Sony Mobile used to provide a new charging dock for each new smartphone it released. This was partly due to the use of the magnetic charging connector, but Sony abandoned its use in the 2015 Xperia models. Sony released the Micro USB Charging Dock DK52 to fill the void for new handsets and it’s nice to see it support multiple Xperia models.
The dock is a simple micro USB charger and doesn’t do much else, but read on to find out whether it’s worth your money. Mobile Fun currently sell the Sony Micro USB Charging Dock DK52 for £24.99 and can deliver worldwide.
The packaging refers to the Sony Micro USB Charging Dock DK52 as supporting the Xperia Z3+/Z4. However, the dock is compatible with seven 2015 Sony Xperia devices (see the end of this review for full compatibility).
Sony Mobile includes three different sized inserts for the DK52 Charging Dock. This is so that the dock can be used even if you are using a chunky case. It is worth noting that Sony does not include a charger or micro USB cable, so you will need an existing source to use the dock.
The DK52 Charging Dock can output a maximum of 1.8mA at 5V, obviously depending on the charger you are using it with. We found no reference of the dock being Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 certified.
The dock includes a micro USB port at the rear to connect your charger. You may also notice the plastic on the base of the dock, this can be peeled off to provide a gel-like sticky surface to improve grip. Just to be clear, this will not cause any damage to your table or desk as it leaves no residue. It is not designed to glue itself to a surface, it just provides extra rubber grip so that your phone won’t topple, however, it works just as well if you don’t want to use it.
The DK52 dock is very compact and takes little room which is good news for those short on space. It also looks reasonably elegant too.
Sony provides three different sized attachments to use with the dock. You can chop and change each attachment easily – it simply lifts up over the micro USB port. We found that using these allowed most cases in our possession to be charged. Only the DevilCase bumper did not work.
The dock provides a snug fit for the phone and it is easy enough to slot into. Once the phone is docked, it feels quite secure with little wiggle room.
Overall thoughts
The Sony Micro USB Charging Dock DK52 is one of the first ‘universal’ docks that Sony has produced for Xperia smartphones. The dock supports seven 2015 Sony Xperia devices and we would expect future ones to also be supported. The dock is not cheap considering that it only charges your Xperia device, but it does provide convenience. You can purchase the dock through Mobile Fun who sell it for £24.99 and ship worldwide.
Positives
– Simple to dock your phone and charge
– Dock keeps phone secure whilst charging
– Three different attachments allow you to charge a phone with case on
– Base of deck uses special grip to ensure no slippage
– Compact dock takes little room on your desk
– Compatible with a growing number of Sony Xperia smartphones
Negatives
– Cannot charge the phone in landscape mode, therefore not suitable for watching media
– Dock does nothing else except charge the phone
– No charger or USB cable included
– Not Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 compatible
– Pricey for what it is
Sony Micro USB Charging Dock DK52 compatible with following Xperia devices:
Xperia C5 Ultra
Xperia M5
Xperia Z3+
Xperia Z5
Xperia Z5 Compact
Xperia Z5 Premium
Thanks to Mobile Fun for providing the Sony Micro USB Charging Dock DK52 for review!
