The Icom ID-52E Plus is Icom’s flagship dual-band handheld, sitting above the more affordable ID-51 Plus2 in the D-STAR handheld range. It covers 144/430 MHz FM alongside D-STAR digital voice and data, aimed at operators who want a serious, well-built HT rather than the cheapest option on the shelf.
Key specs
- Dual-band 144/430 MHz FM plus D-STAR DV and DD data mode
- 2.3-inch full-colour transflective display with a built-in spectrum waterfall, a first for a handheld at this level
- Bluetooth built in as standard, plus GPS for D-PRS location reporting
- Audio output raised to 750 mW from the previous generation’s 400 mW
- Up to 5 watts output on the standard battery pack, water-resistant case
What it does well
- The waterfall display is genuinely useful for finding activity on a busy repeater or simplex calling channel, rare on a radio this size
- Screen stays bright and legible outdoors in most conditions, and colour-codes D-STAR reflector and repeater information clearly
- Bluetooth pairs with a headset or the optional wireless PTT/mic without a cable
- Build quality and battery life are consistently praised in owner reviews, coping with daily belt-clip use and typically running a full day without a mid-shift charge
- Full access to the D-STAR ecosystem: DPlus/DExtra reflectors, D-PRS, and cross-mode gateway linking, useful if your local repeater group runs D-STAR alongside DMR or C4FM
Trade-offs
- Price: this is a premium HT, not a budget one, costing roughly double a basic analogue-only dual-bander
- A cold-weather quirk shows up in owner reports: the battery protection circuit throttles output down to around half a watt near freezing, which can catch out winter SOTA/POTA activators expecting full power
- No native APRS support, location reporting relies on D-PRS over D-STAR rather than talking directly to the wider APRS-IS network
- It’s a single-ecosystem investment: D-STAR has a smaller UK/Ireland footprint than DMR, so it’s worth checking what your local clubs and repeaters actually run before committing
Price and who it’s for
UK retailers currently list the ID-52E Plus at around £480-£500 new. It suits an operator who’s already into D-STAR, or plans to be, and wants one handheld built to last rather than get swapped out in a year or two, someone happy to pay for build quality and that waterfall display. If you just want a cheap, cheerful HT for occasional repeater use, this is more radio, and more money, than you need.
Verdict
The ID-52E Plus is one of the best-built, most capable dual-band handhelds on the market, and the colour waterfall display genuinely changes how you find activity on 2m and 70cm. The cold-weather power throttling is a real annoyance for UK/Ireland winter outdoor operating, and the price sits well above entry-level, but for anyone serious about D-STAR, or who simply wants a handheld that won’t need replacing, it earns its keep. Recommended, with the caveat that value hunters and DMR-first clubs should look elsewhere.