Coming out on the 17th of December in Japan, the PSVita is heavily anticipated because of its advanced technology and excellent graphical count. Processing power takes up electricity, and the PSVita’s battery, though powerful, has a hard time keeping up with the portable’s maximum performance.
A system detail release by Sony showed that the battery life of the PSVita is anywhere from 3 to 5 hours, not exactly the most impressive battery lifespan, but watching videos can last for 5 hours, and music can last for up to 9 hours. The factors involved in battery life however are varied. The intensity of the game, sound level, and brightness all have a major impact depending on their settings. The numbers were tested with the brightness at default, headphones in, and wireless capabilities off.
Because of the extreme drain of the battery and the charge it can actually hold, it can take up to three hours to fully charge a PSVita battery. That isn’t as bad as you think it is since fully charging a 3DS takes three and a half hours on a good day. Even if the PSVita clearly has more capabilities than the 3DS, they are both butting heads in who has the superior battery life and neither one is winning.
The PSP when first released was criticized for its battery life despite its power, often resulting in a bit of a short-lived internet meme where a sentence would be cut off right befo- *battery dies*
One thing that will make most choke on their sodas is the prioe of the memory cards. The memory cards are fairly mandatory since internal memory was cut down in size in order to keep the manufacturing costs of the Vita down low. The prices of the cards are 4GB at (estimated from Yen value) $30, 8GB at $40, 16GB at $70, and 32GB at $120. High prices, but portable games seldom need several gigs of data, but shelling out good money for a 32GB will serve you splendidly. Sony has said multiple times that all Vita games will be downloadable however, meaning it would be a wise investment to get a big one.
Some Vita games will be able to save to the Vita’s native memory while others will need a memory card. It will vary from game to game but who honestly forgets memory cards? It wont be long until cheaper (and less reliable) memory cards will hit the market in order to compete with Sony. Regardless of those prices, the Vita is going to be solid competition for the 3DS and will likely overtake it sharply and without mercy.
Nick Hernandez
Battery life seems on par with the 3DS .. so make sure you don’t travel long without an outlet!
Rian Quenlin
Aye, I mentioned that. Pound for pound the Vita has an incredible battery.
Andy Codina
At least there’s a way around the battery issue. The price is the bigger issue! This is the gadget that I have been waiting for! I WANT IT SO BAD!!! (I hope my fiance reads this and buys me one for Christmas) hahaha!
Rian Quenlin
Get a job and save up for it, if you cut some corners and set money aside it’s honestly not that expensive.
Andy Codina
Wow man, don’t be too harsh. You sound like my grandmother! You seem to be well-off, why don’t you buy yourself some humor and have a laugh sometimes. I was just trying to give the place a lighter vibe.
Also, you said it yourself on the title “Fairly Expensive” now you come back and say “Not That Expensive” So what is it really? Expensive or not? Make up your mind!
Not a good idea telling people to get a job, save money, cut corners (actually, this sounds worse than my grandma) when you actually don’t even know anything about the person. I do have a day job! That comment was meant for fun – then again, I guess fun is something you’re not quite familiar with!