The modder who gave the iPhone USB-C shows how he did it to AirPods

Image: Ken Pillonel

After teasing modified AirPods that swap Apple's Lightning port for aUSB-C connection, Ken Pillonel, an engineering student, has finally released the full video that shows his entire process. You can do it if you have a 3D printer, because Pillonel's schematics are open source.

The AirPods case is not designed to be broken, so Pillonel opens it and breaks it. He uses an FDM 3D printer to create two replacements for the case, and then uses a service level agreement to make the final product. The pieces he constructs snap perfectly into place, creating an outer shell that looks as if it hasn't even been touched.

Pillonel notes that you can replace the battery of the AirPods from here, but he takes things to the next level by removing the Lightning port. Pillonel created a PCB board that fit inside the AirPods shell. The end result is a pair of AirPods that you can charge with any oldusb-c cable.

Pillonel has made the schematic for the AirPods case and the PCB available to download from the website. He is giving away premade kits. His website contains information about the project.

You might not have to wait a long time to get one from Apple if you don't want to modify your phone. According to a report, the company is looking into creating a compatible Apple product by the year 2020. New legislation in the EU requires Apple to get rid of the Lightning ports on its phones.

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You can now, technically, build your own USB-C iPhone