Those users who are still using AirPods with Lightning ports finally have a way to upgrade them to USB-C without the need for complicated modifications or a complete replacement of the case. Engineer Ken Pillonel designed a smart case for older AirPods that included a USB-C charging port on the outside.
The case is made of durable and flexible 3D-printed plastic and attaches to the AirPods charging case in about 10 seconds. The external USB-C port sends power to the AirPods' Lightning port through some additional electronics hidden in the base, but the case can also be easily removed if you still need to connect the Lightning port directly.
Pillonel's case works with AirPods 1, 2, and 3, as the new AirPods 4 now come with USB-C. It also works with the Lightning versions of the original AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2, which Apple updated to USB-C last year. And got a $99 USB-C charging case for the AirPods Pro 2, but Pillonel's USB-C case costs only $30 to $40.
Before purchasing, you'll want to make sure you double-check that the specific model listed on your AirPods charging case is compatible with the supported version specified in the list of each charging case.
Pillonel also has a solution for AirPods Max users who don't want to spend another $549 on Apple's new USB-C model. The USB-C external adapter he designed for the original AirPods Max simply plugs in its Lightning port and hangs on the bottom of the right earcup. It's not as elegant as a case, but it's small enough to be hard to notice when you're out and about wearing headphones.
For several years, Pillonel has been waging war on Apple's proprietary Lightning connector, which has become obsolete with the popularity of USB-C. In 2021, he released an open-source design to upgrade the iPhone X to USB-C, and subsequently revealed ways to upgrade AirPods and AirPods Max to USB-C. Pillonel also sells electronics kits for upgrading Apple's wireless headphones on its own, but the new case and adapter don't require any hardware modification or soldering skills.
Pillonel的USB-C保护壳适用于从原版AirPods到AirPods Pro 2的所有型号。
Pillonel 还为初代 AirPods Max 开发了 USB-C 适配器。