Those of us still rocking AirPods with Lightning ports finally have a way to upgrade them to USB-C that doesn’t require complicated modifications or the cost of completely replacing the case. Engineer Ken Pillonel has created a smart case for older AirPods models that includes a USB-C charging port on the outside.
The protective cases are made from a durable but flexible 3D-printed plastic and can be installed on an AirPods charging case in about 10 seconds. The USB-C port on the outside passes power along to the AirPods’ Lightning port using some added electronics hidden in the base, but the case is also easily removable should direct access to the Lightning port still be needed.
Before buying you’ll want to make sure to double-check that the specific model number listed on your AirPods charging case is compatible with the supported versions specified in each case’s listing.
Pillonel has also come up with a solution for AirPods Max users who don’t want to spend another $549 for Apple’s new USB-C model. His USB-C External Adapter for the original AirPods Max simply plugs into its Lightning port and hangs off the bottom of the right earcup. It’s not quite as elegant as the protective cases, but it’s small enough to be hard to notice while wearing the headphones out and about.
For a few years now, Pillonel has been waging war on Apple’s proprietary Lightning port, which overstayed its welcome as USB-C became commonplace. In 2021, he released an open-source design for upgrading the iPhone X to USB-C and later revealed methods for upgrading AirPods and the AirPods Max to USB-C. Pillonel does sell electronic kits for upgrading Apple’s wireless headphones on your own, but the new cases and adapter don’t require any hardware mods or soldering skills.
