How to Identify Your PS Vita Model: 1000 or 2000
A couple of useful accessories for the PlayStation Vita.
For a modified Vita: SD2VITA adapter for an ordinary microSD card.
For Remote Play on the Vita 2000: an L2/R2 grip.
The easiest way to identify a PS Vita model is to look at the PS, Start and Select buttons. They are oval on the PS Vita 1000 and round on the PS Vita 2000. This is especially useful when comparing consoles in sellers’ photos.
How to Tell a PS Vita 1000 from a 2000
| Feature | PS Vita 1000 | PS Vita 2000 |
|---|---|---|
PS, Start and Select buttons | Oval | Round |
| Sony logo on the front | Above the D-pad | Above the screen |
| PlayStation logo in the center of the rear touch panel | Absent | Present |
In a front-view photo, check the button shape and the position of the Sony logo. If you can only see the back, look at the center of the touch panel.
PlayStation TV (PS Vita TV) is easy to recognize: it is a small home console with no built-in screen. Below, the photos show the differences between the two handheld models.
If you are still deciding which model to buy, see PS Vita 1000 vs 2000: Which Should You Choose?.
Main Differences
The front panel provides the fastest way to tell the two handheld models apart.
1. PS, Start and Select buttons
- On the PS Vita PCH-1000, these buttons are oval.
- On the PS Vita PCH-2000, they are round.
2. Sony logo position
- On the PCH-1000, the Sony logo is above the D-pad.
- On the PCH-2000, the Sony logo is centered above the screen.
3. Shape of the front panel around the buttons
- On the PCH-1000, the button areas sit inside shallow recessed sections of the front panel.
- On the PCH-2000, the front surface around the controls is much flatter.
Rear and Side Differences
The rear touch panel gives another very easy identification clue:
- The PS Vita PCH-1000 has no PlayStation logo in the center of the rear touch panel.
- The PS Vita PCH-2000 has a PlayStation logo in the center of the rear touch panel.
From the side, the PCH-1000 also has a more pronounced metallic-looking frame around the body. The PCH-2000 is thinner and has a more uniformly plastic exterior. This difference can be hard to judge in front-facing seller photos, so use it as a secondary clue.
A final confirmation is the charging port: the PCH-1000 uses Sony's proprietary Vita connector, while the PCH-2000 uses micro-USB.
These visual checks are usually enough to identify the model from ordinary photos. If you are choosing between the two rather than identifying one, read our comparison of the PS Vita 1000 and 2000.