Author: Naota
Title: The differences between the Sony PSP-3000 and the PSP Go. PSP 3000 vs. PSP Go.

Pricing
PSP Go: Around $199 (Price Cut!)
PSP-3000: Around $129 (Price Cut!)

*update* Sony just recently slashed the prices on their PSP and PSP Go. Check the links above to get the most updated pricing.

Also see “Comparison of Features: Nintendo DSi XL vs DSi, DS Lite, DS Phat“.

Sony has two different versions of its PSP. In one corner you have the Sony PSP-3000 and in the other, you have the PSP Go. We will briefly describe each system and then will point out the specific differences between them.

In the Red Corner: The PSP 3000

The Sony PSP 3000 is Sony’s third iteration of the PSP. It features improvements in screen quality and screen brightness, battery life and performance over its predecessors. It also has a Microphone with built-in Skype functionality. This allows you to take advantage of games requiring voice interaction. Just like the previous iterations, it also contains the UMD Drive. Here are some specifications for this game playing machine.

Display: 4 .3″ wide at a 16:9 ratio sporting 480×272 pixels and 16,770,000 million colors.
CPU: Proprietary PSP CPU running at 333MHz
Hard Drive Space: 64MB integrated memory. Users must use Memory Stick Duo Expansion Cards
Sound: Stereo Speakers
Connections: Wireless 802.11b, USB 2.0 Mini-B, Analog Video Out, D IN 5V, DC OUT, Video out/headset connector
Disk Drive: UMD Read Only Drive
Battery: 1200 mAh rechargeable
Battery Life: 3.5 hours with heavy use (may vary)
Dimensions: 6.7″ x 2.7″ x 0.7″ (width x height x depth)
Weight: 6.7oz/189g – with the battery
Miscellaneous: Contrary to popular belief this does NOT have Bluetooth.

These are just some of the basic specifications. If you would like the nitty-gritty details feel free to see Sony’s list of specifications for the PSP-3000 here.

PSP-3000 and UMD Drive

Public Opinion on the PSP-3000

The PSP-3000 has received high praises and reviews. Amazon users for instance, rate the PSP nearly at 4.0 stars on average. My experience with the PSP-3000 was extremely positive as well. While playing and beating Final Fantasy Crisis Core, the battery lasted for about 3.5 hours while continuously playing at high sound and brightness. The speaker quality is great, and unexpectedly, the product controls were pleasant to use. I would’ve liked a little more battery life though, and it wasn’t the easiest thing to pocket, although that is partially attributed to having a wide screen.

We found there to be a great selection of games. You can also find some old UMD clearance movie disks if that is something you are interested in.

To spell it out for people who are impatient and want me to be straight to the point:

Pros of the PSP-3000:

• Nice and bright screen
• Good speakers
• Huge array of games at the PSP store online and available in store.
• Good interface
• Great controls
• UMD Reader

Cons of the PSP-3000

• Battery life could be better
• Too big to store in your pocket
• Would prefer SD card solutions over Memory Stick Duo
• No internal storage.
• Screen could be brighter

Now in the Blue Corner: The PSP GO

The PSP Go is Sony’s latest remodel of the PSP. This compact remake is created so that users can easily walk around with their PSP in their pocket. Sony also did away with its UMD reader in order to make the PSP Go smaller.

The controls on the PSP Go are designed so that users will have to slide them out to access them. This allows users to keep the controls tucked away to save space when they are not using the PSP. Although the screen size is smaller than the traditional PSP, the resolution is the same and is actually even better looking. Sony added Bluetooth so that users could sync headsets. This was a welcomed addition.

Display: 3.8″ wide at a 16:9 ratio sporting 480×272 pixels and 16,770,000 million colors.
CPU: Proprietary PSP CPU running at 333MHz
Hard Drive Space: 16GB Built In. Users may use Memory Stick Micro for additional space
Sound: Stereo Speakers
Connections: Wireless 802.11b, Bluetooth, USB 2.0, Memory Stick Micro M2, Multi-functional connector, Headset Jack (stereo mini jack)
Disk Drive: N/A
Battery: 1200 mAh rechargeable Integrated
Battery Life: 4.0 Hours with heavy use (may vary)
Dimensions: 5.04 x 2.72″ x 0.65″ (width x height x depth)
Weight: 5.34oz / 158g – with the battery
Miscellaneous: Built in microphone

If you would like even more specifications about the PSP Go then feel free to visit Sony’s page.

Public Opinion about the PSP Go

There is much controversy surrounding the PSP Go. This is because Sony did away with the UMD Drive in favor for going digital. Existing PSP users will not be able to use their old physical copies of their games. This one factor has created a large array of negative publicity that has resulted in bad reviews by users on popular sites such as Amazon. To play a game on the PSP Go users must download the game via the PlayStation store rather than buy it at a store. This is however, a safe and easy operation.

When you dig in deeper, you will find that all users who had few or no UMD games actually enjoyed the PSP Go. The slide interface was well received and the smaller screen did not make as big of a difference as expected. Users enjoyed the longer battery life, the lighter weight, and most importantly, the increased portability of their PSP. This product has about a 4/5 stars rating by users on average – even higher if you take out he umd-related reviews.

Other enhancements included the built in microphone, Bluetooth, and a slimmed down interface that no longer has to address UMD-related tasks.

So…

Pros:

• Light Weight
• Portable
• Quieter
• Decent Battery Life
• Built In Hard Drive
• Bluetooth
• Surprisingly Easy To Use Slide Controls
• Screen looks nicer than the PSP 3000 and is brighter

Cons:

• Higher Price tag
• No UMD Drive = less games
• Smaller Screen
• Online games can be just as expensive as the UMD ones

The Verdict is the PSP Go Better than the PSP-3000?

So there you have it. Basically you have two great gaming systems. Now it is time to decide which one is right for you.

Here is a quick table to help you with you decision.

Our opinion
If you are a brand new PSP user and don’t care about buying and/or selling used games, go ahead and get the PSP Go. It is a solid product. The additional features (more battery, a hard drive, Bluetooth, and built in microphone) make up for the increased in price. If you are an existing PSP owner thinking about making the switch then you really just need to decide how important you old UMD discs are to you. If they aren’t, you can always sell them and use that money towards buying digital copies.

With that said, the PSP-3000 is also a great product too however, so those who like the UMD can know that they did make a great purchase. Don’t sweat it… you cannot go wrong here.