A new iPhone case from engineer Ken Pillonel lets anyone add a USB-C port to an older Lightning iPhone, with no disassembly required.
Pillonel is best known for creating the first USB-C iPhone in 2021, a one-off project that went viral among tech fans and right-to-repair advocates. Now, after several years of work, he's turned the idea into something anyone can use.
His new case slips over an iPhone and adds a working USB-C port that supports charging, data transfer, and CarPlay. The case includes a custom circuit that handles fast charging and full-speed data transfer.
It avoids the usual problems seen in adapters, which often fail under load or break easily. The USB-C port connects directly to the Lightning interface through the case, so there's no need to open the phone or use tools.
Pillonel says he designed the case as a response to planned obsolescence. He wants people to get more life out of older devices without having to upgrade or rely on fragile accessories.
A push for sustainability
Apple has started moving to USB-C on newer iPhones, but older Lightning models are still widely used. Pillonel's case gives those devices a second wind, offering users a chance to modernize without buying a new phone.
His video, launching July 23 on YouTube, shows the case in action and walks through how it works. Pillonel also previously launched USB-C cases for AirPods, and those quickly drew interest from the repair community.
The iPhone case isn't up for sale just yet, but Pillonel says it's real and working. He's hoping it inspires others to think differently about how tech is designed, used, and upgraded.
A note on planned obsolescence
Apple drew a lot of negative attention when it moved to the Lightning connector on iPhone, then USB-C on Mac within a few short years. The company even promised, and upheld, that the Lightning connector would be in place for at least ten years.
The move to USB-C was a necessary step to ensure Apple didn't face unnecessary regulation or fines because of its proprietary port. The idea that Apple moved ports to force users to upgrade to newer port types is an odd one, especially since the new port is more universal and allows Android and iPhone users to share chargers.
The new iPhone case definitely serves the purpose of bringing USB-C to aging iPhones, but it doesn't really change anything about how long Apple plans to support those devices. The iPhone 15 debuted the port in 2023, and iOS 26 supports devices going back to 2019, so it isn't as if those devices have stopped working just because they use a Lightning connector.
That said, if and when Pillonel's case comes to market, it'll provide an interesting in-between step for those still holding on to older iPhones that want to embrace USB-C before upgrading their device. And with iPhone 16e and used iPhone 15 models available, users should really consider just making the leap sooner rather than later.
