Creator of the 'USB type-C iPhone' makes an AirPods case to match

TWS earbuds are sometimes perceived as consumables at best and e-waste waiting to happen at worst due to the difficulty involved in tearing their charging cases down for repairs such as the replacement of their relatively small, high-turnover batteries or their smaller, often fiddly internals.

AirPods cases could be seen as a particularly severe example of this "dirty secret", particularly as they may be even more susceptible to obsolescence thanks to their use of Lightning ports. Ken Pillonel has released a new video with a potential solution to the problem.

Pillonel is not the first vlogger to encounter the difficulty involved in cracking an AirPods case open, although the engineer does provide what might be the easiest and quickest method to do so in this new video.

Repairing the case thereafter doesn't really get more straightforward, requiring the design of a custom plastic assembly guide, circuitry and brackets, PUK welding and, of course, the 3D printing of a replacement case.

On the other hand, Pillonel did ultimately succeed in his goal of AirPods restoration, even substituting its (apparently replacement-free) Lightning connector for a type-C port instead.

Furthermore, the engineer has made the process open-source by posting the 3D and PCB files as necessary to a new website, with the possibility of ready-made kits for sale to follow. Therefore, AirPods fans might be able to keep their accessories going for longer thanks to this new foray into sustainable repair.