The Swiss robotics engineer behind a commercial case that adds USB-C to iPhones with a Lightning port has now created a reverse version: A case that adds a fully functional Lightning port to the iPhone 17 Pro.
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Ken Pillonel describes the work as a humorous response to reader requests and states that he has no plans to sell it. “It’s part hack, part mod, and one of the most damned things I’ve ever made,” he wrote in the video’s description, “Be careful what you wish for.”
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The build involved designing custom PCBs for precise connector placement, printing a flexible TPU case on a Formlabs SLS printer, and building a magnet installation guide on a Prusa printer. The final case is thin and flexible, with MagSafe alignment and snap-together assembly.
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Pillonel has set an April Fools' Day deadline to complete the prototype. The project builds on his long history of connector swapping work, which includes adding USB-C to an iPhone X in 2021 and a USB-C conversion kit for AirPods Max in 2024.
