Twelve South are no stranger to some really nice accessories, that I’ve personally had the pleasure of reviewing. I still use the PlugBug Travel 120 wall charger for all my stuff at home, and I even had the chance to review the AirFly Pro 2 on my way to Europe last year. I still use the Curve Mini stand beside my PC for my phone and iPad.
If first impressions and general brand reputation mean anything in the world of technology, I’m generally sold on most Twelve South accessories for their premium quality and sleek design. So when I had the opportunity to review the ButterFly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 Charger with a small work trip to Sydney around the corner, it seemed like the perfect time to put this through its paces.
Design
Available in Pink, White, Midnight Plum and Black, we tried out the latter option and were ultimately pleased with the look and design. The ButterFly SE might not stand out as something unique or outlandish; in fact, it’s quite the opposite.
It’s an incredibly minimal-looking puck that opens up to reveal two wireless charging pads on either side, one being a wireless charging pad for a phone, and the other side a charging pad for an Apple Watch, or any other MagSafe or Qi2 charging device like a pair of AirPods, for example.
The standard charging pad on the right will work with any MagSafe or Qi2-enabled device, while the watch charging puck on the other side can be lifted to sit upright, which is an essential feature for me, given I wear my Apple Watch Ultra with a loop band, where I can’t lie it flat on its back. It’s just a nice thought, and it goes a long way in making the ButterFly SE feel that much more versatile.
The ButterFly SE also comes with a matte soft-touch finish as opposed to the shinier aluminium finish of the standard ButterFly. I personally prefer the way it looks, but there’s no avoiding the fact that this does pick up a fair few fingerprints over the course of the day. It’s far from a dealbreaker, but worth noting nonetheless.
The interior leatherette pads within the charger also feel incredibly premium and durable, so there’s no need to stress about this being shoved around in the luggage while travelling. At only 119g, you won’t even feel like you’re travelling with this either.
Compared to the standard ButterFly variant, which comes with a 30W charging adapter and 5 international adapters, making it handy for travel, the SE version only comes with a 1-metre woven USB-C cable in the box and no adapter of any kind. You can pair the SE with any 30W adapter, but this is worth considering from a price perspective if you need to buy one as well.
Performance
Paired with any 30W charger, the ButterFly SE will charge two devices, one phone and a secondary device like a pair of AirPods, for example, with no problems at all.
While these advantages appeal to the design of the ButterFly SE, I’ve left them for this section of the review as I feel like they change the way the device works, and in turn add additional features for certain users.
If you weren’t using or charging a secondary device, the ButterFly SE can be folded in on itself, magnetically attaching around the back, to act as a single charging stand for your phone, which you could pop on your bedside table.
As someone who charges their iPhone on a wireless charging stand overnight, I use my iPhone in StandBy mode, which essentially turns my iPhone into a big alarm clock that displays the time and automatically dims the screen.
While I didn’t need to charge my Apple Watch overnight on my brief trip to Sydney, it was nice to fold the Butterfly SE back as a stand and use my phone in StandBy mode without having to bring my entire HiRise 3 Deluxe charging stand from home.
Even then, you can flip the ButterFly SE around the other way and simply use it as a charging stand for something like your Apple Watch or pair of earbuds.
Verdict & Value
There’s not really much more to it than that, but I think it’s a wonderfully versatile option for something so small, making it a near-perfect travel companion for those looking to charge multiple devices on the go.
Add in the soft-touch matte finish and durable design, and the Twelve South ButterFly SE 2-in-1 Qi2 Charger more than justifies its premium price tag for various types of users and devices.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Plenty of charging options; Sturdy as a phone stand; nice soft-touch finish; Stylish, light design
Lowlights: No charging adapter in the box
Manufacturer: Twelve South
Price: A$179.95
Available: Now
Review based on unit supplied by Twelve South and available via the official Twelve South website.
