Back in 2021, engineer Ken Billonel did what Apple rejected when he made the world’s first iPhone with a working USB-C port. Now, Pillonel has flipped the script with his latest project: the first Android phone with a Lightning connector.
Admittedly, an Android phone with a Lightning port doesn’t have nearly the same kind of cross-gravity as a USB-C iPhone, but that’s okay. In the initial video, Billonel said the device was meant to be more of a fun project created to “balance the chaos” his previous device launched, deliberately launching on April Fools’ Day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch؟v=WEaYRuDA0GM
However, putting this thing together was no joke, because as silly as the concept is, the Lightning port on an Android phone (in this case the Samsung Galaxy A51) is fully functional for charging and data transfer. Billonel said, “It was [هذا] Complex modification requires some thinking outside the box. “And when I had the chance
To ask regarding the project’s biggest challenges, Billonel told Engadget that the hardest part is figuring out how to make it all work together.
He said, “The lightning cables that Apple sells are not stupid. They will only charge Apple devices. So I had to find a way to trick the cable into thinking it was connected to an Apple device. Everything has to fit on the phone, which is another challenge in itself. “
Fortunately, Billonel has learned a thing or two since his previous project, which helped lay the foundation for his last deities. “I would say it was easier to do than the first USB-C iPhone for two reasons,” he said. “The first is that I’m getting better at it because I’m learning new things every single day, so I hope I can finish these adjustments faster and faster. The second reason is the quality of the product
The final was nowhere near what it was for the iPhone.”
And while I’m assuming an Android phone with a Lightning port represents a clear reduction in usability compared to a standard USB-C port, that doesn’t seem to bother Pilonel. “I wouldn’t expect anyone in their right mind would want to do this with their devices,” he said. “It was just for fun, I just wanted to see if I might do it.”
So what’s the next step for this unique tool? For those looking for more details on what went into the project, Billonel says he’s working on a full explainer video that will soon be up on his YouTube channel. As for the phone itself, Billonel says he likely kept it following he ran into problems when he put the original USB-C iPhone up for auction on eBay, which ended up fetching more than $100,000 in fake bids.
“I didn’t want to be forced to try to sell it because that’s not what I really am,” Billonel said. I want to focus on my engineering and scientific projects.” And while these custom mods might not be everyone’s dream device, they’re a great example of what can be done even without the help of the companies that originally made them.
