Apple’s iPhone has remained an iconic and hugely functional smartphone, with huge followership across political and economic divides. When design engineer Ken Pillonel decided to replace the lightning connector of an iPhone X with a USB-C port, he ended up selling what was called the world’s first-ever USB-C iPhone for $86,000. That was a massive buy for the new device which was seen as a collector’s item, hence its high price. Pillonel’s feat has inspired a few other persons, one of which was Gernot Jobstl, who tweaked the iPhone further to provide waterproof protection as well as USB-C charging support. Jobstl’s prototype was thus the second-ever iPhone with the USB-C port.
The reception of the new iPhone was however not as elevated as its predecessor. It was sold for $3,000, which is far below the price of its predecessor. It seemed that the device touted as the world’s first waterproof USB-C iPhone could not generate enough traction to sway collectors or users to the propriety and functionality of the device. Jobstl had showcased the operation of the modified iPhone X with USB-C charging in a YouTube video, stressing his plans that support for the device could engender further research on similar projects.
The auction of Jobstl’s USB-C iPhone X saw a lone bidder getting the smartphone at $3,000, and this was certainly below the expectation of its producer. The functionality of the USB-C waterproof iPhone could have done it in, as it has several limitations. The absence of fast charging, lack of bidirectional charging, as well as the fact that it lacked any guarantee, all contributed to its seeming rejection by the market. Officially, it is also unlikely that Apple will shift to USB-C charging support in upcoming models, as portless charging is a direction that some OEMs are currently exploring.
Apple’s recent MagSafe technology and other tech innovations point to the possibility of having iPhones that may not even need the lightning port for charging. Therefore, enthusiasm for a waterproof USB-C iPhone may not generate any traction as seen by the almost zero reception from the Jostl innovation.
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