I’m interested in getting the Extremerate emerald green shell for my Steam Deck, but I’m nervous about damaging the OLED screen during the swap. I’m thinking about just swapping out the backplate and keeping the original frontplate intact. Has anyone actually done this kind of partial shell swap? If so, could you share some pictures or tips on how it looks and goes?
3 Answers
Honestly, the backplate is the trickiest part to take off, even more than the front panel. You do have to be careful and patient since there are several small screws and clips holding it in place. The front panel can actually be easier if you’re not messing with the screen itself, but the back requires more attention to detail to avoid damaging anything. Just something to keep in mind if you’re planning to swap only the backplate.
I’ve swapped just the back shell using a jsaux shell, and it was pretty straightforward. You just need to remove the SIM card first, then use guitar picks or prying tools to lift off the backplate. I left my frontplate untouched since I only wanted the rear changed, and I never had to touch the screen at all. If you want, I can try and share how it looks or answer any questions about the process.
From what I’ve seen and done, you definitely don’t need to remove the screen or take apart the whole front to swap just the back shell. The backplate comes off by itself after removing screws and the SIM tray, so it’s definitely safer if you’re worried about the screen. Just take it slow and use proper tools, and you should be fine.
That sounds exactly like what I’m thinking. Would you mind showing a pic of your swapped backplate setup? I’d love to see how it looks!