These of us nonetheless rocking AirPods with Lightning ports lastly have a technique to improve them to USB-C that doesn’t require sophisticated modifications or the price of fully changing the case. Engineer Ken Pillonel has created a sensible case for older AirPods fashions that features a USB-C charging port on the surface.
The protecting instances are produced from a sturdy however versatile 3D-printed plastic and will be put in on an AirPods charging case in about 10 seconds. The USB-C port on the surface passes energy alongside to the AirPods’ Lightning port utilizing some added electronics hidden within the base, however the case can also be simply detachable ought to direct entry to the Lightning port nonetheless be wanted.
Earlier than shopping for you’ll need to ensure to double-check that the precise mannequin quantity listed in your AirPods charging case is suitable with the supported variations laid out in every case’s itemizing.
Pillonel has additionally give you an answer for AirPods Max customers who don’t need to spend one other $549 for Apple’s new USB-C mannequin. His USB-C Exterior Adapter for the unique AirPods Max merely plugs into its Lightning port and hangs off the underside of the correct earcup. It’s not fairly as elegant because the protecting instances, however it’s sufficiently small to be exhausting to note whereas sporting the headphones out and about.
For a couple of years now, Pillonel has been waging battle on Apple’s proprietary Lightning port, which overstayed its welcome as USB-C grew to become commonplace. In 2021, he launched an open-source design for upgrading the iPhone X to USB-C and later revealed strategies for upgrading AirPods and the AirPods Max to USB-C. Pillonel does promote digital kits for upgrading Apple’s wi-fi headphones by yourself, however the brand new instances and adapter don’t require any {hardware} mods or soldering expertise.
