Twelve South PowerBug REVIEW Compact Qi2 and USB-C Charger for iPhone ...Middle East

One Bug I don’t mind being around 

Twelve South has been a favorite of mine for many years. Their team consistently creates thoughtful, beautifully designed accessories that make using my Apple gear even more enjoyable. If you’re not already familiar with them, Twelve South has been crafting Apple-focused products since 2009, when it was founded by Andrew Green. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, the company has built an impressive catalog ranging from iPad and MacBook stands to innovative charging solutions, all designed with Apple users in mind.

One of their most recent products to hit the market is the PowerBug, a 35W magnetic wireless charger that takes advantage of Qi2 and full-power USB-C charging technologies. Since my most-used device is my iPhone and one of my favorite hardware features is MagSafe, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try this delightful little charging adapter out.

About PowerBug

PowerBug is a compact wall charger that combines the convenience of Qi2 wireless charging with a high-speed USB-C port. Designed to plug directly into any standard outlet, it eliminates the need for messy cables while keeping your device upright and accessible. Delivering up to 15W of magnetic wireless power and up to 35W total when using the USB-C port, PowerBug is ideal for fast charging an iPhone, AirPods, or other compatible devices. Its foldable plug makes it travel-ready, and its clean design fits perfectly in kitchens, offices, or bedside setups.

Main Features

Dimensions: 60mm X 60mm X 29.18mm

Weight: 0.095kg

Compatibility:

Input: 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz, 1.0A Max

Qi2 Wireless Output: Up to 15W

USB-C Output: Up to 35W (PD 3.0 + PPS)

Dual Output: 20W USB-C + 15W Qi2 = 35W Max

What’s in the Box

Pricing & Availability

The list price of the PowerBug is $49.99 and it’s available on twelvesouth.com and Amazon. It comes in two different colors slate/black and white/due.

User Experience

The PowerBug is extremely user-friendly. It comes in a clean Twelve South-branded box with a clear image of the product on the front. As noted above, the box contains the PowerBug and a user manual. That’s it. I think it would have been great if Twelve South included a short USB-C to USB-C charging cable, but I don’t fault them for not including it. It just would have been a bonus since the device charges through both wireless and cable-connected means.

The best part about this charger is that it doesn’t require anything special to work. You plug it into the wall and then place your phone on it. It charges. You remove your phone and the PowerBug has done its job. The PowerBug is designed to allow users to charge their phones in portrait or landscape mode. I did notice, though, that depending on how high your outlet is off of a desk or counter, the ability to charge in portrait mode might be hindered. I have a power strip on my desk that clamps to the side, and there is not quite enough clearance for the phone to rest on the magnetic charging surface in portrait mode. It’s great for landscape, though.

One of the biggest advantages of using the PowerBug is that you free up counter or desktop space from classic wireless charging pads. One of the target markets is use in kitchens where there are traditionally outlets available at counter height. With that in mind, you have more room to prepare meals or store appliances rather than have that counter real estate taken up by a charger. The same is true for desktops. I recently revamped my desk setup so that there were fewer items included on the desk. So, the PowerBug is a great addition to my chargers because I can store it in my desktop storage and pull it out when I need to charge.

In order to test the charging capabilities of the PowerBug, I used a nearly drained iPhone 16 Pro as my test subject. When I started charging, it was at 12% battery. I decided to approach this charging test in two ways. First, I charged the iPhone for 30 minutes using the magnetic charger, and then I plugged it into the USB-C port and charged it for another 30 minutes.

The charging performance of the Twelve South PowerBug closely aligns with the product’s claims. With the wireless charger, the iPhone averaged 0.77% battery gain per minute. This is consistent with the expected output of a 15W Qi2-compatible charger. When switching to the USB-C port, the iPhone averaged 1.30% battery gain per minute, reflecting the faster speeds enabled by its higher 35W Power Delivery capability. These results confirm that PowerBug delivers reliable wireless charging for convenience and near-fast-charging speeds via USB-C when quick power boosts are needed.

I did notice that the PowerBug was quite warm after charging the iPhone for 30 minutes. I used an infrared thermometer to check the temperature, and the front (the magnetic charger) ranged between 108-113º while the back (the plug side) was around 98-100º. This is still within a ‘safe zone’ for chargers, which is usually anything up to 140º, which is when lithium-ion cells can become chemically unstable.

There was still a little bit of heat collected after the phone charger via USB-C, but it wasn’t as high as the wireless charging session. The front was approximately 99º and the back was around 103º. I also checked the temperature around the USB-C port, and it was approximately 97º. It is normal for heat to collect when charging devices because electrical energy is not transferred with perfect efficiency, and energy lost in the process turns into heat on the charger and the surrounding elements.

Conclusion

The Twelve South PowerBug delivers on its promise of combining wireless convenience with USB-C speed in a compact, travel-friendly design. Charging performance matches the advertised specifications, with wireless speeds suiting casual charging needs and USB-C providing a much faster boost. While heat buildup is noticeable, it remains within safe limits for regular use. Overall, PowerBug is a thoughtfully designed solution for Apple users who want to save space and enjoy versatile charging without compromising style.

For more information, visit twelvesouth.com.

Hence then, the article about twelve south powerbug review compact qi2 and usb c charger for iphone was published today ( Tuesday 02/09/2025 - 09:08 PM ) and is available on MacSources ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

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