Buying guide · NexWave Games
PSP-1000, PSP-2000 or PSP-3000: which model suits you?
Colour is often the first thing you notice about a used PSP. For regular play, the model number and working condition are at least as important. PSP-1000, PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 all use physical UMD games, but differ in size, screen and connections. You do not automatically need the highest number. Think about how you want to play, then compare complete units, including battery and charger, rather than console prices alone.
PSP-1000: the larger original model
PSP-1000 has a thicker body than the later PSP-2000. That extra bulk can feel comfortable if you like having more console to hold, but makes it less compact in a bag. It has no official video output for displaying PSP games directly through a standard PSP TV cable. If you mainly want to use its own screen, that absence need not matter to you.
On any PSP-1000, check that the UMD door closes properly and a game reads reliably. Try the analogue nub, directional buttons and shoulder buttons in an actual game. Browsing the home menu alone says little about movement during play. Inspect the screen with both bright and dark images. An older model in good working order may be a better choice than a newer unit with unexplained faults.
PSP-2000 and PSP-3000: lighter, with video output
With PSP-2000, Sony made the console thinner and lighter and added video output. For PSP games on a television, this model needs a suitable connection supporting progressive video, such as a component AV cable and compatible TV input. A cable with only the familiar yellow video plug does not offer the same capabilities on this version. Buy the cable only after checking your model and television inputs.
PSP-3000 builds on that slimmer design and adds a revised screen and built-in microphone, among other changes. Its television output options are broader than PSP-2000’s. Screen preference remains personal: ideally compare moving images on both models. Do not judge from one bright product photograph; brightness, viewing angle and the panel’s condition all affect what you see.
Include completeness in your decision
Ask which battery, charger and memory card are included. PSP-1000 does not simply use the same battery pack as standard PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 units. Check the appropriate version and judge a used battery by its condition, not its label alone. Saving requires a suitable Memory Stick. A missing battery cover, faulty charger or missing card can make an initially cheap purchase less appealing.
Finally, watch for names outside this comparison. PSP Go has no UMD drive, while PSP Street is another version again. If you want to collect physical PSP games, explicitly check the offered console’s model number. Choose PSP-1000 for its larger body, or compare the slimmer PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 by screen and connections. Ultimately, proven working condition and complete contents matter more than a higher number.