A charger with Apple Find My Location tracking

The Twelve South PlugBug 120 is a wall charger with four USB-C ports, a total output of up to 120W and Apple Find My integration for location tracking. It has a compact, Apple-like design with a striking red backplate. Although the price is high, its features make it worth it.

Twelve South Plug Bug

The PlugBug 120 is a wall charger with four USB-C ports, a total power of up to 120W and Apple Find My integration for location tracking, all in a compact and Apple-like design. The PlugBug is also available in a 2-port option with a maximum of 50W as well as a travel version with international plug options.

Advantages

• The compact design allows for flexible use
• A total of 120W ensures broad device support
• Four USB-C ports allow you to conveniently charge multiple devices
• Apple Find My support makes it functionally an AirTag

Disadvantages

• Prohibitively high price for a charging brick
• I would have liked a USB-A port for broader compatibility

Price and availability

The PlugBug 120 retails for $119.99 and is available at Best Buy, B&H Photo, and the manufacturer’s Twelve South website. You can also purchase a 50W alternative with just two ports for $69.99, as well as travel options for every size with international plugs.

Its compact design provides additional flexibility

Many charging bricks do their job well, but are bulky or otherwise designed to interfere with adjacent outlets. In this area, Twelve South has been particularly considerate, as in a typical socket with two plugs, the PlugBug leaves the other plug completely free when it is plugged in. However, with a four-port outlet, the PlugBug can partially block side ports.

Otherwise, due to its compact size, the PlugBug offers four times as many ports as Apple’s larger MacBook charging brick of a similar size. Additionally, because the PlugBug sits flush against the wall and its USB-C ports face up or down rather than outward, it actually stays in the socket better than most alternatives, and its slim fit also allows for more flexible placement.

Four USB-C ports with up to 120W are a game changer

Four USB-C ports totaling 120W on one charger is a lot, even excessive for many, but this amount offers enormous benefit. First, considering all the devices you might be charging at the same time—like a phone, a laptop, a tablet, and a watch—the total number of ports is required, and the total wattage prevents anything from charging slowly.

In terms of wattage, the device offers up to 120W in total and dynamically distributes this wattage depending on device needs. For example, if a gaming laptop requires 120W to charge and supports USB-C, you can plug that device into the PlugBug 120 alone and get the full 120W through one port. Conversely, if you plug in a MacBook Pro, which can use 60-70W, and then an iPhone, an Apple Watch, and an iPad, each of which use significantly less, you can still get 120W in total, while giving each device the full required wattage for the fastest charging.

My only criticism of the device’s design in terms of ports is that it only has USB-C ports and completely ignores USB-A. Most devices are leaning towards USB-C for everything, but many of us still frequently use USB-A cables. Even changing one port to USB-A would have improved the device for me.

With Apple Find My integration, this is more than just a charger

The main feature that sets the PlugBug 120 apart from a generic four-port charger is its integration with Apple Find My location services. The device has a compartment for a battery, so this feature works whether the device is plugged in or not.

Pairing the device with your iPhone is quick and painless. To do this, simply make sure the PlugBug’s battery is properly inserted and the paper tab is removed, then open the Find My app on your iPhone. In the “Items” category, tap the plus sign, select “Add another item,” then press and hold the button on the back of PlugBug until it appears on your screen. Then almost all Find My functions of an AirTag are available to you, e.g. B. remotely play a sound on the device to find it.

I initially thought this was a pointless feature, but I quickly realized how useful it is. As someone who has lost more than one charging brick over the years because they forgot to unplug it, I wish I had had a charger with this integration much sooner to prevent such losses while traveling or on campus.

Beyond the forgetfulness use case, Find My can make this particularly attractive in the case of theft prevention. While thieves may be looking for AirTags and other location tracking devices, few would suspect that a charging brick would have such integration, making it easier to catch the perpetrator.

Finally, this could potentially replace an AirTag in a case for you. Instead of having a separate AirTag and charging block, you can use the PlugBug as both at the same time. If you always have a charger in your laptop bag anyway, reduce the amount of loose items you carry with you.

Should you buy the Twelve South PlugBug 120?

If you’re someone who’s never lost a charging brick before, generally takes good precautions against theft, or already has an AirTag and charger that you like, you may not need to pay the additional premium for the Twelve South PlugBug’s location tracking feature. Likewise, if you need USB-A ports in general, it may not be right for you.

All in all, the PlugBug 120 is an extremely nice to have device, but its high price makes it unnecessary for most. $119.99 is a hefty price for a charging brick, even if it has excellent, well-thought-out features and Find My tracking. If you are prone to losing charging bricks or your bag and want the peace of mind of knowing you can track the loss, this could be the perfect choice for you despite the high price. And if you want to take advantage of the tracking features and don’t mind lower wattage and fewer ports, the 50W dual-port option might also be worth its $69.99 price tag.

Twelve South Plug Bug

The PlugBug 120 is a wall charger with four USB-C ports, a total power of up to 120W and Apple Find My integration for location tracking, all in a compact and Apple-like design. The PlugBug is also available in a 2-port option with a maximum of 50W as well as a travel version with international plug options.