by an admittedly fancy looking Galaxy Note 8. If you're into that kind of look, which is more in common with desktop gaming PCs than phones. It would definitely be a dream if Samsung or LG or anyone else released a special edition clear model. There will definitely be some who won't mind paying extra for it, when the alternative is having to pay for another $1,000 phone.