PETL 2 Plus Review: Everything You Need to Know About the petl2

TL;DR: The PETL 2 Plus — widely searched as the petl2 — is a 5,000 mAh MagSafe-compatible battery pack that snaps to your iPhone and can top up your Apple Watch and AirPods too, all without a single cable. It delivers near-full iPhone recharge capacity in a slim, CNC-machined aluminum disc that genuinely disappears into your pocket. If you've been asking whether the upgrade from the original PETL is worth it, the honest answer is: for most people who need more than a quick top-up, yes — with a few real caveats spelled out below.

What Is the PETL 2 Plus (petl2)?

The PETL 2 Plus — often searched simply as the petl2 — is PETL's second-generation MagSafe-compatible battery pack, stepping up from the original model's 3,000 mAh to a 5,000 mAh high-density lithium polymer cell. Like its predecessor, it's built around PETL's signature circular form factor — a design that looks nothing like a conventional rectangular power brick and feels more like a premium accessory you'd choose for yourself than a gadget you merely tolerate.

It measures 72.5 mm wide and 16.2 mm thin. The body is CNC-machined aluminum with a tempered glass top and N52 neodymium magnets that produce a satisfying, confident snap to the back of any MagSafe-compatible iPhone (iPhone 12 through iPhone 16). It supports 15W Qi wireless charging and USB-C passthrough charging, shows up automatically in the iOS battery widget, and requires zero apps, zero setup, and zero cables to start charging your phone.

PETL 2 Plus vs. Original PETL: The Real Differences

Before diving into real-world use, here's a clear side-by-side of the two models so you know exactly what the upgrade buys you.

• Capacity: Original PETL — 3,000 mAh. PETL 2 Plus — 5,000 mAh. That's roughly 67% more stored energy.
• Estimated talk time: Original PETL — up to 10 extra hours. PETL 2 Plus — up to 15 extra hours.
• Dimensions: Original PETL — 70 mm wide, 14 mm thin. PETL 2 Plus — 72.5 mm wide, 16.2 mm thin. Both are genuinely pocketable; the Plus is slightly thicker but not meaningfully so in hand.
• Colors available: Original PETL — seven-plus options including Natural, Black, Blush Gold, Sahara Gold, Sage, Lavender, and Sky. PETL 2 Plus — currently three: Cosmic Orange, Slate, and Space Black.
• Price: Original PETL — $64.95. PETL 2 Plus — $89.95.
• Design DNA: Identical circular disc concept, same N52 magnets, same tempered glass top, same CNC-machined aluminum construction.

How Much Does the petl2's 5,000 mAh Actually Charge?

Raw mAh numbers deserve honest context. Wireless charging — including MagSafe-style inductive transfer — loses some energy as heat during transmission. Real-world wireless charging efficiency typically runs in the 70–80% range, meaning a 5,000 mAh cell realistically delivers somewhere around 3,500–4,000 mAh to your iPhone.

Most current iPhone models carry batteries in the rough range of 3,200 mAh (compact models) to over 4,400 mAh (Pro Max variants). In practice, the PETL 2 Plus will get most iPhones from critically low to full — or very close to it — in a single session. The original PETL's 3,000 mAh is excellent for a confident top-up (saving you from the 15% panic zone, giving you hours more of use), but it won't reach a full recharge on larger iPhones. The petl2 changes that equation meaningfully.

PETL 2 Plus Apple Watch and AirPods Charging

One of PETL's core promises — on both models — is that a single disc replaces the tangle of chargers Apple users used to carry. The PETL 2 Plus can wirelessly charge your Apple Watch and AirPods (with a Qi-compatible wireless case) in addition to your iPhone. For Apple ecosystem users, that means one pocket-sized accessory covers all three devices you're most likely carrying.

This multi-device capability matters especially on travel days. Instead of packing a dedicated Apple Watch charger puck, an AirPods cable, and a phone cable, the petl2 handles all three. The 5,000 mAh capacity gives you enough headroom to top up more than one device without fully depleting the pack.

PETL 2 Plus Colors: The Honest Picture

The color lineup for the petl2 has expanded since launch and is worth noting. The PETL 2 Plus currently ships in three colorways: Cosmic Orange (a vibrant anodized aluminum finish with a refined soft feel), Slate (a deeper gray-toned anodized aluminum for a more understated look), and Space Black (a deep anodized aluminum with a sleek matte finish).

The original PETL still holds an edge on breadth of color selection, spanning seven-plus finishes — Natural, Black, Blush Gold, Sahara Gold, Sage, Lavender, Sky — giving it genuine personal-accessory energy. You can match your iPhone color, your case, or your own style. If a very specific color match is important to you, the original PETL may still be the better pick, though the petl2's palette is growing. Choose accordingly.

Charging Speed: What 15W Qi Means in Plain Language

The PETL 2 Plus charges your iPhone at up to 15W via Qi wireless. This is meaningfully faster than Apple's own first-party MagSafe Battery Pack (which is capped at 7.5W in battery pack mode) and covers the vast majority of everyday charging needs comfortably.

However, it is not Qi2 certified at 25W — and that gap is worth being transparent about. Competitors like Baseus and Ugreen offer packs with Qi2 certification at higher wattages, which can be faster in back-to-back, speed-above-all scenarios. The petl2 is not designed to win a drag race. It's designed to be the pack you actually have with you — slim enough to pocket, attractive enough to leave on your nightstand, and reliable enough to snap on during a commute without thinking about it. For the overwhelming majority of daily use cases, 15W Qi wireless charging is entirely sufficient.

If your primary goal is the fastest possible wireless charge and you're willing to carry a larger, heavier pack to get it, Qi2-certified competitors are worth a look. But if you want reliable, genuinely portable wireless charging that works seamlessly with your iPhone every day, the PETL 2 Plus delivers.

What the petl2 Does Best

• Near-full iPhone recharge in a pocketable disc. 5,000 mAh is the practical sweet spot: large enough to matter on a long day, compact enough to actually carry.
• Zero-friction setup. Snap it on, watch the iOS battery widget update. No Bluetooth pairing, no app, no cable fumbling.
• Premium build that holds up. CNC-machined aluminum and tempered glass feel noticeably more durable and refined than plastic competitors at similar or higher prices.
• Three-device coverage. iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods — one disc.
• USB-C passthrough. Plug in a USB-C cable to charge both the PETL 2 Plus and your iPhone simultaneously, which is useful overnight or at a desk.

Who the PETL 2 Plus Is NOT For

Honest reviews say who should skip a product. Here's where the petl2 isn't the right answer:

• Multi-day backpackers or expedition travelers. If you're off-grid for three or four days and need to charge your iPhone multiple times over without any access to power, a 10,000 mAh brick (or larger) is a better tool. The PETL 2 Plus is built for daily carry, not extended survival scenarios.
• Speed-above-all users. If Qi2 25W fast wireless charging is a non-negotiable for you — and you're willing to carry more bulk for it — there are certified Qi2 packs that hit higher wattages.
• Color maximalists. If you want to match a very specific iPhone finish or you're drawn to a wide range of pastels and metallics, the original PETL's broader color lineup remains a stronger choice.
• Lightest-possible carry above all else. The original PETL at 3,000 mAh and 14 mm thin is the slimmer option. If you only ever need a confidence top-up and want to minimize weight to the absolute minimum, the original is still excellent.

PETL 2 Plus vs. Original PETL: Which Should You Buy?

The upgrade makes most sense if at least one of these is true for you:

1. You have an iPhone Pro or Pro Max with a larger battery and want to reliably hit full charge, not just a meaningful top-up.
2. You regularly have long days — full travel days, long shifts, events — where one confident top-up isn't enough.
3. You want to charge iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods from one pack without worrying about depleting it after the first device.
4. You forget to charge your battery pack every single night and want more buffer for the days you show up at half capacity.

If none of those apply — if you're a moderate iPhone user with predictable, shorter days — the original PETL at $64.95 is a genuinely excellent product with a wider color selection, and the smaller size is a feature, not a compromise.

Final Verdict: Is the petl2 Worth It?

For iPhone users who want near-full recharge capacity without sacrificing the pocketable, cable-free convenience that makes MagSafe battery packs worth owning in the first place, the PETL 2 Plus is one of the most thoughtfully designed options available. The CNC-machined aluminum and tempered glass construction, the N52 magnetic snap, the instant iOS battery widget integration, and the three-device Apple ecosystem coverage all add up to a product that earns its price.

The two honest limitations — a narrower color palette compared to the original (though growing), and 15W Qi rather than Qi2 25W certification — are real trade-offs, but neither is a dealbreaker for the user this product is built for. The PETL 2 Plus is priced at $89.95, and for most Apple users who want reliable, all-day wireless power in a premium package they'll actually want to carry, that's a strong value proposition.

If you're still deciding between the two sizes, PETL's own lineup at gopetl.com lets you compare both side by side — and the PETL 2-in-1 Keychain Cable ($19.90) pairs well with either model for those moments when you need a wired backup.

Frequently asked questions

What is the petl2?

The petl2 — formally called the PETL 2 Plus — is PETL's second-generation MagSafe-compatible battery pack. It holds 5,000 mAh in a circular, CNC-machined aluminum disc that measures 72.5 mm wide and 16.2 mm thin. It uses N52 neodymium magnets to snap directly to any MagSafe-compatible iPhone (iPhone 12 through iPhone 16), begins charging automatically with no app or setup required, appears in the iOS battery widget, and can also wirelessly charge Apple Watch and AirPods.

What is the difference between the petl2 (PETL 2 Plus) and the original PETL?

The main difference is capacity: the original PETL holds 3,000 mAh and delivers up to 10 extra hours of talk time, while the petl2 (PETL 2 Plus) holds 5,000 mAh and delivers up to 15 extra hours. The PETL 2 Plus is also slightly larger (72.5 mm wide, 16.2 mm thin vs. 70 mm wide, 14 mm thin). Both share the same circular design, N52 magnets, CNC-machined aluminum, and tempered glass top. The original PETL is available in seven-plus colors; the PETL 2 Plus currently comes in Cosmic Orange, Slate, and Space Black.

What colors does the PETL 2 Plus (petl2) come in?

The PETL 2 Plus currently ships in three colorways: Cosmic Orange (a vibrant anodized aluminum finish with a soft, refined feel), Slate (a deeper gray-toned anodized aluminum for an understated look), and Space Black (a deep anodized aluminum with a sleek matte finish). All feature a CNC-machined aluminum body with a tempered glass top. The original PETL has a broader color range if color selection is a top priority.

Does the petl2 charge Apple Watch?

Yes. The PETL 2 Plus (petl2) can wirelessly charge Qi-compatible Apple Watch models in addition to iPhone and AirPods (with a Qi-compatible wireless case). This makes it an all-in-one solution for Apple ecosystem users who want to replace multiple chargers with a single pocketable disc.

Is the petl2 (PETL 2 Plus) Qi2 certified?

The PETL 2 Plus is MagSafe-compatible and supports 15W Qi wireless charging, but it is not formally Qi2 certified. It is not designed for speed-above-all users who require Qi2 25W fast charging. For daily top-ups, commutes, travel, and all-day iPhone use, 15W Qi wireless is more than sufficient for the vast majority of users.

Is the petl2 worth the upgrade from the original PETL?

The petl2 (PETL 2 Plus) is worth the upgrade if you have a larger iPhone (Pro or Pro Max), regularly have long days that demand more than one top-up, want to charge iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods without depleting the pack, or simply want near-full recharge capacity rather than a confidence top-up. If you're a moderate iPhone user with shorter days and color choice matters to you, the original PETL remains an excellent option.