This ‘world’s smallest’ iPhone and Apple Watch dual charger might be perfect for your travels
Apple no longer sells the MagSafe Duo, its two-in-one charger for the iPhone and Apple Watch , but if you've found yourself with a charger-shaped hole in your life, Twelve South's new ButterFly might patch it right up.
Similar to the MagSafe Duo, the ButterFly comes with two magnetic charging pucks in a fold-up design. It can simultaneously juice up an iPhone and an Apple Watch or your AirPods, and Twelve South claims it is "the world's smallest 2-in-1 USB-C MagSafe charger."
The ButterFly comes with a 20W adapter for fast charging, as well as four international plug adapters so that you can use it abroad in a variety of locations (currently the US, UK, EU and Australia). The whole thing is designed to be taken on your travels, something that's helped by its low-profile and lightweight design.
It comes in an aluminum case to protect its components. The Apple Watch charger pops up so you can use your wearable in Nightstand Mode , and this puck can also power up an AirPods case (provided it works with wireless chargers).
All of this doesn't come cheap, unsurprisingly. The ButterFly is priced at $129.99 from Twelve South's store , which makes it even more expensive than the MagSafe Duo was (albeit by only 99 cents). One of the MagSafe Duo's problems was that you could buy a rival device for a fraction of the price, and that's a hurdle that Twelve South's product is going to have to overcome.
The MagSafe Duo alternative
(Image credit: Twelve South)
The MagSafe Duo seemed like a clever idea for a gadget, as it let you charge two devices at once while only needing one free wall socket. As well as that, it folded up neatly and took up very little space in a bag – all features that made it ideal for travelers.
The only problem was that it used a Lightning port, and that wasn't going to fly once the European Union (EU) and its Digital Markets Act (DMA) forced Apple to switch its devices to USB-C in order to not flout the law.
There was some speculation that Apple would switch out the MagSafe Duo's Lightning port for a USB-C one, but instead the company simply withdrew it from sale directly after the iPhone 15 event in September 2023.
While we wait to find out whether the MagSafe Duo makes a comeback, Twelve South's ButterFly could be a good option if you want a high-end alternative that's small for travel and looks great – provided you don't mind its eye-watering price tag.
