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iPhone with USB-C: a Swiss citizen’s success
by Livia Gamper
The first iPhone with USB-C is for sale – for a steep price
8.11.2021
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
Swiss citizen Ken Pillonel built the world's first iPhone with a USB-C jack. He’s now selling his prototype on Ebay. The highest bid is currently over 90,000 US dollars.
Robotics and computer science student Ken Pillonel had enough of the Apple Lightning connector. So he built a USB-C jack into an iPhone X. He planned out the project well in advance and documented the process in a series of videos.
The modded iPhone X is now for sale on Ebay. Bidding is open to everyone, though the current bid may prove an obstacle for many people – it currently stands at over 90,000 US dollars. Bidding will end on Thursday, 11 November 2021 at 5:00 p.m. All bidders are listed as private.
The purchase is subject to some conditions: Pillonel specifies that the unique iPhone must not be restored, updated or erased. In addition, it must not be used as an everyday phone or opened.
In return, Pillonel guarantees the USB-C iPhone will work upon receipt. «If you don't follow the aforementioned guidelines, you are on your own. So basically you can do whatever you want with it but don’t expect anything from me if you break something,» he writes. The iPhone comes in black and has 64 gigabytes of memory. Accessories are not included, though shipping is free worldwide. Should the new owner have any questions, Pillonel is offering a 30-minute call with himself.
In the video embedded below, Pillonel explains his iPhone project in detail.
Cover image: Ken Pillonel
Testing devices and gadgets is my thing. Some experiments lead to interesting insights, others to demolished phones. I’m hooked on series and can’t imagine life without Netflix. In summer, you’ll find me soaking up the sun by the lake or at a music festival.
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