Two years ago Strange Parts explored the possibility of adding USB-C to an iPhone – which, btw, looks like imminent after the recent EU ruling. Two years later in 2021, one dude – known by his YouTube handle Kenny Pi – made it happen.
Yes. You heard that right. One dude and not Apple made it happen. Folks, meet the world’s first iPhone with a USB-C interface – complete with support for charging and data transfers.
The idea seems simple enough: use a USB-C to Lightning, convert Type C make to a female port, and then pack everything inside the iPhone. Obviously, there are more to it:
“The first part was about getting the electronics to work. Then the next step was to reverse-engineer the Apple C94 connector and make my own PCB with a female USB C port. Then the schematics for the project were set and tested and the final was to make it fit inside the iPhone!”
Now that a couple of iPads, including the new iPad mini 6 is outfitted with USB-C, perhaps USB-C adoption on the iPhone is inevitable? Perhaps, it is not a question of if it will, but“when”. But would Apple forgo the lucrative MFI certification program? That remains to be seen. In the meantime, have a look at a video walkthrough of the USB-C equipped iPhone:
If you prefer reading, Kenny Pi has also posted a detailed write-up of this iPhone port mod on his website.
Images: Kenny Pi/YouTube (Kenny Pi).
