Earlier this month, Twelve South introduced the Butterfly 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger, and it might just be the best multi-device travel charger ever. The name “Butterfly” comes from the shape, as it has two magnetic sides connected by a small strap in the middle.
When folded, the Butterfly is only two inches around and fits in a palm or pocket, making it easy to transport. Unveiled, the iPhone has a 15W MagSafe charger on one side and an Apple Watch charging puck on the other. The Apple Watch Charger supports fast charging for Apple Watch Series 7 and later, allowing for faster charging speeds.
The Apple Watch charger can be used flat or it can be popped out to support nightstand mode and bands that can’t charge in a flat orientation. The MagSafe-Side is a simple charging pack that connects to other devices such as the MagSafe iPhone and MagSafe AirPods.
The Butterfly has a USB-C port to power it, and the Twelve South has a braided black USB-C cable and 30W power adapter. There are interchangeable plugs so you will have the plug you need if you travel to another country. There is a standard plug for the US and Canada, a two-prong plug for Europe, a three-prong plug for the UK, Ireland and other countries, and a plug that works in Australia, New Zealand and China. You can swap in the one you need and keep the rest for travel.
The Butterfly is made from a silver aluminum material that matches Apple’s devices well, with the two halves of the charger connected by a vegan leatheresque strap. It’s an attractive design, and the connection between the two parts seems secure enough to hold up over time.
Twelve South has designed Butterfly with some clever features, so it’s able to work with standby on the iPhone. It can fold in either direction, so it can be used as a nightstand for the Apple Watch by folding the iPhone in half, or it can fold the Apple Watch in half to prop up an iPhone in the correct orientation for standby mode.
Technically it’s supposed to fold flat when you’re charging an iPhone and an Apple Watch at the same time, but I was able to put it in a triangle position to make standby mode work while charging the Apple Watch. I don’t find the standby mode useful so I doubt I’ll use it in that orientation while traveling, but it’s an option.
In charging tests, the ‘MagSafe’ charger actually charged my iPhone 15 Pro Max at 15W and I got the same charging results I’ve been seeing with Apple’s own MagSafe charger. My close-to-dead Apple Watch Series 9 charged up to 84 percent in less than an hour, which is what I’d expect from an Apple Watch fast charger.
If you wear an Apple Watch to bed, you probably know that an Apple Watch fast charger is a must to get enough battery to last you through the day in short charging bursts, so I’m grateful that Twelve South includes fast charging capabilities.
Both the Apple Watch Charging Puck and the ‘MagSafe’ charger can charge ‘MagSafe’ AirPods, making this 2-in-1 charger as versatile as the 3-in-1 model.
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It’s the most compact travel charger I’ve tried, and I have no complaints other than the price tag. $130 is expensive, but it’s using two of Apple’s proprietary technologies – Apple Watch Fast Charging and ‘MagSafe’.
Cost aside, this is the perfect travel charger and if you’re looking for a premium solution that folds up small and works well with iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch, the ButterFly is worth checking out.
how to buy
Twelve South’s Butterfly Charger can be purchased from the Twelve South website or the Apple website for $130.
