The PSP is something you will use more than once, a multi-media device that is capable of many things. In order to use the PSP to the fullest extent, and to protect your big investment you will need some pricey, and some inexpensive accessories. This is the essential accessory review.
Sometimes when you play a handheld such as the PSP you will want a scratch free screenââ‚Ã⠀šÃ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚¦.right? Well, ok, almost all of us PSP owners want our screens just crisp and clean.
There are four such objects in two different categories that will protect the beautiful screen:
Screen Protectors- Pelican Screen Protector, and the Hori Protective Filter.
Screen Guards †“ Pelican Face Armor ($10), Nyko Screen Armor ($10)
The Screen protectors are little sheets of †œadhesiveÃÂà ‚¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚¬Ã‚? plastic-like material that will go right onto your screen, protecting it while you play. The protectors donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t use glue to stick to your PSP, they are 100% safe to put on and take off, and they are something that just sticks to glass. Although fairly tough to put on, they provide the safest bet to protect your precious screen from scratches and smudges.
Each brand of screen protector are around 5$, but as I have testedââ‚Ã⠀šÃ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚¦you get more bang for you buck with the Hori. Something went horribly wrong in pelicans labs, they thought protection was more important than quality, well the quality of the screen. With the pelican screen on, the PSP looks like a pathetic macdonalds toy. The Hori protective filter on the other hand gives protection as well as the same quality of colors/sharpness as a normal psp. Well.Done.Hori.
The Pelican brand gets a 5/10
look now.
+s - protects the screen well
-s †“ †œfogsâà ƒÆ’¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚? up colors.
The Hori brand gets a 9.5/10
hori meister!
+s - glare reducing effect, better cleaning †œclothâ €�, protects well.
-s - should provide more than one in a pack
The Screen Guards are something that goes over the screen and protects the screen while you are not playing your PSP. They are extremely sturdy and will not let anything pierce them. These accessories are extremely useful if you donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t have a tight fit carrying case; if you already have a tight fitting PSP case you will waste your money buying one of them.
The Pelican face armor will cover the whole front of the PSP while the Nyko Screen armor only protects theââ‚Âà ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚¦.screen. Each of the brands provide adequate protection, but the Nyko brand does not fully cover the whole screen. The Nyko brand also leaves marks about a centimeter from the sides of the screen, but they can be easily removed if you rub them with your cleaning cloth. If you install the Pelican Face armor wrongly you might strip down your screw holes at the top of your PSP, so let this be a warning to you if you decide to buy it.
Pelican Face Armor 8.0/10
picture soon hopefully
+s †“ protects screen while not playing, sturdy device
-s †“ could strip down your screw holes, doesnââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t protect screen while playing.
Nyko Screen Armor 7.5/10
lookie
+s †“ sturdy device that protects screen while not playing PSP
-s †“ doesnââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t protect PSP while in use, leaves smudge marks.
After the Screen is protected you will need something to prevent scratches on the outside of the PSP, a case. Of course you know what a case is, and once you feel your PSP you will realize it needs one. I chose three of the choices you might want to make, according to cost and value.
A soft case by Sony (free with value Pack)
Head Banger Audio medium hard case ($10)
Logitech Play Gear Pocket hard case ($20)
If you really do not think you will need a case or just donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t have any money to spare just stick with the free one by Sony. It provides medium protection from dust and such, yet if you donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t have a screen protector of some kind you might scratch your screen. This case will let you charge your PSP while still in the case.
The Head banger Audio case is a case that zips up. The case can store at least four UMDs and has slots for 2 memory cards, although the slots definitely cannot fit the memory stick. Though the previous remark is true, the UMD holders can also fit a memory stick duo on top of a Game or Movie. The case will hold your PSP in place with two little straps, yet I advise against it because it could leave little marks on your PSP. The case can still hold the PSP in place without the straps so you shouldnââ‚à ‚¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t worry about that. The Case will let you charge your PSP while still in the case. Even if you want another case to hold your PSP in, this case was worth my $10 because it can store the UMDs first-and-foremost, and it can hold another accessory like the Pelican Power brick (where the PSP normally would stay).
If you can shell out 20 clams, the Logitech Play Gear Pocket is the case for you. It is made with virtually indestructible Polycarbonate on the outside and a hard rubber interior; it also locks your PSP in place with its hooking lock. The PSP fits firmly in place by the rubber and you can even play the PSP while it is in the Play Gear Pocket. Logitech gave you access to the L + R buttons, as well as the power and audio jacks while the case is closed as well as while its open. The top hatch of the case doesnââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t flop around, it moves when you command it to, thus providing you with a blocker of sunlight. The top of the case can also bend almost all the way around providing a stand to watch movies with. All you have to do is bend it to a point and lay it on a flat surface, that easy! The Play Gear Pocket gives you access to the ac/dc port, thus letting you charge your case while leaving it on. A problem with the case is that it doesnââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t hold any UMDs or anything other than the PSP. The Play Gear Pocket will however let you †œcustomizeà¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚? it by putting a picture on the front and back of the case.
Sony soft case 6.5/10
+s - FREE, holds PSP and lets you charge it
-s - could give you scratches, not adequate for a hardcore gamer, doesnââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t hold games
Head Banger Audio medium Hard case 8.5/10
picture
+s - stores PSP and games, could be used for just storing games mem sticks and accessories
-s †“ memory Stick holders donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t quite hold the Memory Sticks
Logitech Play Gear Pocket 9.7/10
lookie lookie
+s †“ great protection, access to jacks and other things, can play while in case
-s †“ doesnââ‚ƚ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t hold games/movies/memory cards, adds twice weight
If you have enough money, I suggest you buy both the Logitech Play Gear Pocket and the Head Banger Case if you do not have something to hold movies/games/accessories. The Head Banger case provides and excellent holder for games and the Power Brick, mentioned below, while the Logitech Play Gear Pocket can hold the PSP.
You are in your car and you are playing your PSP and all of a sudden you check your battery life and its almost gone, oh no, what should you do? Well, if you just so happened to buy one of these accessories you will be just fine. These next accessories will extend or recharge your battery.
Mad Catz Power Pack ($20)
Pelican Power Brick ($20)
Sony brand Battery pack ($45)
Mad catz battery pack ($40)
The Mad Catz Power Pack includes a car adapter, which will charge your PSP battery by plugging into your car, and a charger that uses triple A batteries which in turn will charge your PSP battery. Using the triple A batteries to charge your PSP will provide almost limitless playing time, of course its only limited to how many triple A batteries you have. This pack also includes some UMD holders.
The Pelican Power Brick is a battery itself, although it wonââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t fit into the PSP. The Power brick, instead, uses its charge to charge up the Sony PSP. The Power Brick will fully charge up the PSP battery two times, and will provide you with just enough time for anything you wish to do. The Power brick takes approximately 4 hours to charge.
The Sony and mad catz batteries are wellââ‚ ¬Ã‚¦they are the same batteries you have in your psp right now. Nothing extraordinary about itâ₠¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚¦but it will double your playing time!
If you plan on using this †œextraâ €Â? battery in a car, the Mad Catz pack is the right choice for you, but if you plan on using it in airplane or something outside of a car, the Pelican Power Brick will provide you with enough charge and you wonââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t have to worry about carrying around troublesome triple A batteries. The battery packs by max power and sony arenââ‚ ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t really worth the money, unless you donââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t want to mess with anything out of the psp itself.
Mad Catz Power Pack 9.0/10
look
+s †“ Will provide you with almost limitless charge
-s †“ carrying around triple A batteries can be troublesome
Pelican Power Brick 8.7/10
pelicans site!
+s Provides just enough time for about any trip you are going to make, no extra items needed
-s takes a long time to charge up the Power Brick
Sony battery pack 7.5/10
picture
+s doubles play time
-s nothing special x(
Max Power battery 7.7/10
look here, you will like!
+s doubles play time
-c cheaper than sony brand.