The Twelve South PowerBug is a new palm-size accessory that does two useful jobs. It’s both an iPhone stand and a plug-in wall charger. It uses MagSafe magnets to hold onto the handset, whether you’re using it to watch video or to juice up the iPhone’s battery.
It works wirelessly, plus there’s a USB-C port for powering a second device.
PowerBug just launched today, but I got some hands-on testing time before the debut. Here’s what I found.
Twelve South PowerBug review
MagSafe iPhone stands aren’t new, and neither are travel chargers. But it’s clever of Twelve South to merge the two. It’s one less thing to carry around.
And PowerBug doesn’t have to be a travel accessory. It could live in your backpack and come out whenever you need a stand for your iPhone, or you just need to charge it.
PowerBug transforms any wall outlet into a sleek, floating hub for wireless and wired charging, freeing up your nightstand, counter or workspace.
- Two accessories in one: Stand and wall charger
- Also works as temporary wall mount
- Just bit thick
Table of contents: Twelve South PowerBug review
- It’s an iPhone stand with MagSafe…
- …and a wall charger in one.
- Charging performance
- Twelve South PowerBug review: Final thoughts
- Pricing
It’s an iPhone stand with MagSafe…
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Twelve South PowerBug looks a bit like a hockey puck. It’s a cylinder that measures 2.3 inches across and is 1.1 inches thick. It weighs a quarter of a pound. As for colors, you have a choice between slate (balck) and dune (off white).
Put the stand on the back of the iPhone, and magnets built into the it and handset hold the two together. The accessory then serves as a kickstand to hold up the screen so you can watch video.
Part of PowerBug’s design is determined by MagSafe/Qi2. The wireless charger must be a cylinder of that diameter to be compatible with the charging mat built into iPhones. And while the accessory is a bit thicker than I prefer, that depth lets it hold the phone screen at a useful angle.
On my 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus, the display is supported leaning backward about 25 degrees with the handset in landscape mode. Switch to portrait mode and the iPhone is held leaning backward at about 55 degrees. Be sure to put out the charger’s power prongs to use the stand in portrait mode.
Based on my testing, PowerBug makes a good iPhone stand. I can set the handset up on my desk, lean back and watch video in either landscape or portrait mode. That said, the angle is better in landscape.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
…and a wall charger in one.
Travel iPhone stands typically require a separate wall charger to keep the handset juiced up. Not the Twelve South PowerBug. Fold out its lower prongs and it can be plugged into a socket — there are separate versions for the U.S., U.K and E.U.
Place the handset on the wireless charger and its battery level will get boosted. MagSafe magnets hold the iOS device in place.
Twelve South also built in a 35W USB-C port. This is an alternative method for charging up your iPhone, or it can be used with a MacBook or iPad.
I like the two charging options, or the ability to charge two devices at once.
Charging performance
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Twelve South PowerBug supports Qi2 wireless charging, which means it can send up to 15W to the iPhone. In testing with my iPhone 16 Plus, the handset’s battery level went up 11% during 10 minutes of charging. That matches other Qi2 chargers I’ve tested.
Just keep in mind that wireless charging generates heat, and so does a wall charger. To keep your iPhone from getting too warm, charging slows during extended charging sessions to allow the handset to cool down.
In my tests of the PowerBug’s USB-C port, it was able to send 33 watts to an external battery that can take in as many as 55W. It sent up to 26W to my iPhone.
Whether using Qi2 or USB-C, this charger can juice up an iPhone fairly quickly. Wireless charging is more convenient, but the USB-C port is available when a faster charger is needed.
Twelve South PowerBug review: Final thoughts
Carrying less gear to get the same functionality is always a plus. And that’s what PowerBug delivers: a useful iPhone stand and wall charger in one palm-size product.
Twelve South already makes one of my favorite wall chargers, the PlugBug. This new model is a welcome addition to its product lineup.
★★★★☆
Pricing & availability
The Twelve South PowerBug launched today, July 22. It costs $49.99 USD / £49.99 GBP / €59.99 EUR.
Buy it from: Amazon
PowerBug transforms any wall outlet into a sleek, floating hub for wireless and wired charging, freeing up your nightstand, counter or workspace.
- Two accessories in one: Stand and wall charger
- Also works as temporary wall mount
- Just bit thick
Twelve South provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
