Gaming > Mobile 55 55 people found this article helpful Playstation Portable (PSP) Model Specifications Specs for all PSP models By Niko Silvester Niko Silvester Writer Nova Scotia College of Art and Design Niko Silvester is a former freelance contributor for Lifewire and a video game junkie who draws her own comics when she's not playing games on her PSP. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 8, 2023 Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines In This Article Expand Jump to a Section When Was the PSP Release Date? PSP-1000 PSP-2000 PSP-3000 PSPgo PSP-E1000 PS Vita Trending Videos Close this video player The PlayStation Portable was Sony's first handheld gaming console. Here's a rundown of each device with links to detailed specs. The PSP is no longer manufactured, but you can find used models on eBay and other places selling previously owned electronics. When Was the PSP Release Date? First released by Sony in Japan in 2004, the PSP was considered the most powerful portable video game console when it was first introduced. It received several model refreshes before being replaced by the PlayStation Vita in 2011. While all of Sony's PSPs had—with the exception of the PSPgo—basically the same form factor, there are some important differences. How to Choose the PSP That's Best for You PSP-1000 It seems a bit heavy and clunky now, but when the PSP first came out it was sleek, shiny, and powerful. The screen was bright enough and big enough to make watching movies a great on-the-go experience, even if the games weren't as graphically detailed as their full-sized console cousins. The original PSP was envisioned as a multi-media device, with the hardware to handle movies, music, photos, and games. Full specs for the PSP-1000 PSP-2000 The second PSP model was dubbed the "PSP Slim" (or "PSP Slim and Lite" in Europe) by fans because it significantly reduced the thickness and weight of the original device. Hardware changes were fairly minimal but included an improved screen, a better UMD door, and a faster processor. A few switches were moved around to accommodate the thinner silhouette. Sony also added Skype to the firmware, so the PSP could even be used as a phone. Full specs for the PSP-2000 PSP-3000 The main change to the third PSP model (aside from a somewhat improved battery) was the brighter LCD screen, leading to the nickname "PSP Brite" Early on, some users claimed they could see scan lines on the screen. Many people decided to stick with the earlier 2000 model as a result. There don't seem to be problems with the screen anymore, however, and the PSP-3000 is generally considered the best of the four PSPs (unless you're a hardcore homebrewer, in which case the PSP-1000 is preferred for the ability to downgrade the firmware). Full specs for the PSP-3000 PSPgo The PSPgo is obviously different from its siblings, though the differences are primarily cosmetic. Aside from the complete lack of a UMD drive, it functions much the same as the PSP-3000, but in a smaller, more portable size. Full specs for the PSPgo PSP-E1000 The PSP-E1000 was a bit of a surprise announcement at Sony's 2011 Gamescom press conference. It features a minor cosmetic redesign and loses the WiFi featured in other models. It also has mono instead of stereo sound and a slightly smaller screen than the other PSP models (not counting the PSPgo). PS Vita The PlayStation Vita doesn't sport a bigger, brighter, higher-resolution screen without increasing size too drastically. It's also considerably more powerful than its predecessors. Most importantly, it features backward compatibility for some downloadable PSP games. Full specs for the PlayStation Vita Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit