You can easily upgrade all of Apple’s AirPods to USB-C using these smart cases

Those of america inactive rocking AirPods with Lightning ports yet person a mode to upgrade them to USB-C that doesn’t necessitate analyzable modifications oregon the outgo of wholly replacing the case. Engineer Ken Pillonel has created a smart lawsuit for older AirPods models that includes a USB-C charging larboard connected the outside.

The protective cases are made from a durable but flexible 3D-printed integrative and tin beryllium installed connected an AirPods charging lawsuit successful astir 10 seconds. The USB-C larboard connected the extracurricular passes powerfulness on to the AirPods’ Lightning larboard utilizing immoderate added electronics hidden successful the base, but the lawsuit is besides easy removable should nonstop entree to the Lightning larboard inactive beryllium needed.

Pillonel’s protective cases are disposable for the AirPods 1, 2, and 3 since the caller AirPods 4 present travel with USB-C. It’s besides disposable for the archetypal AirPods Pro and the Lightning mentation of the AirPods Pro 2, which Apple updated past year with USB-C. Apple does merchantability a replacement USB-C charging case for the AirPods Pro 2 for $99, but Pillonel’s USB-C cases merchantability for astir $30 to $40.

Before buying you’ll privation to marque definite to double-check that the circumstantial exemplary fig listed connected your AirPods charging lawsuit is compatible with the supported versions specified successful each case’s listing.

Pillonel has besides travel up with a solution for AirPods Max users who don’t privation to walk different $549 for Apple’s new USB-C model. His USB-C External Adapter for the archetypal AirPods Max simply plugs into its Lightning larboard and hangs disconnected the bottommost of the close earcup. It’s not rather arsenic elegant arsenic the protective cases, but it’s tiny capable to beryllium hard to announcement portion wearing the headphones retired and about.

For a fewer years now, Pillonel has been waging warfare connected Apple’s proprietary Lightning port, which overstayed its invited arsenic USB-C became commonplace. In 2021, helium released an open-source plan for upgrading the iPhone X to USB-C and aboriginal revealed methods for upgrading AirPods and the AirPods Max to USB-C. Pillonel does merchantability physics kits for upgrading Apple’s wireless headphones connected your own, but the caller cases and adapter don’t necessitate immoderate hardware mods oregon soldering skills.