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Tech · Sony · 2008

Sony PSP-3000

The last full-size PSP and the best screen in the line. Old batteries and UMD drives are what fail.

Retro handhelds: the five worth buying used — #4

Overall

7.4

out of 10

Axis scores

Strongest on Performance (7.6), weakest on Durability (6.8), a 0.8-point spread. The 7.4 overall is the plain average of all 5 Tech axes, with no weighting.

Sony PSP-3000 — axis scores out of 10Horizontal bar chart of editorial scores out of 10 across 5 axes. Bars run from a shared zero baseline; longer is better. Sony PSP-3000: Performance 7.6, Value 7.6, Durability 6.8, Ease of use 7.4, Design 7.6.PerformanceSony PSP-3000 — Performance 7.6 out of 107.6ValueSony PSP-3000 — Value 7.6 out of 107.6DurabilitySony PSP-3000 — Durability 6.8 out of 106.8Ease of useSony PSP-3000 — Ease of use 7.4 out of 107.4DesignSony PSP-3000 — Design 7.6 out of 107.6Editorial score out of 10 — higher is better
  • Performance — How well it does the core job
  • Value — What the same money buys elsewhere
  • Durability — Failure and fade reports past the one-year mark
  • Ease of use — Setup, daily operation, cleaning, maintenance
  • Design — Build quality and how it sits in a room

Specs

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

As published by the manufacturer. We didn't measure these ourselves.

Is it for you

Buy it if

  • 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

Skip it if

  • 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

The 3000 has the most saturated screen of the PSP line. It also has a faint interlacing effect visible in fast-moving scenes, and owner forums have argued about it since launch. Most people stop seeing it within a day. A few never do.

The original battery packs are old enough that swelling is common. A swollen pack lifts the battery cover until it won’t sit flush. That shows in a side-on photo, and it’s a reason to pass on the listing rather than just swap the battery.

The 1000, 2000, and 3000 look alike in a thumbnail. The model number is on the label behind the battery cover, and a seller can photograph it in seconds. Ask if it isn’t shown.

The UMD drive is mechanical and it wears. Ask whether a disc loads and plays; “powers on” says nothing about the drive. Memory Stick PRO Duo cards are no longer made in volume, so many owners use a microSD adapter in the card slot.

Last updated . The scoring method is on how we rank.