AirPods are a useful accessory until the charging case breaks. Working earbuds are useless without a case to bolster them. And as one user detailed, Apple would rather buy you a brand new case than fix the one you have. , given the premium price of Apple’s wireless headphones, that’s an inconvenient truth. Put it in the USB-C port while you’re at it.
The mod comes from Ken Pillonel’s Exploring the Simulation YouTube channel. Pillonel is the same guy who brought his Android phones with Lightning ports and his iPhones with USB-C. About six months ago, he also posted a video demonstrating how to make his PCB and 3D printed case to repair his AirPods 1st and 2nd generation and equip his USB-C. bottom.
On Wednesday, Pironel brought his mad genius to the AirPods Pro. The DIYer shares on his GitHub how he 3D printed an AirPods Pro case.
Going even further, Pillonel now sells custom PCBs designed by him. This is meant to be fixed by replacing his Lightning port on the AirPods Pro case with his USB-C port that works. With the world moving to USB-C, including EU directives, the AirPods Pro may last even longer.
AirPods Pro are notoriously unrepairable. iFixit gave it a repairability score of 0, stating that it was “theoretically semi-repairable,” but that “the non-modular, glued-in design and lack of replacement parts make repair impractical.” It’s expensive and not economical.” Given the sheer difficulty of opening the case and the lack of available parts, I’d rather Apple replace an old battery or faulty port with a new one, despite the environmental and financial drawbacks. It is clear that they want to pay for the case.
Pillonel’s fix isn’t very practical for many people, but to make things easier, he recommends the so-called USB-C Flex at CHF34.90 (about $38) or 10 at CHF249 (about $270). ) are sold at
He’s also selling a first-generation AirPods Pro case already modified to support USB-C (299 francs/$324). However, he said that physical imperfections such as scratches can occur “because it is difficult to modify.” That’s more than the $249 Apple is currently charging for the second-generation AirPods Pro, but who can judge the value of USB-C connectivity? PiIlonel says parts will start shipping by the end of April. claims to be.
As the Pillonel shop points out, using these domestic parts will void Apple’s warranty. Custom PCBs aren’t something you should buy if you’re not comfortable fixing them yourself or don’t want to bet expensive craftsmanship on components bought online from the manufacturer. The custom PCB doesn’t work either with his AirPods Pro, the second generation of which came out in September.
Still, Pironel’s jobs and stores are a reminder of how much easier repairs can be with greater support from the tech giant.Apple itself recently launched a self-service repair program for Macs and iPhones. are taking measures. But Apple still has a long way to go before it truly embraces self-healing, including his AirPods.
And Pillonel’s DIY PCB is really thought provoking. If a YouTuber can buy the tools and set up a shop where they can supposedly keep their AirPods Pro case if the battery dies or the port doesn’t work properly, why wouldn’t Apple do this? How much waste could AirPods Pro users save by selling such a cheap component? And what other gadgets could this kind of research make more repairable?
You can check out Pillonel’s full video detailing the AirPods Pro mod below.
