A Better Charge Dock than Sony's? Nyko PlayStation 5 DualSense Charge Base Review

In this video, we unbox and test out the Nyko Charge Base for PlayStation 5 DualSense controllers.

While I bought one at the launch of the system, I admit I am not a fan of the Sony charging stand for the DualSense Controller. I don't like the fact that it uses a propritary power supply, and the controller just doesn't sit well in the stand. Thankfully, we're starting to see 3rd party charging solutions crop up, and one of the first is from the folks at Nyko Technologies. Designed to charge 2 DualSense controllers at the same time, the PS5 Charge Base has a lot of features I'm really excited to see.

The Charge Base itself comes with the charging stand, 2 dongles to connect the DualSense controllers to the base, and a USB-C cable. Perhaps the biggest feature to me on the Nyko Charge Base that gave it an instant leg-up over the Sony unit is the way it's powered. Where Sony went with their own proprietary power supply, Nyko uses a USB-C cable for power. This is much more user-friendly and allows you to tap into the USB outputs on the PS5 itself. This, to me, is a big miss by Sony, and a huge advantage for the Charge Base.

The way the Charge Base connects to your DualSense charger is via a dongle that plugs into the USB-C port on the top of the controller. This is a very similar setup to the way Nyko's other Charge Dock for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, a charge dock I really liked. The dongles plug into the controller securely, and they form to the back of the controller pretty precisely. It is a simple but elegant solution, and it just plain works.

There are a series of LEDs on the Charge Base, to indicate both power and charge status. A blue LED strip is on each side of the base, and it's super cool looking. On the front of the Base, there are 2 angled LED strips, indicating charge status of each of the controllers. It's a great way to see what's going on at a glance.

One thing about the Charge Base is it is massive compared to the Sony solution. It's much longer and wider, however that's not entirely a bad thing. I have often wondered if my controller is charging when I do place it on the Sony charger, where the Nyko Charge Base gives me a positive lock and indication each and every time. It may take up a little more space than the Sony unit, but it actually works much better in my opinion.

Why It Rocks:
- Charges 2 controllers at once
- USB-C for power
- BRIGHT LED charge and power indicators
- Dongles are elegant and effective
- Under $30
- USB output to charge or power other accessories

What could be improved:
- A single controller charge option would be nice
- No power supply included
- White may collect dust
- F/R indicator for the charge LEDs would be nice

Should You Buy One?
This is one of the first 3rd party charge docks for the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, and in my opinion, it's superior to the solution from Sony. Eliminating the need for a separate power supply is HUGE for me, I still can't believe Sony insisted on their own power unit for their charger. It is less convenient and adds to the cost of the device. The Nyko Charge Base is less expensive and, in my view, a better design. If you are looking for a charger for your DualSense charging station, I would recommend this over the Sony solution, easily.

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