The phone chargers of the past were true nightmares, tiny proprietary horrors that stopped working just by looking at them. Today, almost every smartphone maker has adopted the USB-C port as a universal solution, but one brand still holds out: Apple. Cupertino's refusal to launch iPhones with USB-C seems absolute, but some geniuses on the Web have shown that the conversion is perfectly possible. One of them is David Buchanan, who adapted an iPhone SE to USB-C, without sacrificing support.
The European Union confirmed in early June that all smartphones and tablets sold in its territory must have a common charging port by 2024 (autumn of that year, to be precise), while laptops will get an additional two years to adapt. The big question is: what will Apple do? Hell will likely freeze over before Cupertino gives ground on this point, but rumors point to a permanent adoption of wireless charging. In essence, a move worthy of Lionel Hutz: I don't need to change the port... because there is no port.
Meanwhile, users hack. Recently, David Buchanan went to eBay to buy a used iPhone SE at an accessible price, with one goal: remove the Lightning connector and install a USB-C port so that it integrates with the phone. This not only eliminates the classic dongles from the equation, but also proves that an iPhone with USB-C would not require major design changes.
Installing a USB-C Port in an iPhone SE
Obviously, the process is not for the faint of heart: The iPhone SE already needed surgery due to its cracked screen and missing home button (the things they sell on eBay are amazing), but the simple act of removing the Lightning port requires a lot of patience and heat control. Even so, David 'lost' some electrostatic protection components, which are not vital.
The first tests didn't work completely, but a quick consultation of the diagrams (available online despite Apple's blocks) allowed David to make the necessary adjustments for the iPhone to detect the charger, restore the battery, and enable data transfer. The final phase is no less traumatic than the previous one: getting the hardware into the casing. Ultra-thin cables, a good dose of glue, and the new USB-C port was firmly in place.
The last image of the project is the first: the iPhone SE with USB-C, new screen and button. The marks on the casing are battle scars that every used phone accumulates over time, but it doesn't matter: the USB-C conversion is possible, and we only need a little goodwill from Apple. Dreaming costs nothing...
Sources: David Buchanan on Twitter, Hackaday.
