Swiss hardware hacker Ken Pillonel already has form when it comes to intriguing modifications of Apple products. A couple of years ago, he made the fix many Apple fans had been waiting for (and are still waiting for) by adding a USB-C port to the iPhone. Now he's revealed what he describes as his "most innovative project" to date.
The product? USB-C wired AirPods. Pillonel has taken apart a pair of broken AirPods and revamped them with the addition of a trust USB-C cable. Sounds absurd? Well, it is, but there's a serious message behind the project (see our guide to the best AirPods Pro 2 prices for a deal on Apple's latest inner ears).
If this sounds like it was intended as an April Fools joke, that's because it was. Pillonel uploaded the video above to his 'Exploring the Simulation' YouTube channel on April 1, but he really did deconstruct a pair of broken AirPods and rebuild them with a USB-C cable, giving them a sharp black and white look in the process.
But Pillon says his serious objective is to highlight the ills of technology that can't be repaired, including wireless headphones whose batteries can't be replaced. He notes that Apple's first and second-gen AirPods have a repairability score of 0/10 on the how-to site iFixit. They're almost always chucked out when they break, creating unnecessary waste.
While AirPods are all wireless, Apple does still sell its old wired EarPods, either with a Lightning connector or a 3.5mm headphone jack (no, there's no USB-C option, but then we know Apple's feelings about that). Not convinced? See the best prices on Apple's wonderful, but unrepairable, AirPods range below.
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