PSP-1000 vs 2000 vs 3000 vs Go vs Street: Which PSP Is Best?

PSP Model Comparison at a Glance

The differences become more important once you look at the screen, weight, controls, UMD support and build quality, so the rest of this guide examines each model in detail.

General Information

The PSP is a seventh-generation handheld console developed by Sony.

All PSP models use a dual-core MIPS R4000 processor clocked at up to 333 MHz and a separate graphics core clocked at up to 166 MHz. Most models have 64 MB of RAM; the original PSP-1000 is the exception. The standard PSP design uses a 4.3-inch TFT display with a resolution of 480 × 272 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio.

The large widescreen display was one of the features that immediately set the PSP apart from its handheld competitors.

Its size and widescreen aspect ratio were remarkable for 2005. When Sony developers described the system as an attempt to bring a PlayStation 2-like experience to a handheld, the hardware made that ambition easy to understand.

Initially, the PSP was designed around UMD (Universal Media Disc). These discs offered an impressive capacity for a handheld format: about 900 MB for single-layer media and up to 1.8 GB for dual-layer discs.

Later, Sony put more emphasis on digital distribution through the PlayStation Store. The catalog was never complete, however, and downloaded games had to be stored on removable media. Most PSP models use Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, while the PSP Go switched to the smaller Memory Stick Micro (M2) format.

One of the most obvious limitations shared by every PSP model is the lack of a second analog stick.

Sony discussed the control layout during development, but adding a second stick later would have fragmented the platform: games designed around it would no longer have worked the same way on earlier PSP models.

Now let's move on to the consoles themselves.

PSP-1000 (Fat)

At the end of 2004, Sony released the first version of the PSP, which later became known as the PSP Fat.

This name didn't come out of nowhere. The PSP-1000 is much thicker than its siblings. It has large dimensions:

Length: 170 mm;

Width: 74 mm;

Thickness: 23 mm.

It is also quite heavy at 280 grams. For comparison, the original Nintendo DS weighed 275 grams despite being physically larger.

The extra thickness was not accidental. The PSP-1000 has the largest removable battery in the family, rated at 1800 mAh. Later models used smaller batteries but also became more energy efficient.

The battery is perhaps the most significant practical problem with this version, although it is not unique to the PSP-1000. Old lithium-ion batteries can swell with age. I had both a PSP-1000 and a PSP-2000, and the original batteries in both eventually swelled. Today, finding a PSP-1000 with a healthy original battery is therefore increasingly unlikely.

The PSP-1000 feels like the most substantial model in terms of construction. Its UMD mechanism is more elaborate than on later revisions: pressing the eject button opens the drive and lifts the disc slightly. The front panel is glossy, while the rear shell is matte and pleasant to hold.

The PSP-1000 is the only model that had an infrared port. However, to this day, no one knows why it was included.

The PSP-1000 also has only 32 MB of RAM, compared with 64 MB in the later models. In ordinary retail games I did not notice much difference from the extra memory, although it matters more in homebrew. Loading games from a memory card instead of UMD can make a much more noticeable difference to loading times.

The PSP-1000 is still a good system, especially if you value its build quality, but the later revisions are usually easier to recommend for everyday use. They are lighter, have more RAM, and some add TV output and better displays.

The main practical concern is the battery. After two decades of storage, many original PSP-1000 batteries have swollen and been discarded, so a replacement battery may be necessary. In my experience, finding a genuinely good one is not always easy.

PSP-2000 (Slim & Lite)

In September 2007, sales of the next version, the PSP-2000, started in Japan. The console, which the developers called PSP Slim & Lite, meaning thin and light.

It is not the smallest PSP ever made, but it is dramatically lighter and slimmer than the PSP-1000. Its dimensions are:

Length: 169 mm;

Width: 71 mm;

Thickness: 19 mm.

It weighs only 180 grams. After the PSP-1000, the difference is so dramatic that the PSP-2000 can almost feel like a mockup when you first pick it up.

Because the body is thinner and the side grips are gone, Sony reduced the battery capacity to 1200 mAh.

Sony said this would not significantly reduce battery life because the revised hardware was more energy efficient.

The PSP-2000 also doubled the RAM to 64 MB, a change retained by every later model. I did not notice much difference in normal retail games, but the extra memory is useful in homebrew, where some applications were never fully optimized for the PSP-1000.

Sony also added TV output. It is not essential for most players, but it is useful for capture and makes it easier for me to take screenshots for articles.

The PSP-2000 is easy to recommend if size and weight matter to you. If you plan to travel with a traditional UMD-capable PSP, this model remains a comfortable option.

PSP-3000 (Bright)

At the end of 2008, Sony released another version of the console - the PSP-3000. Its dimensions are exactly the same as the previous version.

On paper, the changes were modest: Sony added a built-in microphone and revised the display. In practice, the screen is the important upgrade. Colors are noticeably more vibrant on the PSP-3000.

The anti-glare coating was improved as well, making the screen somewhat easier to use outdoors.

The new display also introduced a controversial visual artifact. It is often described as interlacing, although the effect actually comes from the panel's pixel arrangement.

In the close-up above, the difference in the pixel structure is visible: the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 form their lines differently.

How distracting this looks is very subjective. If possible, try a PSP-3000 in person before buying one. Some players prefer its wider color range, while others would rather avoid the scanline-like effect.

PSP Go (N1000)

In 2009, Sony decided to compete with Apple for the portable gaming market and released the fourth version of the console - the PSP Go.

This console was radically different from the previous ones. It was made in a slider form factor. It has the smallest dimensions:

Length: 128 mm;

Width: 69 mm;

Thickness: 16.5 mm.

It weighs only 158 grams.

To make the system this compact, Sony reduced the display from 4.3 to 3.8 inches. It is smaller, but the difference is less dramatic in use than the numbers suggest. The screen is vibrant like the PSP-3000's, yet it does not show the same scanline-like effect.

The PSP Go is small enough to fit easily into a jeans pocket, but the compact body is not as comfortable to hold as the larger PSP models.

If you have large hands, you may find it cramped. I played GTA: Vice City Stories and GTA: Liberty City Stories on it without major problems, although the analog stick placement felt unusual at first.

The biggest change was the complete removal of the UMD drive. The PSP Go is the only model in the family with substantial built-in storage: 16 GB for downloaded games and other content.

Sony also changed the removable storage format: the PSP Go uses the smaller Memory Stick Micro (M2) cards instead of Memory Stick PRO Duo.

The redesign also broke direct compatibility with some older PSP accessories. For example, the original PSP camera can no longer be connected directly.

Using it required a separate adapter frame connected by a cable at the bottom of the console. The result was awkward, and these adapters can also be expensive on the second-hand market.

Battery capacity was reduced to 930 mAh. In practice, the smaller display and lack of a UMD drive help offset the lower capacity.

For me, the PSP Go is the most appealing version of the PSP if you do not need UMD discs.

You cannot use UMD discs, but that matters much less if you mainly play from digital storage. Games loaded from a memory card or the PSP Go's built-in storage avoid the constant disc access and long loading times associated with UMD.

The compact body will not suit everyone. The standard PSP shape fills the hands more naturally, and the classic analog-stick placement may feel more comfortable during long sessions.

Its compact size and excellent screen are major advantages. I strongly recommend trying the PSP Go if you do not have a large UMD collection and mainly want a small system for playing PSP games.

PSP-E1000 (Street)

In 2011, with Sony already preparing the PlayStation Vita, the company unexpectedly introduced one more PSP revision: the PSP Street.

Sony's goal was to get the price below €100, and the Street achieved that by cutting features. Wi-Fi was removed completely, and the stereo speakers were replaced by a single mono speaker.

The dedicated brightness and volume controls also disappeared from the front panel, and the lower button strip was redesigned as a membrane-style panel.

The rear UMD door was redesigned as well, and the battery became internal rather than easily removable.

The display is broadly comparable to the PSP-2000 in image quality, but its viewing angles are noticeably worse.

One of the advantages of this console is the matte plastic - it's pleasant to hold, less prone to scratches, and more durable.

Overall, the PSP Street is the weakest model in the lineup. Its main advantage is simply that it was designed to be cheap.

Opinions

Arekanderu's opinion and his collection:

As a retro-console collector, I consider the PSP-1000 the best-built model. Sony often starts a hardware generation with a larger, more elaborate design and then simplifies later revisions to reduce size and cost.

On the PSP-2000, the materials feel cheaper, the infrared port disappeared, and the UMD mechanism was simplified. The PSP-3000 follows the same basic design with a better screen, while the PSP Street strips away even more features. The PSP Go does not feel cheap, but it makes several controversial changes of its own, including the removal of UMD and the switch to a different memory-card format.

The PSP-1000, despite the drawbacks of an early design, feels like the model where Sony engineers went all out: better materials, a more complex construction and fewer obvious cost-cutting decisions. Sony built it to make an impact in the handheld market, and that ambition is still visible in the hardware.

What Should You Choose?

Sony never made one PSP model that was clearly better in every respect. Each version improves something while giving up something else.

For most buyers, the PSP-3000 is the safest all-round choice: it keeps the classic PSP design and UMD drive while offering the most vibrant screen of the standard models. If the scanline-like display effect bothers you, the PSP-2000 is a good alternative.

The PSP Go is my personal favorite if UMD support is not important. It is the smallest model, has built-in storage and a very good screen, but its compact controls are not for everyone. The PSP-1000 remains attractive for collectors and anyone who values its heavier, more substantial construction. The PSP Street makes the most sense only as a cheap entry point.

So the right choice depends on what matters most to you: UMD discs, screen quality, portability, build quality or price.