YouTuber equips iPhone 13 with USB-C without loss of functionality

A YouTuber has equipped an iPhone 13 with a USB-C connection, without loss of functions. The modified device can charge quickly and is still waterproof. In a video he shows in detail how he managed to do this.

Australian Josh from Restore Technique used the C94 circuit board from an Apple Lightning to USB-C cable, the waterproof USB-C port from a Samsung Galaxy A52, and a homemade circuit board to get the USB-C port working on the iPhone 13. He shows the process in detail on YouTube in a video of almost 16 minutes.

The end result is an iPhone 13 with a USB-C port that is indistinguishable from new. The USB-C cable can be plugged in on both sides, fast charging works with 23W, there is support for data transfer and updating via the cable. The device is also still waterproof. The USB-C iPhone therefore has no disadvantages compared to an original with a Lightning connector.

It is not the first time that someone has provided an iPhone with a USB-C connection. A Master’s student in Robotics previously did this with an iPhone X and published extensive documentation. He also fitted an Android phone with a Lightning connector.

Apple is expected to make the switch to USB-C itself in the coming years. The company would already test internally with iPhones with USB-C connection, which will be released in 2023 at the earliest. From 2024, the use of USB-C in smartphones, among other things, will be mandatory in Europe.

Update, 1:43 p.m.: The iPhone 13 was modified by a modder from the Restore Technique YouTube channel and not by Ken Pillonel, as the article falsely stated. The article has been adjusted accordingly.

Images off YouTube video of Restore Technique