It's no secret that Apple is slowly abandoning the Lightning connector and adopting USB-C after the European Union forced its hand. While many accessories, the iPad and even the iPhone now use USB-C, the AirPods Max are still stuck in Lightning land. However, engineer Ken Pillonel (who previously brought USB-C to the iPhone and AirPods before Apple) created a USB-C connector for the headphones.
Pillonel found that it was easy to remove the Lightning connector AND leave a hole the perfect size for a USB-C cable. Then he designed a custom circuit board and found the right connector to make it all work. Pillonel managed to charge the AirPods Max via USB-C on the first try.
Unfortunately, wired USB-C audio is not possible through this mod. Pillonel notes that doing so would require a chip from Apple's own adapter, which costs $35. At that time, you can also buy a USB-C headset. So this mod is only worth it if you really want to charge your AirPods Max via USB-C, which means there's less reason to carry around a Lightning cable.
The AirPods Max are three years old and probably need an update. Any future models are likely to have a USB-C connector to comply with EU regulations. However, if you're willing to modify your existing headphones (or maybe even replace a broken Lightning connector), you can download the circuit design and purchase all the other parts you need. Everything is listed in the description Pillonel YouTube video and addresses They are on their website. Alternatively, you can shop.kenp.io/products/41rp0d-max-usb-c-flex” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:buy a kit;cpos:11;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas” class=”link “>buy a team directly from the Pillonel store.
