Twelve South Valet
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Twelve South’s Valet is available now for $179.
- It’s made of genuine leather, with a Qi2 wireless charging puck and space for safekeeping your essentials.
- It’s not cheap, and only designed to charge one or two devices.
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Twelve South, maker of premium mobile accessories, just released a first for the brand: a desktop valet with a wireless charging puck and organizing space, constructed of genuine Nappa leather.
The valet is expressly premium, with a solid build and rubberized stoppers that keep it stationary on any surface. It features a weighted zinc alloy base, making it quite heavy, weighing a total of 2.3 pounds. The base measures 9.75 inches by 7.5 inches, occupying a considerable amount of space on a dresser, console, or nightstand.
Its design couldn’t be more minimalist. It features two USB-C ports on the underside — one that connects to the power outlet, and a second for an optional second cable, allowing you to charge a second device at 35W. It’s not a one-stop shop for all your electronics; it’s best for one — two, max — devices, while housing your essentials in one place.
The bottom of the valet has four cable routing posts that allow you to guide cords out of any of the four sides, so it can be arranged in either portrait or landscape mode, with the charging post on either side. It’s the small touches like this that speak to Twelve South’s thoughtful design to maximize its practicality.
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I’d say it’s for someone who wants a practical, simple piece to consolidate phone charging and pocket essentials, and doesn’t need an octopus-like charging station with flailing cords for multiple devices at once. Its understated design resembles an analog desktop valet, not a charger. In fact, if not for the power cord, there’s nothing to even indicate that it is a charger.
In terms of customization, there are two components: the leather base and the (magnetic, removable) frame that surrounds it. The leather is available in either taupe or black, while the frame is offered in taupe, ecru, brown, or black, allowing for a variety of color combinations.
I went with the solid black model and love how it looks on my nightstand. I will note, however, that the black tends to show dust, especially if you’re constantly placing items on the valet that have come straight from your pocket.
The valet’s weighted zinc alloy base keeps it raised off the surface for an elevated look. Placing a device on the wireless charger momentarily illuminates two downward-facing lights on the base to indicate that it recognizes and is actively charging, but thankfully, they dim after a few seconds. I should also note that the wireless charger here works even through my MagSafe-compatible phone case.
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Twelve South aims for a premium consumer here, and the price certainly backs that up. At $179, it’s certainly not cheap, but it’s not that unheard of for a device made with genuine leather and this kind of stalwart build.
The brand’s HiRise 2 Deluxe, for example, also charges two devices wirelessly, but in a far more stripped-down form, for $79 — a whole $100 less.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Twelve South’s Valet is a classically designed desktop console that also serves as a charging station. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to consolidate essentials. It’s one of the most solid built desktop valets I’ve ever tested: this thing doesn’t move around, even with frequent lifting and placing of your phone on the magnetic wireless charger.
It’s a little expensive, but its genuine leather surface and straightforward build make for a device that is bound to last. If you’re done messing around with disposable plastic chargers from questionable online sellers, consider investing in a practical device with a sophisticated design.
