Engineer Brings Wires and USB-C Connector to AirPods

Hardware prototyping consultant Ken Pillonel has added wires and a USB-C connector to a set of AirPods, bypassing the need for its charging case.

airpods with wires by ken pillonel
Repair site iFixit has given all versions of the AirPods and AirPods Pro a score of zero out of 10 for repairability. They are not designed to be serviced or repaired because no internal components can be accessed without damage to the device, making them a disposable item, especially since their three batteries degrade over time.

Pillonel's latest tongue-in-cheek project to add wires to AirPods is designed to raise awareness about these repairability issues, encouraging consumers to think more about simply buying a non-consumable pair of wired earbuds rather than Apple's wireless offering.

Last year, Pillonel undertook a similar project to highlight repairability issues with Apple's lightning connector by adding one to a Samsung Galaxy A51. He is also responsible for several other innovative projects that have captured the Apple community's interest in recent years, including adding USB-C ports to AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the iPhone X.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

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Top Rated Comments

hagar Avatar
26 months ago
He could at least have used white cables
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mcgoldrickster Avatar
26 months ago
April 1st ?
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bousozoku Avatar
26 months ago

April 1st ?
Perhaps, but on April 2nd, they'll be just as difficult to repair.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ninecows Avatar
26 months ago
Takes “reverse engineering” to a whole new level
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
verdi1987 Avatar
26 months ago
So, he made the 2012 EarPods, which Apple still sells.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
26 months ago
It bothers me the Wired AirPods cable is black, not white. He could have matched the wires with the color white. OCD has kicked in. ?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)