Twelve South’s stylish charging tray now delivers more wireless power with a smaller footprint

Twelve South has refreshed its Valet charging tray with a combination aimed at the bedside and desktop: a more compact form, a leather-finished surface and support for Qi2 wireless charging at up to 25 watts. The update keeps the product focused on a familiar task—giving a phone a designated place to rest and recharge—while increasing the level of wireless power associated with that small-space accessory.

The Valet’s appeal is not limited to charging speed. A tray-style charger can make an everyday routine feel more orderly by turning a loose phone, cable and adapter into a single, intentional station. For people who charge overnight, that matters as much as the electrical specification: the device is meant to sit in view, often beside a bed, rather than disappear behind furniture or under a desk.

The new model’s Qi2 support is central to the update. Qi2 is a newer wireless-charging standard designed around more consistent magnetic alignment between a compatible phone and charger. In the Valet’s case, the stated maximum is 25 watts, placing the revised tray’s power capability above what the headline describes as its earlier wireless output. Actual charging results will still depend on the phone being used and its compatibility with the standard.

At the same time, Twelve South is presenting the revised charger as physically smaller. That change may be especially relevant for nightstands, entry tables and workspaces where charging products compete with lamps, books, keys and other essentials. A reduced footprint can make a charging station easier to place without changing its role as a visible landing spot for a phone.

The leather element remains an important part of the Valet’s identity. Wireless chargers are frequently designed as plainly technical objects, but a tray with a more decorative finish is intended to blend into a room rather than call attention to its electronics. The product’s styling suggests that Twelve South is treating charging hardware as part of a home or office surface, not merely as an accessory to be tucked away.

That approach reflects a broader shift in the wireless-charging market. As charging pads and stands have become common, manufacturers have increasingly differentiated their products through materials, shape and how easily they fit into daily routines. The useful question for buyers is no longer only whether a device can add power to a phone, but whether it keeps the charging area neat, is easy to use in low light and suits the space where it will spend most of its time.

There is also a practical trade-off in the emphasis on higher power. A 25-watt Qi2 rating is a notable specification, but it does not automatically mean every phone will receive that exact amount. Wireless charging performance can vary with handset support, alignment and the limits set by a device maker. Buyers should therefore view the headline figure as the charger’s supported maximum rather than a guarantee of identical results across all phones.

The smaller design likewise may appeal differently depending on how the tray is used. Someone seeking a minimal overnight phone station may value the space savings most, while another buyer may place greater weight on the leather finish and the product’s appearance in a living area. The Valet’s revision combines those priorities instead of treating power and presentation as separate product categories.

What remains to watch is how consumers respond to accessories that frame wireless charging as furniture-adjacent design. The updated Valet places a faster Qi2 charging capability inside a compact, leather-trimmed tray, making it a case study in the growing overlap between consumer electronics and home décor. Its proposition is straightforward: a phone charger can be both more capable and less visually intrusive.

Source: The Verge