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Sony to offer slimmer PSP in September

12 July 2007 3:24 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 44 comments

Sony Corp. has revealed at E3 that it will attempt to increase its competition with Nintendo's DS Lite handheld console by offering a slimmer model of the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in September. Both the PSP and DS were launched in late 2004 but the DS console has performed the best of both, with sky rocketing sales recently.

"From a distance, this PSP might not look very different from the current model ... but when you have it in your hand, the difference becomes quite clear," Sony Computer Entertainment Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai said. "It's actually 33 percent lighter than the current PSP. It's also 19 percent slimmer."

Nintendo sold 23.6 million DS units in the year ended March 2007, outpacing PSP shipments of 8.4 million. The PlayStation Portable (PSP) uses UMD games and offers excellent graphics as well multimedia features allowing photos, music and videos to be played using the device, among many other excellent features.

The DS handheld has two screens, opens like a book, and allows the user to control most games using a stylus and/or a normal keypad. The slimmer version of the PSP will go on sale for $170, the current price of the PSP. Nintendo's DS Lite sells for $130.

Source:
Reuters

Permalink to this article

New PSP to launch in UK with no TV cables or new colours? (4 September 2007)

"Pandora's Battery" can unbrick your PSP (23 August 2007)

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Discuss this article!	There are more user comments available, read them here
SamNz (Newbie) 12 July 2007 13:13
*Quote:* the small folding keyboard would add to the weight also the slimmer it is and the lighter it is the more likely its gonna break if u accidentaly drop it on the topic of dropping i was on my psp the other day nd it got hit out my hand by a rugby ball then hit the ground very hard (concrete ground and i was like 1.5m above it) all the psp got was sum scratches. i dont know whether it was lucky of a QUALITY PRODUCT lol [ + quote]
Markman29 (Member) 12 July 2007 14:04
this article forgot to mention that the PSP will have a better battery and a tv output. [ + quote]
narmo (Newbie) 12 July 2007 14:08
*Originally posted by Markman29:* this article forgot to mention that the PSP will have a better battery and a tv output. true [ + quote]
spydah (Junior Member) 12 July 2007 15:01
*Quote:* *Quote:* the small folding keyboard would add to the weight also the slimmer it is and the lighter it is the more likely its gonna break if u accidentaly drop it on the topic of dropping i was on my psp the other day nd it got hit out my hand by a rugby ball then hit the ground very hard (concrete ground and i was like 1.5m above it) all the psp got was sum scratches. i dont know whether it was lucky of a QUALITY PRODUCT lol I had a similar thing happen a few months ago where i got out my car and had my psp in a so called PSP carrying case which opened as soon as i stood up and my psp fell out and the only damage really from the height and speed of it hitting the ground was a very small hairline scratch near the on switch and a few scratches around the edges. Oh and the UMD was done on impact. [ + quote]
narmo (Newbie) 12 July 2007 15:22
*Quote:* *Quote:* *Quote:* the small folding keyboard would add to the weight also the slimmer it is and the lighter it is the more likely its gonna break if u accidentaly drop it on the topic of dropping i was on my psp the other day nd it got hit out my hand by a rugby ball then hit the ground very hard (concrete ground and i was like 1.5m above it) all the psp got was sum scratches. i dont know whether it was lucky of a QUALITY PRODUCT lol I had a similar thing happen a few months ago where i got out my car and had my psp in a so called PSP carrying case which opened as soon as i stood up and my psp fell out and the only damage really from the height and speed of it hitting the ground was a very small hairline scratch near the on switch and a few scratches around the edges. Oh and the UMD was done on impact. my friend has a psp he was charging it using the power adapter when his sibling came and accidentaly tripped over the wire which caused the psp to fall to the ground (about 1 or 2 feet)the umd drive thing ended up not closing properly it would close and play games but it would look like it didn't close completely he didn't mention any scratches anyways due to our stories about our very easily damaged psp i would conclude that the psp is very fragile and making it lighter and thinner would even make it more fragile p.s: i advise anyone who has a psp to get a screen protecter, micro fibre cloth for the screen and a good reliable case (logitech ) i think u can find these at your local wal-mart [ + quote]
SKrajna (Newbie) 12 July 2007 16:04
Screw the size, make it cheaper [ + quote]
SKrajna (Newbie) 12 July 2007 16:04
Screw the size, make it cheaper [ + quote]
vinny13 (Inactive) 12 July 2007 16:11
*Originally posted by SKrajna:* Screw the size, make it cheaper They did make it cheaper. [ + quote]
SKrajna (Newbie) 12 July 2007 16:28
*Quote:* The slimmer version of the PSP will go on sale for $170, the current price of the PSP CURRENT PRICE its not cheaper, just thinner [ + quote]
SKrajna (Newbie) 12 July 2007 16:28
*Quote:* The slimmer version of the PSP will go on sale for $170, the current price of the PSP CURRENT PRICE its not cheaper, just thinner [ + quote]
vinny13 (Inactive) 12 July 2007 16:29
Stop double posting! [ + quote]
spydah (Junior Member) 13 July 2007 4:27
Actually it will be cheaper then the original PSP was when it was released so that is a plus. $170 for the New PSP and $120 for the Old they said. I buy it if they make sure it has the dual analogs. [ + quote]
mrmcman (Inactive) 13 July 2007 6:10
how do they do wifi on the new one? theres no wifi switch, and i find it odd if sony thought it would be a good idea to drain the battery and always have it on... hey newbies! before posting... http://www.google.ca/ (+[__]%) put this psp in ur siggy. just do it. [ + quote]
blackvamp (Senior Member) 13 July 2007 7:28
Wow, really? Are you sure their is no wifi swithc? Their battery technology must improved a whole lot. With 333mhz and always on wifi. I wonder if the new battery can be used on the original psp... #1: 2.81 -> 3.03 -> 3.11 DoH (no more :D) #2: 1.00 -> 1.5 -> 3.03oe-c #3: Ceramic white 1.5 -> 3.03oe-c -> 3.40oe Whatever happens, happens... [ + quote]
vinny13 (Inactive) 13 July 2007 8:11
The new PSP is the exact same as the old one, accept for a couple new features(as said in the Sony E3 85 min. conference): 33% Lighter 19% Thinner Higher quality video output. Stronger, longer lasting battery. New Package: Silver PSP bundle with Daxter and Famly Guy, The Freakin' Sweet Collection, and a 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo. New package: Starwars Battlefront bundle with Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadronand and a special edition white PSP with a small picture of Darth Vader on the back(coming October 9th). WiFi switch moved to the top, makinng it harder to hit accidentally. Built-in memory doubled to 64mb. Able to recharge over USB connection. Faster game loading times. Older bateries will still work in the new PSP, but the battery cover isn't big enough(they will have a battery package out with a custom battery cover to fit it though). Each package will cost $199.99 USD. The core system will cost $169.99. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 13 July 2007 8:39
narmo (Newbie) 13 July 2007 10:24
*Originally posted by vinny13:* The new PSP is the exact same as the old one, accept for a couple new features(as said in the Sony E3 85 min. conference): 33% Lighter 19% Thinner Higher quality video output. Stronger, longer lasting battery. New Package: Silver PSP bundle with Daxter and Famly Guy, The Freakin' Sweet Collection, and a 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo. New package: Starwars Battlefront bundle with Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadronand and a special edition white PSP with a small picture of Darth Vader on the back(coming October 9th). WiFi switch moved to the top, makinng it harder to hit accidentally. Built-in memory doubled to 64mb. Able to recharge over USB connection. Faster game loading times. Older bateries will still work in the new PSP, but the battery cover isn't big enough(they will have a battery package out with a custom battery cover to fit it though). Each package will cost $199.99 USD. The core system will cost $169.99. i would buy one if the firmware version was 3.5 or lower [ + quote]
blackvamp (Senior Member) 13 July 2007 10:31
*Originally posted by vinny13:* Older bateries will still work in the new PSP, but the battery cover isn't big enough(they will have a battery package out with a custom battery cover to fit it though)... Hmm, that's gonna look pretty weird. So the new battery will be too small for the original psp then. Contact might be loose or something. Should be easily modded. Hope Sony care to release this better battery for old PSP. [ + quote]
mathbyte (Newbie) 13 July 2007 11:45
well for those of you who are trying to decide whether or not to get the new PSP, or to get a DS, i have a few things to say. i am a proud owner of a DS lite and i have to say that when you team it up with a M3 simply flashcart, the once weak Ds now becoms a pretty powerful machine. u can play music, store and play homebrew, and watch movies. HOWEVER- im also planning to buy a PSP. why? because. sure, the DS equipped with the m3 can do all that, but it has pretty poor storage space and speed. the PSP, however, is much better with movies, and it has pretty impressive graphics. i cant tell you which is better, because neither one is. youll just have to decide which one fits you better. [ + quote]
vinny13 (Inactive) 13 July 2007 12:48
*Originally posted by mathbyte:* well for those of you who are trying to decide whether or not to get the new PSP, or to get a DS, i have a few things to say. i am a proud owner of a DS lite and i have to say that when you team it up with a M3 simply flashcart, the once weak Ds now becoms a pretty powerful machine. u can play music, store and play homebrew, and watch movies. HOWEVER- im also planning to buy a PSP. why? because. sure, the DS equipped with the m3 can do all that, but it has pretty poor storage space and speed. the PSP, however, is much better with movies, and it has pretty impressive graphics. i cant tell you which is better, because neither one is. youll just have to decide which one fits you better. The DS Lite is ok... it only has a different look and nicer screens... The reason why I still have my regular DS is because it has a better feel to it. Slim isn't always the greatest. [ + quote]
mrmcman (Inactive) 13 July 2007 14:04
*Originally posted by blackvamp:* Wow, really? Are you sure their is no wifi swithc? Their battery technology must improved a whole lot. With 333mhz and always on wifi. I wonder if the new battery can be used on the original psp... no, i was wrong.. it was moved to the top, where it is less likely to be accidentally switched. but, ironically, it looks like the open switch, so it may be pressed that way hey newbies! before posting... http://www.google.ca/ (+[__]%) put this psp in ur siggy. just do it. [ + quote]
Meatwad3 (Junior Member) 14 July 2007 21:37
the issue with the slim psp will be firmwares, is it compatible with 1.5, will there be custom firmwares etc [ + quote]
blackvamp (Senior Member) 16 July 2007 6:24
*Originally posted by Meatwad3:* the issue with the slim psp will be firmwares, is it compatible with 1.5, will there be custom firmwares etc I doubt it will run on 1.5, I don't think sony is THAT dumb. [ + quote]
mrmcman (Inactive) 16 July 2007 6:26
there may be a way around that. TA-082+ mobos werent supposed to run 1.50, and look now. [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 17 July 2007 2:24
This is all well and good but being slimmer but having the UMD discs being the same size does this not create it to be the same thickness again. [ + quote]
psp_andy (Junior Member) 17 July 2007 5:02
they should make a keyboard for the new psp that connects via the usb and u can fold it underneath the psp, covering the umd slot if u no what i mean, but make it so it doesn't affect gaming or anything PSP: 2.6-->2.71-->3.30-->3.50-->1.50-->3.40 OE-A [ + quote]
psp_andy (Junior Member) 17 July 2007 5:02
soz double post PSP: 2.6-->2.71-->3.30-->3.50-->1.50-->3.40 OE-A [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 17 July 2007 5:03