Twelve South updated its luxe Valet MagSafe charger and catch-all with better performance and a new size, helping it fit into even more homes.
The Valet is a clever device, and something I'm surprised we don't see more of in the space. It combines a MagSafe charger with a leather-lined tray to hold your daily essentials.
When I reviewed the original Twelve South Valet, I had one primary criticism. While the design was great, the charging speed was a dealbreaker.
Fortunately, with these new models, Twelve South is righting that wrong. We now have faster charging and a new smaller size.
Twelve South Valet 4.25-inch review: Valet is now faster and comes in two sizes
Here in the studio, I am testing out the 4.25-inch model in black with the black border. So far, it's delightful.
The Twelve South Valet comes in several colors and two sizes. The original is 7.5 inches, and the new, smaller one is 4.25 inches for the catch-all.
Twelve South Valet 4.25-inch review: The charger, still in the box, comes in three colorways with three frame options.
Like the original, the design is two-tone with one for the frame and one for the body. You can choose black on black, taupe on ecru, or brown on brown.
As you can see in the photos, I have the black-on-black. The frame is held in place magnetically, so that you can remove it and swap it for another color.
Twelve South Valet 4.25-inch review: The frame of the Valet can be removed, and you can swap it for additional colors to create your own design
Additional frames are available from Twelve South for $25 a pop, in the same black, brown, and ecru colors. Between the two sizes, three base colors, and three frame colors, you have 18 total combinations to design your own Valet.
Twelve South Valet 4.25-inch review: The 45W power adapter includes UK and EU adapters, too
The Valet also comes with a sturdy color-matched and braided USB-C to USB-C cable and a 45W power supply. The power supply has collapsing prongs for use in the U.S., with EU and UK adapters included for international use.
From the beginning, what set the Valet apart from others has been the exceptional design. Twelve South thought through so many different use cases and scenarios, not skimping on the design or materials.
Twelve South Valet 4.25-inch review: The extra USB-C output is perfect for my smart glasses or Apple Watch
The solid zinc alloy base is wrapped in soft Nappa leather. It has a slightly pebbled texture and will elegantly wear over time as you toss your keys and other EDC gear into it.
On one side is a small perch that will hold your device while charging. It elevates your phone just about a quarter inch and makes it look like it's floating.
If you have an iPhone Air, the effect is particularly impressive. It looks so sleek.
Twelve South Valet 4.25-inch review: The USB-C cables can be routed in any direction to keep your counter tidy
Valet is designed to support multiple orientations to fit easily into your home, thanks to intelligent cable routing on the underside. There are four little cable clips on the bottom so that the cable can emerge from any side to stay as unobtrusive as possible.
I also appreciate that the cable color matches that of the leather. It helps complete that clean aesthetic.
Twelve South Valet 4.25-inch review: When your phone is placed, three lights subtly glow to signal charging has started
Another fantastic touch is a subtle charging light. When you place your phone down, three lights will momentarily glow around the bottom of the charger, giving you confirmation that your device is charging.
Finally, Twelve South includes a secondary USB-C output on the bottom. That way you can charge any other devices you need, like a set of Meta Ray-Ban glasses, your AirPods, or an Apple Watch.
The first-generation Twelve South Valet supported 15W of Qi2 charging. For this device, that's not going to cut it for me.
See, Twelve South pitches this as something that's meant to live on an armoire or in a common area. Those are the kinds of places where I expect to set my phone down for a few minutes and get a quick top-off.
15W isn't bad, but when many iPhones now support 25W Qi2.2, this device is an ideal candidate for that faster speed. That's just what we get with Twelve South's new models.
