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Sony PSP and Nintendo DS head to head

It's game on in the handheld space, with the Sony PSP about to hit Australian shores and compete head to head against the Nintendo DS. Which gives you more bang for your buck? Are they even in the same league?

Randolph Ramsay
Randolph was previously a member of the CNET Australia team and now works for Gamespot.
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Randolph Ramsay
2 min read

Sony PSP and Nintendo DS head to head
It's game on in the handheld space, with the Sony PSP about to hit Australian shores and compete head to head against the Nintendo DS. Which gives you more bang for your buck? Will Sony make a dent in Nintendo's handheld gaming monopoly? Are they even in the same league? And more importantly, which one deserves to have your hard earned cash? CNET.com.au takes you through the pros and cons of each machine below.

Sony PSP
Nintendo DS
Upside
  • Great high res LCD screen
  • Can play DVD-quality movies
  • MP3 player capabilities
  • Digital photo viewer
  • Internet access ability
  • Analog joystick built-in
  • Built-in 802.11b wireless
  • Dual screen
  • Touch sensitive bottom screen which allows for 'hands-on' control of games
  • Built-in microphone allows voice control of some games
  • Built in 802.11b wireless
  • Backwards compatible with Game Boy Advance games
Downside
  • More expensive -- for hardware and games
  • Purchase of a larger Memory Stick practically a prerequisite
  • Not as aesthetically pleasing as the PSP
  • As a games machine, not as powerful as the PSP
Games
  • 25 games at launch
  • 18 UMD movies at launch
  • Games start from AU$79.95
  • Movies start from AU$24.95
  • 60 DS games expected to be available before Christmas 2005
  • Can play any of the hundreds of games already released on Game Boy Advance
  • Games cost between AU$49 and AU$69
Dimensions
170 x 74 x 23 mm (WxDxH)
148.7 x 84.7 x 28.9 mm (WxHxD) (when closed)
Weight
280 grams
275 grams
Screen
480x272-pixel resolution, 16.77 million colours
256x192 pixels with 260,000 colours (each screen)
Price
AU$399.95
AU$199.95
Outlook
This is not a kid's toy. With its impressive non-game capabilities, the Sony PSP is a true multimedia powerhouse. If you want to buy yourself something, buy the Sony PSP. With its larger array of games, the Nintendo DS remains a great handheld machine for the mid-teen and below market. If you want to buy something for your kids, buy a DS.

Want more information? Read our in-depth reviews of the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS.

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