USB-C iPhone: Engineer Makes It Happen

The Transition to USB-C and Apple's Position

Recent discussions have focused on the USB-C port, particularly due to a European initiative aiming to establish it as the universal standard for mobile devices. This move is intended to minimize electronic waste. Currently, Apple remains the sole major smartphone manufacturer not adopting this standard.

A robotics engineering student has demonstrated the feasibility of replacing the iPhone’s Lightning connector with a USB-C port, as reported by Apple Insider.

Reverse Engineering the Lightning Connector

Ken Pillonel, a master’s student at EFPL, previewed an iPhone X modified with a USB-C port on his YouTube channel. He promised a detailed video explaining the process.

Prior to this, Pillonel detailed his work in a blog post and video, outlining how he reverse-engineered the Lightning connector. He then created a prototype PCB connector to validate the concept.

Building a Functional Prototype

Pillonel discovered that Apple provides Lightning connectors to certified partners for the production of USB-C to Lightning cables. He obtained a connector from a third-party cable.

He carefully removed the metallic casing, exposing the PCB. Subsequently, he extracted the female Lightning port from an iPhone and soldered wires connecting the bare C94 board to a PCB equipped with USB-C connectors.

“With this completed, my initial working prototype was achieved,” Pillonel stated. “The Lightning port was eliminated, leaving only USB-C functionality.”

Shrinking the Design for Integration

The subsequent phase involved a complete reverse engineering of the C94 board. This was necessary to reduce the size of the components to fit within a smartphone’s casing.

Judging by the preview video, this miniaturization has been successfully accomplished, and a comprehensive explanation will be provided in a forthcoming video.

Benefits of USB-C for iPhones

For many iPhone users, a USB-C port represents a significant improvement. It would enable faster Power Delivery (PD) charging and compatibility with standard, non-proprietary cables.

The feasibility of this change is evident, as Apple already incorporates a USB-C port into the iPad Pro. A proposed European regulation seeks to mandate USB-C charging for all phones and electronic devices, aiming to reduce both e-waste and consumer frustration.

A Complex Modification

While the modification has been achieved, it’s a project best left to experienced individuals. Pillonel possesses a strong background in electronics and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Robotics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL).

Furthermore, attempting such a modification would inevitably invalidate the iPhone’s warranty.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Engadget.