Twelve South PlugBug is the first power supply to support Apple’s Find My technology. That means the USB-C wall charger can be located with an iPhone app, and it warns its owner if it’s being left behind in a coffee shop or hotel room.
One version includes a pair of ports and puts out 50W. A second has four USB-C ports and 120W.
I put PlugBug through real-world testing, and came out loving it.
Twelve South PlugBug review
It happens to all too many travelers: They check out of their hotel room, and leave their expensive iPhone charger plugged in behind the nightstand. That won’t happen with Twelve South’s PlugBug. With support for Apple’s clever Find My network baked in, you might never lose this charger.
Your iPhone alerts you if you get too far away from the charger. And if you misplace it, the location shows up in the Find My app. If that sounds familiar, it’s as if the accessory had an Apple AirTag permanently implanted.
Twelve South designed PlugBug for people on the go, but I can see advantages for families, too. If your kids “borrow” your iPhone charger when they can’t find theirs, you can always track it down, no matter what room it’s in. You can even locate it in their backpack at school.
Those buying a new iPhone might also be in the market for a USB-C power supply/wall charger. Apple no longer includes one with its handsets.
Table of contents: Twelve South PlugBug review
- Convenient multiport USB-C charger
- Easily charges iPhone and iPad
- Damn hard to lose
- Twelve South demo video
- Twelve South PlugBug final thoughts
- Pricing
Convenient multiport USB-C charger
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Twelve South makes a PlugBug version for iPhone/iPad users and a larger one for MacBook users.
My review unit is the smaller one. It includes a pair of USB-C ports and puts out 50W. The power prongs are retractable, and the device measures 3.3 inches by 1.9 inches by 0.9 inches. At a mere 0.25 pounds, it fits easily in my backpack, luggage. Heck, it’s pocketable if you really need it to be.
The white-and-red color scheme means it both matches Apple’s white charging cables while also being easy to see when plugged into a wall.
Easily charges iPhone and iPad
The PlugBug version I tested for this review includes a pair of USB-C cables and can put out a maximum of 50W. That’s just right for an iPhone and iPad.
When charging an M4 iPad Pro alone, the tablet got a max 36W — all it is designed to take. When charging my iPhone 15 Plus, the handset took in 25W, its maximum.
When charging them simultaneously, the iPad received 29W and the iPhone 19W. That’s because they hit the 50W limit.
The most I saw PlugBug send a single device was 48W.
Incidentally, an unconfirmed report indicated the iPhone 16 models can take in 45W. I tested that claim with this charger and found it was bogus.
The larger version is intended for MacBooks. It includes double the ports and can output 120W, but I don’t have a unit to test.
Damn hard to lose
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The standout feature of Twelve South PlugBug is support for Apple’s Find My network. I tested this, and the power supply shows up in Apple’s Find My application, just like it’s supposed to.
If it goes missing somewhere in my home, I can stand on one end of my house and connect to the device on the other from my iPhone with the Find My app, so the connection range is good. I can also use the app to play a sound on the accessory. This could be louder, though — I must be in the room with the wall charger to hear it clearly. Still, if your charger wanders off because someone in your family absconded with it, you won’t have a problem locating it in their bedroom.
To me, the real advantage of PlugBug is getting a warning I’m leaving it behind. I tested this feature just to be sure. I’m confident that if it’s still in a wall socket when I leave a hotel room, I’ll be notified.
And the power supply doesn’t need to be plugged in for Find My to work. A small battery takes care of that. It’s not rechargeable so you’ll need to replace the battery occasionally. A rechargeable battery makes more sense, though.
Twelve South demo video
The company filmed a video to show off PlugBug’s advantages.
Twelve South PlugBug final thoughts
Support for Find My is a feature every travel accessory should have. It’s brilliant that Twelve South added it to this power supply.
It’s rare for me to lose something, but I have left behind a valuable item or two during harried business trips. There’s little chance of that now that I put AirTags on anything I’m worried I might forget. And PlugBug saves me the need.
★★★★☆
I’d have given the device more stars if its audible alarm was a bit more audible. Also, a power supply is an ideal accessory to include a rechargeable battery, so I disagree with the decision to use a replaceable one to power Find My.
Pricing
The PlugBug 50W costs $69.99 while the PlugBug 120W costs $119.99.
Buy it from: Amazon or Twelve South
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.
