Since its release in 2014, USB-C connections have become a common feature utilized by many different devices. Used for charging and transferring data, these connectors are frequently used by many. With USB-C becoming the standard connection type for numerous devices, many are left perplexed with the absence of this feature from Apple iPhones. Recently, one ingenious iPhone user decided to come up with a solution to fix this problem.
Ken Pillonel is a robotics engineering student at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. When not working on projects for university, such as designing a 3D printed mod for a Galaxy Fold to support Xiaomi Mi Wireless Car Chargers, he has been searching for a way to add USB-C functionality to iPhones. His mission to create a USB-C port for iPhones started with a prototype that he designed last May. This prototype that involved an iPhone battery was a step in the right direction as it provided USB-C charging, a feature non-existent on Apple products. However, this first attempt was unable to fit inside an iPhone due to the size of the PCB board.
Nevertheless, Pillonel never gave up on his goal, and after months of work on this problem, he managed to create a modded iPhone that supported USB-C connections through a port. Having decreased the size, this new attempt at USB-C support fitted inside an iPhone 10. In addition to charging the iPhone battery, the engineering student claimed that this modded iPhone supported data transfer via a USB-C cable. To make this support possible, he had to create a new PCB design. According to the creator, he made this new PCB through reverse-engineering Apple’s C94 connector.
The creator of the modded iPhone shared a video on YouTube showing off the creation. While the video was short, Pillonel plans to release a comprehensive video breaking down how he modded the iPhone to support USB-C. However, he hasn’t revealed whether he plans to disclose the details behind his custom PCB.
The reveal of this modded iPhone 10 comes at an unusual time for Apple. Recently, the European Commission announced plans to make tech companies, such as Apple, support USB-C charging on their devices. It will be interesting to see if Apple decides to implement a USB-C charging solution similar to the one found on Pillonel’s modded iPhone or if the company elects to focus on wireless charging for new versions of the iPhone instead.
In addition to this new USB-C modded iPhone, Apple hosted an event last month showcasing several new products coming to consumers. Among the reveals was the iPhone 13. Some of the features of this new version include increased battery life, improved camera, and better processing power. In addition, the event launched the Apple Watch 7.