Twelve South - ButterFly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 Travel Charger - Black

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• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Charging on the (Butter)fly

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  The Twelve South ButterFly SE charger is a handy piece of travel kit that offers flexibility while traveling without adding a lot of extra bulk. Unboxing the charger is not the most thrilling or rewarding experience - it is very straightforward, but that also means little packaging waste to get rid of after. I was disappointed to see it doesn't include a wall adapter, but after some research found that it was because this is an "SE" model of the original Twelve South butterfly, which is to say it is a more budget-oriented variant. I can forgive the omission of a wall adapter in that case, but it is still disappointing to see and could be a problem for someone picking this up on a whim while on a trip. As you may expect the black color is very understated. One may even call it boring. The other colors look more interesting, but the black doesn't pick up too many fingerprints thanks to a softer finish, and it is hard to complain about it on a nightstand. Setup is dead easy, as all you have to do is plug in the cable to a wall adapter and then plug the cable into the Butterfly SE. It takes less than a minute to have it all ready to drop your phone and watch onto. I found that it took roughly two hours to charge my phone to full, which is around what I expected with my usual Magsafe charger. It does get a bit warm to the touch while doing so, but it is also charging at the full 15W allowed by Qi2 and I notice this type of heating up with any wireless charging. Keeping mindful of the potential for heat and generally being safe about plugging electronics in should mitigate any major safety issues. It charges my watch just as fast as my OEM Apple charger, and I am pleased to say that I found it quite reliable on my most recent trip. I didn't have to be worried about whether my devices were charging or if I would wake up to a dead phone and watch because something shifted in the night, as both the watch and phone were very secure on the pucks. Speaking of which, the pucks are the most unique aspect of this charger. They offer a lot of flexibility, allowing you to utilize four different modes: flat, charging both the phone and watch; folded, charging only the phone; folded, charging only the watch as a compact display; and stand mode, which does trigger the iOS nightstand mode. I use the flat mode the most often, but I could see use cases for all four. Because of the folding nature of the charger, it packs quite well and travels lightly. As far as reducing how many cables and chargers one needs to bring while traveling, this device does a fantastic job of keeping things cleaner and more minimal. Plus, the watch charger does double duty -- it can also charge AirPods. Unfortunately, I did feel that the stand for the watch was finicky to pull up and put down, so I imagine if that is something you plan to use regularly it will end up just being stood up the entire time. I also have some concerns about the strap connecting the two pucks and how durable it will be after hundreds and hopefully thousands of folds and unfolds. While the build quality is decent, nothing lasts forever and although it isn't a hinge mechanism, I can see the strap itself wearing out and either breaking or coming apart from one or both pucks. So far, so good though. Overall, this is a nifty little charger and great for traveling. It fits well into a backpack or, if you are so inclined, a travel organizer bag. It can even fit into a pocket when folded up! If you require a 2-in-1 charger for multiple devices or just want something light for traveling, this is not a bad option. As for daily use, I question whether the Butterfly SE would hold up well to years of regular wear-and-tear and I do believe there are better, sturdier Magsafe options out there. That said, the ability to change up the charging configuration and use the Butterfly SE as a phone holder or display stand is a definite perk. Pros: + lots of options for how you want to charge your devices + folds up compact, can fit easily in a backpack or suitcase + reduces the amount of cables and chargers you need to bring on a trip + 15W phone charging, 5W fast charging for Apple Watches and Airpods + included cable is braided, which is always appreciated + looks nice on a nightstand (as a bonus) Cons: - does not include a wall adapter - gets warm to the touch while charging (typical for wireless charging) - concerns about longevity re: the folding parts

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  Posted 1 year ago by R Tanaka

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Ultra Compact Device to Charge Your iPhone & Watch

  • Tech Insider Network Member
  • Top 10 Contributor

  The Twelve South ButterFly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 Travel Charger is a very compact device which provides rapid charging power designed to complement the higher power needs of the iPhone, Apple Watch and iPods at a very economical price. It is ideal for travel. Twelve South is a firm which specializes in accessories for Apple products. It was founded in 2009 and is based in South Carolina. It produces a broad line of consumer electronics products which have high quality and modest prices. Here is their mission statement: “Twelve South creates beautiful accessories that take your tech to the next level … our innovative products enhance, inspire & personalize the experience of using your favorite devices” Here are the key features of this great combination charger: • Twelve South ButterFly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 travel charger (Model: TS-2432) • Suggested power supply: 20 watt power transformer with USB-C output port (not included) • Input: 9 volt, 3 amp • Wireless Qi2 Output: 5 watt maximum (watch), 15 watt maximum (phone) • Compatible with all iPhones 8 – 16 Pro Max, all Apple Watch models and all Air Pods • Wireless Qi2 charging output: 15 watt maximum • Charging efficiency: >72% at 9 volts • Cable: Heavy duty 60 inches USB-C to USB-C • Dimensions (inches): 3.0 x 2.25 x 1 .0 tall (closed); 6.25 x 2.25 x 2.0 tall (open) • Lightweight: 3.6 ounces (charger) + 1.8 ounces (cable) • One year warranty on parts and labor • Made in Viet Nam The Butterfly charger is an attractive black color which is very elegant and professional. (It also comes in classic Apple Alpine white and pink (for the more fashion-forward.) Closed, it looks a bit like a yo-yo. Flip it open and you have two connected charging stations, one side for your iPhone or iPods and the other side for your Apple Watch. Both charging surfaces are magnetic which serves to secure your devices in place during charging. The watch side has a flip-up connector which allows you to use the watch in display mode. The magnetic surfaces also keep the Butterfly closed when you flip it shut for travel. The supplied USB-C to USB-C cable has heavy duty fabric insulation with reinforced connectors at each end and is very generous in length at 60 inches. This makes locating the charging unit much more convenient when you are looking for a wall outlet on the road. The real advantage of this Butterfly charger is that is much more compact than the typical all-in-one charging stands. You can place it on your night stand or desk and it will take up just 14 square inches (about one quarter of a sheet of printer paper.) And you can use it folded up if you just want to charge your watch or just your phone. It also does a nice job in charging all types of wireless ear buds (not just iPods.) Besides use as a desk charger or night stand charger, the Butterfly is ideal for use in your car due to its very compact footprint. Twelve South markets this charger as a travel accessory since its compact size makes ideal for tucking it into your suitcase. However, if you work in multiple locations (home, office, client office) this is a must-have addition to your briefcase or backpack. You never want to be facing that dreaded “low power” warning on your iPhone or Watch without access to a charger! I checked the speed of the charger compared to a good quality Qi wireless charging pad and the Apple-supplied watch charger and the results were very comparable. I was using the Butterfly with a 20 watt power source but ideally you should pair it with a 30 watt power block to maximize charging speed. I am delighted to give this great Twelve South ButterFly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 Travel Charger a strong recommendation! Buy it and your iPhone and Watch will sit happily in a tiny spot on your nightstand while they have all of their power needs satisfied. In fact, buy three – one for your night stand, one for your office and one kept in your suitcase/backpack for every trip!

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  Posted 1 year ago by JimC

• Rated 4 out of 5 stars

  Nice and compact

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  Introduction Wireless Qi chargers are very common these days, so it takes something special to make one stick out from the rest. Going in Twelvesouth is a company that I have not heard of before, but after visiting their website, it seems that they make accessories; mostly for Apple products. What comes in the box? Out of the box you get the travel charger, a braided USB-C to USB-C cable, and an insert. Minor wins I always appreciate it when a company includes a high quality charging cable. I’ve always like the feel and build of braided cable, they are less likely to tear from sudden pulls. Major wins The design of the charger itself is great. I like the clamshell look, and the magnetic latch keeps the charger closed when not in use. Usage Chargers are some of the easiest items to use. You simply plug the USB-C to the charger, and the other end to a power source, and open the clamshell. The phone charging port is magsafe compatible so you’ll know when your iphone is on the charging port correctly. You can charge both the phone and your watch at the same time. My only tiny issue is that there’s no led light that indicates that the port is powered correctly. Adding that would probably add to the cost, so it’s not a big issue. The charger works well, and is small and portable. Minor gripe You have the option to have the have the watch charging port stand up. While I like this as a feature, the act of getting the port out of its housing is quite annoying. Primarily for People who need a smaller compact travel charger, or for anyone who doesn’t have one at all. All in all It’s a nice little compact travel wireless charger. This can be used for in home or travel use. I would recommend it to anyone who doesn’t have one.

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  Posted 1 year ago by EthanH