Despite years of rumors, Apple has not yet created a USB C iPhone. However, that hasn't stopped a student in robotics engineering from making one. Ken Pillonel placed a functioning USB-C port in an iPhone X. This allows the phone to charge or transfer data over USB -C instead.
Pillonel spent many months working on the project, according to Apple Insider. He also opened up a lot of Lightning and USB-C cables to reach his ultimate goal of a USB -C iPhone. Pillonel created a prototype that would allow an iPhone battery to charge over the USB-C port in May. It was too large to fit in an iPhone's case so we had to take it apart and squeeze it inside.
Pillonel reverse engineered Apple's C94 connector to create his own flexible PCB design that fits inside the iPhone. Pillonel showed the flexible cable in a teaser video, demonstrating how the iPhone X can charge and transfer data using USB-C. The full video, which will show how Pillonel reverse-engineered the C94 connector to fit his customized PCB inside the iPhone X, is currently being edited.
Just weeks after the European Commission announced plans for requiring smartphone manufacturers and other electronic companies to install a common USB C charging port on their devices, the USB-C iPhone was launched. Apple could be forced into making an iPhone with USB C in the next few years or launching a portless iPhone which relies on wireless charging.
Pillonel may not make public details about his flexible flexible PCB to allow others to try the modification. He is currently pursuing a masters in robotics at EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. His talents have been used to modify a Samsung Galaxy Fold car mount. He also released a 3D printed mod that allows a Xiaomi Mi Wireless Car Charger (and the Galaxy Fold) to work.
