An engineer's new smartphone cases can give any iPhone a USB-C port

Ken Pillonel has a history of developing clever projects that add USB-C support to gadgets that have less common, outdated port types. After creating the first ever USB-C iPhone back in 2021, the engineer has returned his attention to that concept. He's created an iPhone case that can provide older device models with a USB-C port, and you can browse the available options on his shop. He also detailed the design process in a fascinating ">video.

For several generations, Apple equipped its smartphones with proprietary Lighting ports. That connection tech required a frankly obnoxious number of adapters and dongles to use. A solution like Pillonel's can help keep those older devices functional in the present day, where USB-C has become the standard for most gadgets, including Apple's.

"The goal is to give some extra life to those older devices by making them feel less obsolete," he explains in the video announcement. Pillonel has designed cases for all 20 phone models from the Lightning era that can run the current iOS. The design promises fast charging as well as full data transfers to both computers and CarPlay. He's also adding more color options to be released in September.

The video is a worthy watch for anyone interested in product design and engineering. And you can also read the backstory on other products Pillonel has tackled, including Apple's AirPods and AirPods Max.

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