PSP-3000 vs Nintendo DSi
Posted by 
October 7, 2008 •
Sony and Nintendo are all set with their new and improved (?) models of their portable gaming consoles. Before you start screaming apples and oranges, this post is meant to help you decide which of the new models is worth picking up and which one should you get the old model of. (DS lite for DS and PSP Slim for PSP).
Up against each other are Sony’s PSP Brite (or PSP-3000) and Nintendo’s New DS: DSi
Physical Appearance
- The new unit is sleeker in terms of design.
- At launch, it’ll come in 3 colors: Mystic Silver, Piano Black, or Pearl White
- The Home button is now the PS button. Don’t ask why.
DSi:
- This new unit is thinner AND bigger than the DS Lite.
- The DSi has a matte finish. Less gloss more spunk.
- Relocation of the power button from side of the unit to the face.
Advantage: None
Obviously.
Screen Improvements
- All new glare-resistant screen for improved use in outdoor environments.
- Improved colour depth of the LCD screen.
- The new LCD screen features five times the contrast ratio and has quicker pixel-response times.
DSi:
- Both screens have seen a 17% increase in size. Displays games at the same resolution though.
Advantage: PSP
Although gaming outdoors is not for everyone (with all the pollution and all that stuff), the LCD upgrade is a definite plus. The benefit will most likely be obvious when watching videos and hardcore gaming. The downside? There’s no downside since the rumored battery life reduction is just a rumor. The PSP Brite lasts as long as the PSP Slim.
What’s New
- New built-in microphone for Skype and/or multiplayer communication. Makes the official Skype headset from Sony pretty much useless.
- The video output now supports interlaced displays using composite video cables.
DSi:
- Two 640×480 VGA cameras 0.3 Megapixels (yes it’s 0.3, not 3.0 MP) each. One inside and one outside the shell.
- An SD card slot for external storage of pictures and downloaded software (and hopefully homebrew XD)
- Better speakers (rumored).
Advantage: DSi
Yep. There’s quite a lot of innovation for the DSi. The two cameras will provide some interesting interaction an the SD slot opens a lot of doors XD.
Online and Console integration
- PSN but it’s already established.
DSi:
- New Internal flash memory with a built-in web browser.
- Integration with an online ‘DSi store’ (think of it as an extension of the Wii store) with downloadable content available for purchase or for free.
- Better integration with the Wii (photo channel, etc, etc)
Advantage: DSi
It’s about time for some DS / Wii interaction and more options on the online store. Nintendo is playing catch up to what Sony has already established and gamers already enjoy.
Getting a DSi? No more strap for you!
System Cons
- Support for just one thumbstick.
- Still no 2nd analog stick although the inclusion of such an addition is certain to upset a lot of gamers.
- New motherboard + processor is still untouched by Homebrew (Custom Firmware).
DSi:
- No more GBA slot. This means no more backwards as well as Guitar Hero attachments.
- The Nintendo DSi is region locked. BOOO!
Advantage: PSP
Now before you jump the gun, I’ll explain why there’s less cons with the PSP Brite than the Nintendo DSi.
First off, the first 2 cons are already the systems flaws from the very beginning. They’re great additions but I doubt the experience will change radically with the inclusion of a 2nd memory stick slot or a 2nd analog stick (strictly speaking for CURRENT and OLD games). As for the lack of custom firmware, give it a few more months. The PSP Brite has been released only in Japan, for now.
On the DSi side, the removal of the GBA slot chops off quite a lot of experience. You won’t be able to play GBA games. Fine, you still have a GBA lying around. But what about your Guitar Hero grip? Say goodbye to it since the GBA ports gone.
The biggest blow is the region lock on the DSi. This means that if you bought a Japanese DSi, you can play older games on it without any problem but for newer games, you can only use Japanese region software.
Here’s Nintendo’s take on it:
DSi is region locked because DSi embeds net communication functionality within itself and we are intending to provide net services specifically tailored for each region. Also because we are including parental control functionality for Nintendo DSi and each region has its unique age limit made by different independent
What that meant in plain English was. DSi-only titles will be region locked while regular DS titles will not. The question is, how many titles will be DS and how many will be DSi?
Bummer? Definitely.
Still the DSi is a definite step forward into the multimedia portable device market that Sony and the PSP has been enjoying for quite sometime now. Personally though, I’d be getting a DS Lite over a DSi. As for the PSP, wait for Custom Firmware before jumping to the PSP Brite.
Tags: DSi, Head to Head, Nintendo DS, Playstation Portable, Sony
I will go for PSP.. for a simple reason that I have not tested DS 🙂
@Dexter | Tech At Hand Dot Net:
Ako DS… pero ung DS lite lang.
There’s an upcoming game that has a DS + Wii control scheme and I’m really looking forward to it.
For me its the games that controls what system I buy. Though I do have both a PSP and a DS… 0_o
I own a ds lite and you forgot to mention batterry is 25% less for the dsi. Btw custom firmware will be happening in no time darkalex is working on it day and night you just wait. Psp has always been better the ds has only sold well cause it has a wider customer range (little kids and sometimes parents) but now that they’re the same price the psp 3000 might even beat the dsi in sales even though little kids don’t use it
@Strident:
thanks for the tip. I completely forgot about the battery life reduction.
I think the DSi is in the right track for a complete multimedia device. The cons of the DSi however are very glaring that I wouldn’t consider getting one unless you really need the cam. 0.3 MP.. wtH?!?!
@Aaron:
I’m thinking of Getting a DS lite because there’s quite a slack in PSP game releases =/ And since I own a Wii, I’m interested in DS + Wii connectivity in gaming.
i don care about that psp2000,psp3000 or DS,the important that got many game sale in the market,that is the good model,if only a few game sold in the market, so what for new model or old model. that its nothing for me.i need more game in the market that what i want.
dude…………… p.s.p. issssssssssss
any day better than d stupid dsi
well, for the online section, all the stuff the DSi got new, the PSP already had and has.not only does it already have it, but its is better then the DSi system.
I own a PSP 2000 (Slim and Lite), a DS and a DS Lite. I must say, the DSi has the most drastic improvements over the previous variations, but we should not compare the DSi to the DS Lite. And we shouldn’t compare the DSi to the PSP 3000. We should copmare the PSP to the DS, based on the features of all variations. That is just my thought on the matter.
So which one should i buy, get to the point people
soo umm, i own a psp 2000, LOVE it, but i cant decide between 2 titles…Phantasy Star Zero for the DS really calls to my attention, specially since i was a HUGE fan of Phantasy Star Online for the gamecube…but then i found Monster Hunter Freedom, and i am kinda stuck in between the 2, my psp died, so i need a new one, but then again theres the DSi…help?
dsi all the way
The nintendo DS will always be shit compared to the PSP. The Wii will always be dirt compared to the PS3. Sony has perfected their tech and Nintendo is still doing childs play. The only reason the xbox is gaining popularity is because its cheaper, but still folds under the power of the PS3. Same for the DS, it folds compared to the PSP no matter what. Look at the games and apps for both and my point is proven.
Could you be more of a Sony fan boy Raioku?
You’re point isn’t proven at all.
Aaron´s last entry was: Review: Dollhouse
Power isn’t everything. I’m more inclined on the 360 now because of the sheer number of games (the Wii has 90% shovelware) and on the DS, well I’m biased on the PSP but the sales number can’t be wrong.
The shitty rival noob of psp has come with no threat! “so-called” Dirty Supper (DS) has come haha!
NOTHING WILL BEAT A SONY PSP!
hey do u heard about the OnLive?
they say they’re gonna kill sony and microsoft haha!Death to onlive!
OnLive is discussed on my other blog, you can read up the Is Cloud Gaming Coming post
fuck the dsi they defenetly killed it because no more oldschool un like the psp 3000 that lets you put ps and ps2 games in the memory stick with your PS3
noooooooo!! the DSI sucks its no mach to the psp wich they are adding most features the psp all ready has like the built in browser what the fuck is this nintendo. ILL BE GLAD TO BUY A DSI IN THE GBA SLOT IS INCLUDED ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE THEN I CAN BUY THE GITAR HERO BUNDLE. BUT I GUESS IT’S NOT GONNA HAPPEN SORRY BUT YOU’VE CREATED A MONSTER.
MY PSP 3000 IS BETTER THAN THE DSI
Dude the psp sucks!
dsi has much more better games
when i played the psp games the graphics sucks and the gameplay was bad the only good thing about it is it can watch videos
Though I side with the fact that the games are better for the DS the graphics on the PSP are 10 times better…and with CFW (custom firmware) your able to play DS games on the PSP (via homebrew rom download) so really…if you get a PSP you can have both systems in one.
last time I looked at the DS on PSP emulation it was wonky and slow. Is it playable now?
Lego Star Wars on DS looks horrible.
On PSP, it looks good AND you get extra levels and characters!
wut about xbox 360 is that horrible? or not?
The (PSP 3000) can now use homebrew without a CFW: http://psp3000hacks.com/psp-3000-hacks/chickhen-r2-released/
You (don’t) need a Pandora’s Battery run this, it works straight out of the box. However it (dosen’t) work with 5.50, but there working on it.
IMO: PSP 3000 is way better then the DSi from a Homrbrew/Hacking point of view, I can play all of the GBC,GBA,NES,SNES and even N64 Zelda, Metroid and Mario games on my PSP 3000,
while the DSi can’t play any of these, except Mario 64 of course.
I do agree the DSi has better games, while there are some great games for the PSP 3000, there are more great DSi games, but the DSi games don’t compare to how good a PSP 3000 with a CFW (Custom FirmWare) is.
Also, there is a DS emulator out for PSP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ38tL8ukNs
This just shows the PSP 3000 is about 3 to 7 times more powerful than the DSi.
Just wait the DSi well have alot of potential with firmware and hacks since it uses SD and HCSD cards which are more widely used than the Duo sticks that PSP uses which are only used on a sony product ive got both a PSP lite and SLim and DSand DSi i prefer DSi i hardly play my PSP and i played my friends PSP 3000 its just the same only improved here and there and had a microphone
THE DSI CAMARA DOSE NOT REALLY MAKES ME BUY IT. I HAVE A SELFONE THAT TAKES PICTURES!I HAVE SO MANY GAMINGS, XBOX360, PSP 3000, WII, PS3160GB, DSLITE.PSP GRAFICKS ARE WAY BETTER THEN DSI. PSP JAVA IS BETTER THEN DSI. FUCK THE DSI
PSP has way more then just “a few” upgrades. In fact, Ill list all the new upgrades Sony announced.-Brighter and more vibrent screen.-Anti reflective screen-Built-In mic (Is supposed to be very strong microphone).-Home button has the PSP logo isntead.-The writing on the right side of the PSP that says Sony has moved to ther left side.-On the back of the PSP they replaced the big ring with a smaller chrome ring.-You can now play games or watch movies with your PSP onto a HDTV or a normal T.V., you just need to plug it in with some cables (sold sepretly, but PSP 2000 and 1000 cannot use this feature).-Sony has Skype as one of the features from the XRL.-The hole screen is used up for the new PSP on every game, so the edges and cornors of the screens wont be black.-The pixel speed is increased getting rid of almost all lags, gohsting etc.-The buttons at the bottom are completly oval now, making them more comfturable, the 2000’s are a oval with only a few rounded sides.-The Cartridge opener is now lighter, making it easier to put the UMD disks in and out.-The 3000 has a more metalic feel, and doesnt leave finger prints as much (except for the screen, it still collects dust the same amount as the 2000 did).STILL ONLY NEW SCREEN AND MIKE? I DONT THINK SO. DS Lite is fucking way better than the fucking DSi.It copied psp. I mean look!!! It copied the psp’s camera. I t copied the sd card ( like a memory stick ). It copied the ability to carry photos & musics. So, what now, DSi Fan bitchez?
dsi rules psp BAAAD… on my psp you can`t veiw videos on the net only downloaded ones but u have 2 pay my dsi FREE dsi internet is more reliable 80o/o of internet pics don`t come threw no games no yahoo mail dsi i get email compatability and cameras copying NOT! pspz u bye a cable dsiz is actually built in and this reply i`m making with my blue dsi oh and can psp draw on photos,test resemblence,disort,NO!oh yeah shut your trap stop cursing oh and i know you are are what your calling the dsi but what is it and who really cares about a stupid game boy its old school nearly 20 yrs old i m glad its dropped but heard theyre making a new game boy in a few yrs
The PSP CAN play videos. You’re just doing it wrong.
the psp copied the game boy with its camera. and it didnt copy psp memory stick because sd and memory stick are 2 different storage holders. the xbox 1 was the first console that played music and the n-gage did that before as well so u are stupid
Ahem There are many things that this post left out. For example psp is already well into the multimedia market. It can view pictures (take pictures if you get the camera) It can listen to music. It can watch movies. It can play games. It has an internet browser/ rss reader/ internet radio and skype. It has the playstation store. While the Ds has the same processing power as the Nintendo 64 ( not lying that is true ) The psp also has better graphics. Also psp has the same contrast and color depth as an HDTV shove that up your touch screen ds.
It’s a comparison of the UPGRADES for both consoles not their full feature list. I’m pretty sure you read that with the title o.O
Ok, here is what i think and the psp 3000 is neway miles ahead of DSi. Here’s why:
PSP 3000:
-Plays Music/VIdeos/Pictures
-Better Graphics
-Camera attatchable for 30-50 dollars
-Better Games
-When hacked, Ebooks can be read and MUCH more
-Hacking is easy as
-Microphone with psp 3000
-You can play it on your TV by purchasing a cable for $10
-Also, when hacked GBA can be played as well as MANY other obsolete consoles such as Nintendo 64 and much more with emulators.
DSi
-Has voice changing thing but will get boring after 10 min
-Plays Music (about time)
-Does NOT play video
-Has two crappy cameras (0.3 megapixel)
-Games are GAY
-SOOOO much slower (122Mhz vs 333Mhz on PSP)
i think that i should wait. could someone email me about which one to buy???
Too many idiot fan boys comments on this post.
I own both a DS and a PSP. Both systems have their pro’s and con’s. You just have to weigh them up if you can only afford to buy one of them.
Both systems have great games and you will probably buy either depending on your tastes.
So stop the stupid fan boy comments.
PC is the BEST!!!!!
psp is realy a huge peice of crap realy it just sucks i don’t see any inprovements
What the heck are those argues when you can just mind your own consoles and just play them…..They’re just like little children bragging on their toys….
straight up psp, ps3, pc, i love those three! crysis ftw!
usb on psp
wi -fi on psp
umd on psp
speaker on psp
camera on psp (attachable) v
music on psp
pictures on psp
videos on psp
better butoons on psp
rss feeds on psp
radio and tv on psp (attachable)
better LCD on psp
ps shop on psp
internet on psp
glossy style on psp
high quality games and movies on psp
tv connection on psp
usb cable on psp
earplug slots on psp
8gb memory sticks on psp
connect to other psp and pc and ps3
dsi:………………………hmm?
DSi has SD instead of USB
DSi has wifi
DSi has speakers (duh)
DSi has two cameras, not brilliant, but not terrible
DSi has music
DSi has pictures
DSi has a cart that plays films in almost all codecs
I don’t know what butoons are
DSi will probably be getting TV alongside the Wii
DSi has touch screen
DSi has DSiWare
DSi has internet
DSi is matte style since the glossy DS Lites got dirty easily
DSi has way better games than PSP – as said above, they will be getting TV soon
-you are repeating yourself here-
DSi connects to Wii, doesn’t need PC connection, but DSiWare account is linked to Nintendo account.
DSi lets you change your voice.
DSi lets you manipulate the photos you take.
DSi has useful apps such as a calculator & alarm clock
DSi has a wifi DSi to DSi chat
Some DSi games allow for Download Play, meaning you don’t need to buy the game to play with friends
DSi has a large variety of Flashcarts with nice features, and soon the DSi will be hacked to support custom firmware.
DSi has a nice library of Homebrew & emulators. Soon Nintendo will probably announce a Virtual Console for the DSi allowing for GBA games again.
I can understand why people don’t like the DS, namely the graphics. But I personally think the DS is more fun than a PSP.
I am adding this by dsi and…
Dsi has cameras not one but 2
Dsi has THE FUNNEST games ever
Dsi has internet
Dsi has dsiware
Dsi has mic (like ALL the ds)
Dsi has better graphics
Dsi has CAMERA GAMES
I`d be CRYING if i had PSP!
DSI RULES OH YEAH!
Oh i forgot you can play games while listening to DSI music so LOSER:PSP WINNER:DSI
SO TAKE YOUR PSP DOWN CUZ DSI IS BETTER
Sorry if i was a little harsh there…
But DSI IS REALLY BETTER!
Dear PSP/DS/DSI fan boy’s/girls.
Please stop fighting over which is “better” because there is no “better” just a preference.
It’s like comparing apples and oranges.
You’re only showing how immature by stating claims like “This system is better because it is”.
In the end people like different things and that’s how its always going to be.
/end
fanboys will be fanboys. They’re just as bad as the mactards 😀
Because it does suck. psp is much better, more features, bigger screen, better wifi, better resolution, movies, music, pictures, higher storage media meaning deeper games, i can go on and on. but i am not the long winded type.
I enjoy the arguements cuz im thinking of buying one and its good to hear what either can do or cannot do.. So Go Onn With the Arguments!!
PSP has the fun games, not the crap that nintendo claims fun. Seriously, Nintendogs and Mario Cart!? Tekken 6, soul Calibur rapes those games.
PSP has ALL forms of video AND picture codecs, not to mention hit movies to its UMD discs.
PSP’s wifi is more advanced, for better connectivity.
PSP’s resolution is better than the DSI, so better gameplay.
Two screens are NOT better than one,if that one screen is immense and better in quality.
UMD discs have large potential for improval in QUality of Games and storage. More storage means larger games.
You DS fanboys cans stop throwing your “backwards compatible with GBA” shit now because DSI is NOT! HAHA!!
PSP memory cards are now 32gigs. And if you have the adaptor, 2 32 gigs can fit for 64 gigs!
PSP has an camera too. Although you have to buy it, its 1.3 megapixels, not the crappy 0.3.
Internet is better on PSP cuz of better WIFI.
PSP has camera games too.
PSP has a build in MIC.
WOW a calculator! Whadda u gonna do, ur math homework on it?
PSP connects to the more technilogically advanced, “kicks Wii’s ass” PS3!!!!! Also without a PC connection. AND if you have a internet connection, you can connect with ur PS3 from around the world and play ur PS3 games, movies, and pictures! I bet ur crappy Wii plus DSI cant do that!
Manipulation of Pictures is useless. U want manipulation? Get ADOBE Photoshop!
PSP ALREADY has TV. JUst get the cable, plug, plug, done.
CHanging ur voice. A useless thing that u will get crap bored of in 10 minutes. ‘Nuff said.
Hacking is Illegal 🙂
PSP can download games too, and if one person has the game, more people can play that game too, even if they dont have it.
No need for space taking calendar when the time, date, month, and year are displayed in the top right corner.
i still like the psp though. not as much. and i don’t like the wii.
Some of your comments were deleted because .. well you know why 😀
how long does your battery last. i had my ds on rest for two weeks and it was still good. do that with a psp. i love my ps2.
Ive had my PSP for 3 years and the battery works for 6 hours and 30 min. PSP is just the better piece of equipment. Nintendo is just ripping Sony off with their SD card (MEmory Card) Even the game whatevers for the DS are based on the memory sticks for psp!
haha, it kinda funny how people fight like this. in a way it kind of good, cause some people could only afford one console.
this is my experiment with both console.
Games: well, this is what YOU like, Ds have games like mario, zelda, pokemon. (you know little kid games) PSP have more hardcore games, like God of Wars, final fantasy, Call of Duty. (main mature games). so it up to what you like for the part.
Graphic: honestly. it kinda obvious that PSP have better graphic, but DS have good graphic too, (but only on some games, i know it kinda weird)
Feature: on the features, i would have to go with the PSP. cause you can… well, im sure you guys know already so im not gonna explained. BUT, for dsi once you get R4i (optional) it would pretty much have the same feature and more. (for more info look up R4 on google)
on my opinion i would go with Nintendo dsi (for people who could only buy one console) cause i like little kid games, especially Pokemon. and to me the graphic really doesn’t matter to me. and for me the feature like listening to music or watching movie doesn’t matter to me either, cause i got my Ipod Touch and iphone 3Gs (which is bad ass)
well, not pretty much all the important stuff hope this help some people
Hi I have a 6 year old daughter who is dying for a ds . I wanted to get her the hannah montana psp but of course she wants the ds in the red colour. She likes it only because of the colour! Which would be better for her age? She is pretty well advanced with all this computer stuff!
the dsi and psp are not trying to become the same system. they are differant and they offer differant things. it mostly depends on the player.
hey, don’t get caught up in this war. for younger players a ds would be easier to comprehend plus it will get her out of your hair for a while.
Okay !! DS it is..I like the kiddie games for it. Now what are the must extras that I should get…for instance plugs rechargers, etc…
youre so right i have both too and i like them both. And i play both.
What, i tried with an R4 and i played it, 3 tips, use cheats, you can control with D-Pad, but, D-Pad only supports green and red and thirdly, yes, it’s sort of goodbye, but try me tips, ubt only if you have the R4SDHC.
I like this website I will keep on coming
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I think THE PSP is better in some ways And a DSi just has Differences in some things but I like both.when it comes Graphics PSP is better no mean stuff Its RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!