I never really understood why people called them Wireless Chargers, because even though you weren’t plugging your phone in, the charger itself was connected to a socket via a wire. I mean, at the risk of sounding pedantic, a Wireless Charger is basically a Port-less Charger, because it juices your phone without using the port on the bottom. However, there’s still a wire involved somewhere, connecting the charger to a power source – but not with Twelve South’s PowerBug.
The PowerBug is quite literally wireless in the sense that the charger directly plugs into your outlet. Designed to be like a puck emanating from your wall, the PowerBug is a nifty MagSafe-enabled charger that lets you ‘attach’ your phone to the wall, turning it into a wall-mounted screen. There’s no wires, your phone levitates hands-free, and it charges without those complicated mats or docks or stands. Attach it to your wall the way you attach a magnet to a fridge, and the PowerBug directly juices your phone… wirelessly.
Designer: Twelve South
The PowerBug has some undeniable pros – it eliminates wires, which eliminates knotting, tangling, fraying cables that often turn our desks into eyesores. The phone attaches directly to the power socket in the wall, with a tiny puck in between. The result is a clean setup that keeps your phone accessible without occupying space in your hands or your table. Want to watch TikTok or YouTube? The phone’s literally facing you, making it easy to do everything from watch content to take FaceTime calls. MagSafe with actual magnetic abilities!
There are, however, small cons. For starters, the PowerBug literally blocks a socket on your wall. If your wall has multiple sockets next to each other, there’s a small chance your phone will cut off access to adjacent sockets, which might be a bit of a deal-breaker. Moreover, you’re now at the whim of the power socket’s placement. If you have a socket that’s awkwardly located, the PowerBug makes sure your phone becomes awkwardly located too. So as much as I love the PowerBug, it’s one of those devices that you need to plan for. Like how you only buy a washing machine or fridge after ensuring there’s a dedicated space for it in your apartment. Once installed, however, the PowerBug is invaluable. It easily lets you snap your phone to the wall, almost mindlessly, and begins charging it – no wires, no questions.
There is, however, a USB-C port on the bottom, just in case you want to charge a second device using the traditional cable method. This effectively allows the PowerBug to double as a wired charger, giving your power outlet a dual-charging ability… so that your AirPods or tablet get juiced alongside your phone too.
The PowerBug comes in 2 colors – a White/Dune, and a Slate/Black, both packing a Qi2-compatible 35W coil on the inside, with magnetic abilities that work with all MagSafe-ready iPhones (there’s support for StandBy Mode too) as well as Android devices with MagSafe stickers/cases, or with Qi2 charging. The prongs on the PowerBug are foldable, which means it quite literally turns into a small puck that you can stash in your bag or in your bedside drawer… however, it’s best left in your wall’s power socket, giving you a dedicated docking center for your phone whenever you need it. The PowerBug starts at $49.99, and there’s only a US version for now, although knowing the folks at Twelve South, I’m sure they’re working on internationally compatible variants as we speak!
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