Twelve South’s magnetic PowerBug charger is 20 percent off for Black Friday

Twelve South’s PowerBug plugged into a wall outlet

Twelve South’s PowerBug supports Apple’s Standby mode, which allows you to turn your phone into an ad hoc smart display.

My favorite deals are often on gadgets that pull double duty — like the Twelve South PowerBug, which is currently on sale for the first time for Black Friday. The handy charging accessory, which can turn any wall outlet into a miniature MagSafe charging station, is available for just $39.99 ($10 off) from Amazon and Twelve South.

Twelve South PowerBug

Where to Buy:

  • $49.99 $39.99 at Amazon (black)
  • $49.99 $39.99 at Twelve South
  • $49.99 $39.99 at Amazon (white)

Thanks to a built-in magnetic charging pad located on the front of the device, the PowerBug can deliver up to 15W of power to MagSafe-compatible iPhones and Qi2-compatible devices — including Google’s latest Pixel phones — once plugged into an outlet (no cable necessary). There’s also a built-in 35W USB-C Power Delivery port located on the underside, so you can charge a second device at the same time, whether that’s a pair of headphones, a tablet, or another phone.

Once placed in an elevated position, the PoweBug props your phone upright like a floating phone stand, making it great for following recipes in the kitchen or hopping on a FaceTime call. It also supports Apple’s StandBy mode when positioned horizontally, turning your iPhone into a mini smart display that can show the time, calendar events, photos, or other widgets at a glance. All in all, it’s a versatile little gadget that’s useful in a variety of scenarios, whether you’re traveling this winter or looking for a practical stocking stuffer.