This smartphone case gives older iPhones a USB Type-C port

Apple's latest iPhones all have USB Type-C ports, making it easy to use third-party chargers and cables with the company's smartphones. But that's a relatively recent development – Apple's first iPhone with a USB Type-C port was the iPhone 15, which launched in 2023. If you have a model that's older than that then you're probably still stuck with a proprietary Lightning port.

Now there's a relatively simple way to add a USB-C port to older iPhones. The iPh0n3 USB-C Protection Case is designed to work with most iPhones released since 2017 and once you insert the phone you can use a USB-C charger or data cable instead of Lightning.

The case was designed by Ken Pillonel, the guy who made headlines in 2021 by making the first (unofficial) iPhone with a USB-C port by hacking an iPhone X.

Most folks probably aren't going to open up their iPhones and mess with the insides though, so Pillonel's first mass-produced device is a case with a Lightning connector on the bottom and a USB-C port on the side. If you want to know more about how the case converts a Lightning signal to a USB-C signal, check out Pillonel's video that explains the design process, among other things:

The case also offers a bit of  protection for the phone, obviously, and it's made from "strong gray Nylon 12 plastic."

Pillonel says that iPhones using the case support all the usual features including data transfer, fast charging, and Apple CarPlay. And the case doesn't interfere with wireless charging – in fact he says the magnetic connection for MagSafe accessories is "even stronger" when using the case.

The case is assembled in Switzerland and at time of publication there are five models in stock and ready to order with prices ranging from CHF 43.90 to CHF 49.90 (about $55 to $63).

But if you also count the out-of-stock versions of the case, there are 20 different models available for most recent iPhones that have Lightning ports and which support iOS 18. If you're looking to pick up a case that's currently out of stock, you can sign up to be notified when it's available.

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