Ken Pillonel, a former robotics student from EPFL in Switzerland, has been gaining recognition for his innovative and successful modifications to various Apple products.
The Art of Modification
Pillonel first made waves with a pioneering customization for the time: adding a USB-C port to an iPhone X and a Lightning port to a Samsung Galaxy. This was long before the new European laws that would make the latter mandatory on upcoming iPhones. His initial venture sold on eBay for over $86,000! Later, he continued his innovative streak with the AirPods Pro by equipping them with a USB-C port.
What do you think of these AirPods Pro with a transparent case?
Continuing his focus on AirPods, he didn’t just stop at a transparent case but rather introduced a version that allows upgrading all Lightning earphones to USB-C, all at an affordable cost. True to his engineering ethos, Pillonel places great emphasis on repairability and fighting obsolescence by devising ways to extend the lifespan of products.
He also created a smart case for older AirPods models that includes an external USB-C charging port. This accessory is produced using a 3D printer, hence it is made of durable yet flexible plastic, and can be attached to any AirPods case in seconds. The external USB-C port allows for charging the AirPods through additional connectors hidden inside that connect via the Lightning port.
Pillonel’s cases are available for AirPods 1, 2, and 3, as the new AirPods 4 now come with USB-C. They are also available for the first-generation AirPods Pro and the Lightning version of the AirPods Pro 2.
One More Thing
Kenn Pillonel has also developed a solution for AirPods Max users who don’t really need or want to switch to the USB-C version!