Teenager builds Apple AirPods at home for Rs. 300
What's the story
Apple's wireless earbuds, aka AirPods, can be described as one overly expensive piece of hardware. They cost nearly Rs. 13,000 and serve more as a symbol of status than an ideal consumer device. However, the good news is, you can make your own pair of AirPods for just Rs. 300 - by following the footsteps of this 15-year-old teenager. Here's how he did it.
Creation
Building DIY AirPods at home
As reported by VICE, Redditor Sam Cashook built a pair of AirPods by hacking parts from two different headsets with hot glue. He came up with this approach after noticing that most DIY solutions revolved around chopping off the wire of Apple headphones, which he didn't seem to like. Notably, his AirPods looked a little ugly but worked just as well as the original.
Steps
So, how he did it
Cashook purchased a hands-free bone conduction headset (device that transfers sound vibrations into the inner ear from bones of the ear pinna) and desoldered its internal wires to separate its speakers. Then, he attached the headphone's printed circuit board with the speaker of his original, albeit old, wired Apple headphones. Finally, he threw a bigger battery into the package and hot glued everything together.
Twitter Post
Take a look at his creation
How To Make Your Own AirPods for $4
— Jin Wook (@wugeej) June 4, 2019
A 15-year-old made a working pair of DIY AirPods using an old pair of headphones and a soldering iron. pic.twitter.com/sg4cPFw6nK
Result
Whole project took two months but cost Rs. 300
Cashook took nearly two months but the results were very impressive, especially considering that the parts didn't cost more than Rs. 300. In fact, his home-made AirPods did not just work like the real ones but also had wireless charging capabilities and Apple's W2 chip. Plus, thanks to additional attachments, they also featured buttons for power, playing/pausing music and controlling volume.
Refurbishing
Refurbishing devices can save money
Cashook's AirPod artwork is a clear example of how refurbishing gadgets by hacking into and repurposing parts can save money. You may need some technical know-how to use electronic components from old devices, but if you manage it, the results can be really good. Not to mention, your efforts can also contribute towards tackling the pressing problem of e-waste.