New PS Vita is thinner, with bigger battery and new screen
Sony's revamped the Vita, though there's currently no word on whether the new version is destined for the UK.
Sony has squeezed the PlayStation Vita through the mangle, creating a new, thinner version of its high-powered handheld.
Sony says the new model is 20 per cent thinner than the current version, and 15 per cent lighter. It also comes in six different colours, including yellow, red and white.
The screen has been changed. Sony's gone for a 5-inch LCD display this time around, whereas before it used OLED tech. It'll be interesting to see whether the switch in panel tech makes a big difference to how games look. It has 1GB of built-in memory, too.
The battery life is, Sony insists, one hour longer. That should make for six hours of gameplay, according to Sony's probably generous calculations.
It's on sale on 10 October in Japan, but there's no word yet on a UK release date. I'd be surprised if we don't see the revamped model make its way to our fair nation at some point -- perhaps in the run-up to Christmas in a bid to separate you from your yuletide cash.
The design changes are particularly welcome, as the original Vita definitely stretches the definition of a handheld games console.
The 1GB of on-board memory may be the most important new addition however. That's not a lot of built-in capacity, but the current model has precisely none, forcing you to buy a memory card for gameplay or to hoard photos and video.
Are you interested, or do you get your gaming kicks via your smart phone or iPod touch? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
