Twelve South ButterFly SE 25W 2-in-1 Qi2.2 Charger Review

When it comes to charging on the go, bringing a separate charger for each of your devices can take up precious space in your tech pouch. The Twelve South ButterFly SE 25W 2-in-1 Qi2.2 Charger aims to simplify things with a compact, foldable design that charges an iPhone and either AirPods or an Apple Watch. We’ve been testing it for two weeks, and its small footprint makes it an appealing option for travelers who want to simplify their charging setup. Plus, the translucent exterior and leather-like interior give it a distinctive look compared to your typical charging pad.

The biggest draw here is Qi2.2’s 25W charging capability, which charges compatible iPhones faster wirelessly while leaving a second charging surface for smaller accessories. It’s not a portable power bank, so you’ll still need a wall adapter or another suitable power source to get things going. However, the ability to fold everything into a disc roughly the size of an AirPods case makes it easy to tuck into a tech pouch. At around $80 at the time of testing, it’s a premium accessory, so we’re looking at whether its charging performance and travel-friendly design justify the price.

For the remainder of this review, we’ll refer to this charger as the ButterFly SE Qi2.2 for brevity and to distinguish it from the previous ButterFly SE, which only supports Qi2 charging. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

The Rundown

The ButterFly SE Qi2.2 opens into two charging surfaces connected by a flexible hinge. One side charges an iPhone through its magnetic connection, while the other accommodates either AirPods or an Apple Watch. The watch component pulls up when needed, giving a dedicated spot to attach our watch. This setup means you can charge three different types of Apple devices with one accessory, though only two can charge simultaneously.

For everyday use, that flexibility is handy. We charge our iPhone and AirPods overnight, then swap the AirPods for an Apple Watch when we need to top up our wearable. Compatible AirPods cases with magnetic charging support snap into place, helping keep everything aligned. Meanwhile, the iPhone’s magnetic connection makes it easy to lift the phone, answer a message, and return it to the charger without fussing with a separate cable.

The headline feature is its 25W charging capability. The charger detects the connected phone and adjusts its output based on the device. During testing, we didn’t notice our phone getting excessively hot, which was a pleasant surprise, considering the charger doesn’t have any cooling solutions, like a fan or heatsink, unlike some other wireless chargers. The secondary charging surface supports up to 5W for AirPods or an Apple Watch, making it useful for topping up smaller devices alongside a phone. Actual charging speeds depend on the device and charging conditions, so we don’t expect every phone to draw the full 25W.

There’s also a handy nightstand mode. By folding the two sides together and flipping the charger into position, we can create a small stand for the phone while it charges. It’s a simple addition, but it gives the ButterFly SE Qi2.2 a little more versatility beyond sitting flat on a desk. We also appreciate that the magnetic connection holds the charger together when we pick it up, making it more comfortable to handle while charging.

One thing to keep in mind is that the ButterFly SE Qi2.2 needs external power. It connects through a USB-C port on the back and includes a braided cable, but there’s no wall adapter in the box. Twelve South recommends using a wall charger rated for at least 30W, which provides enough power for the phone’s 25W output and the secondary charging surface. If you’ve already got a multiport adapter from a brand like Anker or Ugreen, that’s not necessarily a problem. Otherwise, you’ll need to factor another accessory into the cost.

Packability

Portability is one of the ButterFly SE Qi2.2’s strongest selling points. Folded up, it’s roughly the size of an AirPods case, so it slips easily into a tech pouch without taking up much room. We can bring it with our charging cable and wall adapter instead of packing separate charging accessories for our iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. That helps keep our kit compact, particularly when we’re traveling with several devices that need regular top-ups.

The charger also comes with a simple travel case that holds the folded unit and its cable. It’s a convenient way to keep everything together, though we can just as easily slide the charger directly into our tech pouch. In our testing setup, it fits neatly alongside a battery bank, a wall adapter, and other everyday tech essentials, like a laptop cord if we’re bringing one. Still, the ButterFly SE Qi2.2 still helps reduce the number of individual charging accessories we need to pack.

Quick Comparison

The ButterFly SE Qi2.2 is part of Twelve South’s foldable 2-in-1 charger lineup, which also includes the original ButterFly and ButterFly SE Qi2 models. The original version has an aluminum exterior that looks premium, though our sample has sustained noticeable scratches over time. The SE (both Qi2 and Qi2.2 models) switches to a plastic-like exterior while retaining the leather-like interior and the same general foldable design. Both models offer the same basic charging arrangement, supporting an iPhone alongside either AirPods or an Apple Watch.

The main difference is charging speed. The ButterFly SE Qi2 is limited to 15W, while this newer Qi2.2 version offers faster 25W charging for compatible iPhones. At the time of writing, all three versions sell for around $80, making the faster model a more compelling choice for buyers starting from scratch. If you already have a ButterFly SE Qi2 and don’t need faster charging, there’s less reason to upgrade. We should also point out that other brands sell less expensive multi-device chargers, some of which can charge three devices simultaneously, such as the Anker Prime Wireless Charging Station and the ESR HaloLock 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set. In other words, there are better bang-for-the-buck options out there, albeit with more bulk.