Here is our hands on review for this cool gadget. At first glance, PSP-3000 looks similar to PSP Slim. There are are a number of subtle differences, however. Notably, the entire faceplate has been given a smooth matte-finish in contrast to the glossy, fingerprint-attracting coat of previous iterations. The Sony logo has been shifted over to the left above the D-pad, while a push-button sporting the classic PlayStation logo is now in replacement of the familiar “Home” button. You’ll also find that the Select and Start buttons have been given a proportional oval shape. The chrome-style ring located on the back of the unit is now thinner as well. For many, none of these changes can be considered major, but they are certainly welcome improvements.

Check it out at Amazon!

Check it out at Amazon!

The major enhancement of the PSP-3000 is its enhanced LCD screen and graphics quality. The screen offers a wide color gamut and deeper contrast ratio. Upon booting up the unit, you can immediately notice the richer, warmer colors. With the “Wide Color” setting activated and brightness set to level 3, you can see a significant improvement in color depth and picture quality, particularly in the Cross Media Bar (XMB).

When you try watching a movie the PSP-3000 will show a decidedly more realistic look, thanks in part to higher black levels. Additionally, smaller details in the distance are easier to see.

Overall, the LCD screen of the PSP-3000 is impressive. The new display does have some complaints however of a poor LCD response time. By the same token, though, it introduces a subtle scanline-like effect visible on the edges of objects when moving quickly from side to side on the display. For many, this is not really a significant issue. The described scanline effect is largely unnoticeable during gameplay, especially in 2D games. The superior response time and top-notch color reproduction of the 3000 LCD display by far outweigh this minor issue.

In addition to the these improvements, the PSP-3000 screen uses anti-reflective technology that promises to reduce glare and improve screen visibility under well-lit conditions, such as playing outside on a sunny day. You can readily witness a slight improvement in glare reduction when standing beside a window indoors.

As to less-noticeable improvements, you can see that the d-pad on the 3000 felt firmer and slightly raised compared to that of the 2000. Additionally, the AC adapter included with the 3000 has been considerably reduced in size. Sound output through the built-in speakers on the 3000 is crisp and clear, sporting a slight increase in sound quality over the 2000. The inclusion of a built-in microphone, allowing for voice chat in Skype and online titles such as SOCOM without the need of an external headset is a another new feature that many who love to work and play will appreciate.

In conclusion, after considering all the new functionalities, owners of a launch PSP-1000 unit may want to seriously consider moving up, for the improved screen and also for the TV-out support and UMD load time enhancements. For those who already have a PSP-2000 unit, it’s not as easy to recommend taking the plunge on a PSP-3000. If you still don’t own a PSP, then now may be the perfect time to pick one up. It is anyone’s guess as to if Sony will be introducing yet another hardware revision down the road, but there’s a whole lot of great titles out now and coming in the not-so-distant future. A few notable titles on the horizon include Star Ocean: Second Evolution, Resistance Retribution, Monster Hunter 2nd G, Phantasy Star Portable, and Dissidia: Final Fantasy. Also, Sony recently released firmware 5.0, which adds a built-in PlayStation Store — exclusively for the PSP. The store offers a growing selection of UMD games and playable demos, as well as PSP format themes and wallpapers.

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More recent reviews will be posted here as they come.


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