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Engineer adds wired USB-C connection to AirPods, removes need for Lightning charging case

This could come in handy.

Hardware prototyping consultant Ken Pillonel has done it again, this time adding wires and a USB-C connector to a set of AirPods, bypassing the need for its charging case.

The AirPods and AirPods Pro earbuds, which are not designed to be serviced or repaired because no internal components can be accessed without damage to the device, making them a disposable item, were viewed as something of a tongue-in-check project to raise awareness about these repairability issues, and encouraging consumers to think more about simply buying a non-consumable pair of wired earbuds rather than Apple’s wireless offering.

Here’s the project in action:

In 2022, Pillonel undertook a similar project to highlight repairability issues with Apple’s lightning connector by adding one to a Samsung Galaxy A51. He is also responsible for several other innovative projects that have captured the Apple community’s interest in recent years, including adding USB-C ports to AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the iPhone X.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via MacRumors