Difference between the PSP 2000 and PSP 3000?

The newly revamped PlayStation Portable (PSP-3000) just hit store shelves. The PSP-3000 debuts as "Mystic Silver" in the PSP 3000 Limited Edition Ratchet and Clank Entertainment Pack. The Piano Black PSP-3000 comes at the end of November in the PSP 3000 Limited Edition 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack.

So, you're probably wondering how the PSP-3000 compares to last year's PSP-2000, the second version of the PlayStation Portable. Check out the pictures below for a side-by-side comparison and decide if you're ready to jump on the PSP, or if it's worth the upgrade from the PSP-1000 or PSP-2000 (see our earlier PSP-1000 vs. PSP-2000 comparison here).

See the PSP-3000 vs. the PSP-2000 here!

Starting with the face of the PSP-3000 (on bottom), note that the buttons under the screen are all rounded. Oh, and that little hole next to the PSP logo is the newly integrated microphone. The logos shift around a bit too.

Top view: No differences to note. Still as slim.

Back view: Only change is a slimmer ring around the PSP logo on the UMD door. Note that the Mystic Silver PSP-3000 has a matte finish to the glossy sparkle of the Ice SIlver PSP-2000.

The battery compartments and sizes are identical.

Left view: PSP-3000 (on right) has a more rounded edge and the thumbstick is slightly higher. The grip on the PSP-3000 cradles your thumbs easier.

Left view - Memory Stick Compartment: Same design as PSP-2000. It's held up well on the PSP-2000.

The PSP-3000 (left) features a very slight recess in the middle of the button layout. You can also see the rounded edge again.

Right view: The sliding power/sleep switch and battery compartment button. Same form.

Bottom view: Same power and audio/video out ports.

UMD doors are the same (except smaller ring design on PSP-3000).

UMD door view. No notable difference.

Front view: A small hole next to PSP logo hides the newly added PSP mic, probably the biggest upgrade on the PSP-3000 (no more need for the PSP Headset and PSP Mic hardware).

Using the new "Color Space" system settings feature on the PSP-3000 (bottom), the colors appear a bit brighter. Note that PSP Firmware 4.20 comes installed on the PSP-3000. At the time of this writing, the most current downloadable version of the PSP Firmware was 4.05. The Color Space feature has 2 settings: Normal (which will give you same colors as in the PSP-2000) and Wide, which the menu notes: "the system's display will appear more vivid".

Here you can see an off-screen shot taken in a dark environment. The PSP-3000's Color Space WIDE setting allows for a bit more contrast and detail, but at the sacrifice of saturated colors? More below.

Metal Slug close-up picture. Note the colors again. With the PSP-3000's WIDE Color Space on, the colors look desaturated in comparison to the Normal color setting (the only color option on the PSP-2000). Also should note that when navigating the menus, the PSP-3000's display had interlacing-like artifacts when in motion, in Normal and Wide Color Space mode.

That sums up the comparison pics. Overall, the hardware hasn't had dramatic differences as the jump from the PSP-1000 to the PSP-2000. The notable addition is the microphone, which will save you around $20-$30. I'm personally not crazy about the lighter (or brighter) color setting option.

As for what's included and the packaging of the PSP-3000, see below!