Tech head-to-head
New Nintendo 3DS XLvsSony PSP-3000
The 2015 New Nintendo 3DS XL leads the 2008 Sony PSP-3000 on every axis it doesn't tie, 8.3 to 7.4. The gap peaks at 1.4 on Ease of use.
New Nintendo 3DS XL
Nintendo
8.3
DS, 3DS, and New 3DS cartridges on one device, with the steadiest 3D Nintendo ever shipped.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.
Sony PSP-3000
Sony
7.4
The last full-size PSP and the best screen in the line. Old batteries and UMD drives are what fail.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.
Where they diverge
The widest gap is Ease of use, New Nintendo 3DS XL ahead 8.8 to 7.4. They come closest on Design, 8.4 to 7.6. Left of center is New Nintendo 3DS XL, right is Sony PSP-3000.
Which one to pick
Take the New Nintendo 3DS XL
Leads on Performance, Durability, Ease of use and Design.
- You want the deepest library for one device, including the DS back catalog
- You want stable 3D, since face tracking keeps it from breaking when you shift
- You care about a few titles that run only on the New models, such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
Take the Sony PSP-3000
- Your interest is the PSP library itself, from Monster Hunter Freedom Unite to the Persona ports
- A wide single screen for video and games appeals to you
- Your UMD collection already exists, or you're about to build one
Value scores identically, so that axis can't break the tie.
What each one gets wrong
New Nintendo 3DS XL
- You planned to buy games digitally, because the 3DS eShop closed in March 2023
- You want to play Game Boy Advance cartridges, which it has no slot for
Sony PSP-3000
- Photos show a bulging back cover, which means a swollen battery
- Faint horizontal lines on fast motion would bother you, an interlacing effect owners noted on this model's screen
Specs, side by side
| Spec | New Nintendo 3DS XL | Sony PSP-3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Top screen | 4.88 in, stereoscopic 3D with face tracking | — |
| Bottom screen | 4.18 in, resistive touch | — |
| Plays | DS, 3DS, and New 3DS cartridges | — |
| Controls | C-Stick, ZL/ZR, built-in amiibo reader | — |
| Storage | microSD, behind a screwed back plate | — |
| Battery life | 3.5 to 7 hours on 3DS games (Nintendo) | — |
| Screen | — | 4.3 in LCD, 480×272 |
| Media | — | UMD discs, Memory Stick PRO Duo |
| Extras | — | Built-in microphone, video out by cable |
| Battery | — | Removable lithium-ion pack |
Rankings they both appear in
Questions
- Is the 2015 New Nintendo 3DS XL the safer pick over the 2008 Sony PSP-3000?
- New Nintendo 3DS XL leads on Performance, Durability, Ease of use and Design, and there is no axis where Sony PSP-3000 comes out ahead. The 7-year gap shows in the totals as 8.3 against 7.4.
- Is there any reason to look at the 2008 model?
- Not on this scorecard. The 2008 model doesn't lead a single one of the 5 axes, and its own listed weakness is blunt: Photos show a bulging back cover, which means a swollen battery.
- Which one ranks higher in "Retro handhelds: the five worth buying used"?
- New Nintendo 3DS XL sits at #1 in "Retro handhelds: the five worth buying used", Sony PSP-3000 at #4.