With today's great advancements in technology, you are no longer limited to using your handheld game console for simply playing games. You now have the ability to use these little devices for making Skype calls, storing your favorite tunes, watching movies and of course enjoying your favorite video games on the go.
While Nintendo has certainly made their mark in the world of handheld game consoles, Sony has become a frontrunner. Each company offers a few distinct features. For example, Sony offers Skype and Bluetooth capabilities while Nintendo offers a camera and a touch screen on their devices. So while you're deciding on the right handheld game console, consider which unique features are most important to you.
The Nintendo 3DS allows you to take photos in 3D as well as play games using different levels of 3-Dimension. We thought this was a great new feature for a handheld game console to offer, which is why it is our top pick. The PSP Go offers you the ability to browse the internet, make Skype calls and tether with Bluetooth. We also like the PSP 3000 because it allows you to do more than just play games with the device. This unit also allows you to Skye with friends and is Bluetooth enabled. These are just a few features of what the handheld game consoles of today can offer you. For more information, be sure to check out our articles on handheld game consoles.
Both Nintendo and Sony have produced terrific portable game consoles, and both have their strengths and weaknesses. Both are also continually evolving. There are original features and models being made constantly, which is why it’s important to know some of the key features of handheld video gaming devices.
Physical Features
In this section we review the actual physical aspects of the devices. We examine the weight and size as well as the features that are included. We look at the microphone, cameras, webcams and other components of the products.
Capabilities
This is where we look at some of the features offered by the different companies. For example, is the device Bluetooth enabled? Does it have Skype and other chat features? We also look at the image and color support, available memory and screen resolution.
Multimedia
All of the products we reviewed have extensive multimedia options such as a music player, a photo viewer and a movie app.. There are online stores provided by the manufacturers of the products to download content directly to your device, or you can transfer media files from a computer.
Help & Support
In this section we review the customer service options provided by the manufacturers. We list the different types of support options each company offers including email addresses, phone numbers and user forums.
When it comes right down to it, choosing a handheld game console is a personal decision that will depend on which games you are interested in playing. Would you rather reenact World War II with Call of Duty on a PlayStation device or race through the jungle as a giant gorilla in Mario Kart with a Nintendo console? However, it’s important to know the unique features of the portable game console before purchasing it, and that’s why At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™
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Nintendo 3DS | PSP Go | PSP 3000 | Nintendo DSi | Nintendo DSi XL | Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY | Nintendo DS Lite | |||
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| Weight (Ounces) | 8 | 5.57 | 6.7 | 7.69 | 11.03 | 6.1 | 9.7 | |||
| Width (Inches) | 5.3 | 5.04 | 6.7 | 5.5 | 6.34 | 2.4 | 5.85 | |||
| Height (Inches) | 2.9 | 2.72 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 3.33 | |||
| Depth (Inches) | 0.8 | 0.65 | .7 | 0.79 | 0.83 | 0.63 | 1.13 | |||
| Games | Online/Cartridge | Online | UMD Discs/Online | Online/Cartridge | Online/Cartridge | Pre-loaded/Online | Online/Cartridge | |||
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| Available Memory | 4 GB | 16 GB | Memory Sticks | 256 MB | 256 MB | 8 GB | 256 MB | |||
| Processor | 2.4 GHz | 333 MHz | 333 MHz | 133 MHz | 133 MHz | 1 GHz | 133 MHz | |||
| Resolution | 800 x 240 | 480 x 272 | 480 x 272 | 256 x 192 | 256 x 192 | 854 x 480 | 256 x 192 | |||
| Color Support | 24-bit | 32-Bit | 32-Bit | 16-Bit | 16-Bit | 24-bit | 16-Bit | |||
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