How to Choose the PSP That's Best for You

The best PSP model for you depends on what you do with it

What to Know

  • The PSP-1000 is best for homebrews, especially if you get one that has firmware version 1.50 installed.
  • The PSPgo is best for watching movies and playing games on the go, but it doesn't include a UMD drive.
  • The PSP-3000 has the best performance and value for your money, along with a replaceable battery.

This article explains the differences between models of the PlayStation Portable handheld gaming device. The differences aren't huge, but of the four models (PSP-1000, PSP-2000, PSP-3000, and PSPgo), each one is a little better than the others for a specific use. Which PSP is best for you depends entirely on what you are planning to do with it.

Sony discontinued the PSP in 2014, but you may still find some used or refurbished via third-party sellers.

The Best PSP for Homebrew: PSP-1000

The first thing to consider when buying a PSP is to determine whether you will use it to run homebrew programming, or if you plan to use it for games and movies. Most buyers are unlikely to run homebrew. It takes considerably more work than retail games, and it requires some knowledge of programming.

If you are an avid homebrew programmer, though, you'll want to make sure to get the best model for that purpose. It is possible to run homebrew on both the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000, but for the fullest possible homebrew experience, the PSP-1000 is still the model of choice, especially if you can get one that already has firmware version 1.50 installed.

You won't be able to find a PSP-1000 new on the shelves, but you might come across a used one at your local game shop, and you can probably still find one on eBay. You'll pay more for a PSP-1000 with firmware 1.50 installed, but if you're going to be playing with homebrew anyway, you can make downgrading the firmware your first project and buy a PSP-1000 with a later firmware version to save a bit of money.

Sony PSP model.
 Sony 

The Best PSP for UMD Gaming and Movies: PSP-2000

If you're looking for a machine to play retail games and movies, then either the PSP-2000 or PSP-3000 is your best bet. The main difference between the two models is the screen. The PSP-3000 has a brighter screen, but some users saw scan lines when playing certain games. Most players probably wouldn't even notice, but if you're picky about graphics, stick with the PSP-2000.

You're most likely to find the PSP-2000 online in special edition bundles like the "God of War" bundle with its red PSP-2000, or the "Madden" bundle with its blue PSP-2000. If you can't find one new, try buying it used at your local game shop, eBay, or Amazon. 

The Best PSP for Portable Gaming and Movies: PSPgo

If you're excited about downloading games and movies and don't care if you ever see a UMD game or movie again, you might consider the PSPgo. It's smaller than the previous PSP models. You could carry it in a normal-sized pocket.

The PSPgo also has the highest cool factor (you really can't beat that sliding screen) but you'll pay for it. The PSPgo also costs considerably more than the PSP-3000. 

Aside from the higher price, the main drawback of the PSPgo is the lack of a UMD drive. To make the machine smaller and faster than its predecessors and fit in that 16GB of internal memory, Sony had to let something go: the optical drive. If you have games on UMD, you won't be able to play them on the PSPgo, so you'll probably want to choose a different model. If you intend to download all your games anyway, don't want to run homebrew, and need super-small portability, then the PSPgo is the PSP for you.

The PlayStation Store is no available on the PSP itself, but you can still purchase PSP games using your PS3 and download them onto your device.

The Best PSP for All-Around Performance and Value: PSP-3000

Most users are going to want the best value for their dollar, which they'll find in the PSP-3000. It's not as small and thus not as portable as the PSPgo, and it doesn't have any internal memory, but it does have a UMD drive, and memory sticks don't take up much room in your pocket. With the right memory stick, you might not even need more than the one in the memory stick slot of the PSP.

For the flexibility of being able to play both downloaded and UMD games and movies (which any PSP model besides the PSPgo can do with a big enough memory stick, and for the lower cost and easy availability compared to earlier models, the PSP-3000 is the best choice for most gamers. Like the earlier models, but unlike the PSPgo, the PSP-3000 also has a user-replaceable battery, which is handy if you own the machine long enough for the rechargeable battery to start wearing out.

FAQ
  • What are the best PSP games?

    Choosing the "best" game is highly subjective, and depends on what you're looking to get out of any given experience. Some PSP games are ideal for multiplayer, while others work best when played in small bursts (i.e. when you're traveling). Choosing the best by looking at aggregate scores on Metacritic is another option.

  • When did the PSP first come out?

    The original PlayStation Portable (PSP-1000) was released on March 24th, 2005 for $249. It was followed by the PSP-2000 in 2007, the PSP-3000 in 2008, the PSPGo in 2009, and the PSP-E1000 (a.k.a. PSP Street) in 2011. Sony eventually discontinued the PSP in 2014.

  • How do I connect my PSP to Wi-Fi?

    Open your PSP's Settings and select Network Settings > Infrastructure Mode > New Connection > WLAN Settings. Select Scan and wait for the PSP to find your Wi-Fi network, then select the network and follow the prompts to finish singing in.

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