Engineer Explains How He Added a Fully Functioning Lightning Port to a Samsung Phone

[MacRumors]

Following a number of enthusiasts successfully adding a USB-C port to the iPhone, engineer Ken Pillonel has explained how he added a fully functional Lightning port, including support for charging and data transfer, to a Samsung Galaxy A51.

After posting a preview of the project earlier this month, Pillonel has now shown how he completed the conversion in detail. The complex process involved working around the device's limited internal space, circumventing Apple's proprietary software checks for the Lightning connector, micro-soldering, and 3D-printing a custom connector.

Upon posting the preview of the project, Pillonel told Engadget that it was "a complex modification that required some out-of-the-box thinking."

The Lightning cables sold by Apple are not "dumb." They will only charge Apple devices. So I had to find a way to trick the cable into thinking it was plugged into an Apple device. And the whole thing needs to fit inside the phone, which is another challenge in itself.

Pillonel admitted that "the quality of the finished product is nowhere near what it was for the iPhone," but he doesn't expect "anyone in their right mind" to want to do this to their device. "It was for fun, I just wanted to see if I could do it," he explained, adding that such projects serve as a great example of what can be achieved with devices, even without the help of the companies that originally made them.

Pillonel was the first to gain notoriety for modifying an iPhone X to add a functional USB-C port, which went on to sell for over $86,000 at auction.

Article Link: Engineer Explains How He Added a Fully Functioning Lightning Port to a Samsung Phone

 

[Berti10]

Oh, this wasn’t an April fools?

 

[idark77]

but Why?!?

 

[Deguello]

but Why?!?

"It was for fun, I just wanted to see if I could do it," he explained, adding that such projects serve as a great example of what can be achieved with devices, even without the help of the companies that originally made them.

 

[RedTheReader]

"It's evolving, just backwards."

 

[Deguello]

"It's evolving, just backwards."

 

[canadianreader]

"It's evolving, just backwards."

Headphone jack is forward thinking

 

[rpmurray]

Pillonel was the first to gain notoriety for modifying an iPhone X to add a functional USB-C port, which went on to sell for over $86,000 at auction.

Has anyone ever confirmed that he actually got the $86,000?

 

[AirunJae]

I totally support this kind of chaos.

 

[IIGS User]

I'm teaching my cat to play poker, but his tell is still too obvious....

 

[atomwork]

It would be more important if Apple gets a USBC port FINALLY into their phone.

 

[JosephAW]

Why can’t apple provide both? One on either side or one on the landscape side.

 

[WWPD]

Good mornang!

Today at Apple we are about to deliver the most important and revolutionary idea since the original iPhone. We're calling it "USB-C port."

We think you're gonna love it.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

The fact it works is just magical honestly

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

It would be more important if Apple gets a USBC port FINALLY into their phone.

MagSafe first and then USB-C never ever.

 

[idark77]

"It was for fun, I just wanted to see if I could do it," he explained, adding that such projects serve as a great example of what can be achieved with devices, even without the help of the companies that originally made them.

a total waste of time...

 

[danakin]

The fact it works is just magical honestly

I'm pretty sure his degree is not in Magic. Well, unless he has a double major and even then I'd put my money on Science and/or Engineering.

 

[Deguello]

a total waste of time...

Unlike the rich rewards of commenting about it on an internet forum, I suppose.

Nothing like disagreeing with the actual person‘s actual stated reason, but you do you.

 

[danakin]

Again, it remains a total waste of time!!!

"Total" is an absolute term.
If anyone got any learnings, excitement, pleasure, fun, etc. out of this (no matter how small) then it's not a total waste of time.
I, for what it's worth, find this sort of thing entertaining.

If your post read: "Again, it remains a total waste of time for me!!!" it would, at least, be argumentatively accurate.

 

[Deguello]

Again, it remains a total waste of time!!!

Again, you don’t get to decide what is a waste of someone else’s time.

 

[Deguello]

and for me it remains a total waste of time.

You didn’t do it. It wasn’t your time.

 

[atomwork]

You didn’t do it. It wasn’t your time.

He has a point. Using a lighting charger is a waste of time in 2022. Even the iPads use USBC. We all know apple just wants to squeeze some extra cash out of us. I use the S22Ultra with USBC and it charges the phone at least 2x faster than my iPhone 13 ProMax.

 

[Wimpy]

a total waste of time...

I just saw his resume on LinkedIn, I doubt that the company that hired him thought the same thing.

 

[thebeans]

I'm teaching my cat to play poker, but his tell is still too obvious....

Cool. What is his tell?

 

[Mousse]

I'm teaching my cat to play poker, but his tell is still too obvious....

The cat is playing the long game, bro. Once you've fixated on a supposed tell, cat's gonna cash in on the big stakes game. Just like how Le Chiffre got 007 fixated on a supposed tell and bankrupted the superspy.