Sony has always been one of the biggest players in the gaming console industry. The PlayStation 1 revolutionized what a console could do with 3D games, and the PSP did the same for handhelds. While the latest gen console, the PS5 is taking the market by storm, there was a time when the market was dominated by handheld consoles.

But one thing that most fans don’t know is that Sony has worked on multiple handheld gaming devices that go beyond the PlayStation Portable and Vita. With the PlayStation Portal making its way to players, we are taking a walk down memory lane while we visit some of Sony’s iconic handheld devices over the years.

Every PlayStation handheld released before the Portal

PocketStation (1999)

The PocketStation, released on January 23, 1999, exclusively in Japan, was a pioneering handheld device by Sony. This lesser-known handheld was marketed as a companion to the PlayStation 1 (PS1). It was designed to function as both a memory card and a personal digital assistant. With a 32-bit RISC CPU, a monochrome LCD screen with a resolution of 32×32 pixels, and a compact size, it served as a portable gaming device with additional clock and calendar features.

PlayStation Portable (PSP) (2005)

The PlayStation Portable (PSP) was released on December 12, 2004, in Japan and in March 2005 in all other regions. It featured a powerful 333 MHz MIPS R4000 CPU, a 4.3-inch widescreen LCD with a resolution of 480×272 pixels, and 32 MB of RAM. The PSP revolutionized the handheld console by introducing the Universal Media Disc (UMD) format for games and movies. Games likes Metal gear Solid: peace Walker, God of War: Ghost of Sparta and God of War: Chains of Olympus made full use of the PSP’s power and were brilliant for its time. The PlayStation Portable was the most powerful handheld when it came out, and has sold over 80 million copies worldwide.

PSP Slim and lite (2007)

The PSP Slim and Lite, introduced on September 5, 2007, retained the core features of the original PSP but came with a slimmer and lighter design. The PSP Slim and Lite was noticeably thinner and lighter than their predecessor, making them more comfortable to hold and carry. While maintaining the 4.3-inch widescreen LCD display with a resolution of 480×272 pixels, the PSP Slim and Lite introduced enhancements to the screen technology. This model was released around the time games like Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII were released.

PSP 3000 (2008)

Released on October 14, 2008, the PSP 3000 continued the evolution of the PSP series. The PSP 3000 maintained compatibility with the extensive library of PSP games, players could pick this up to have a seamless transition from their older system for a better experience. One of the most significant upgrades in the PSP-3000 was the enhanced LCD screen. The PSP-3000 was the first device to come with a built-in microphone. The buttons were redesigned to give them a more satisfying click upon pressing. All these enhancements led the PSP 3000 to be the best variant of the device. This version of the handheld was released around the time games like NBA Live 09 and Bleach: Soul Carnival were dropped.

PSP Go (2009)

The PSP Go was released on October 1, 2009. For this device, Sony deviated from the traditional PSP design by getting rid of the UMD drive. This forced players to rely on the digital versions of the games, which was a slight letdown. It came with a sliding screen to reveal the controls and a 3.8-inch display. The PSP Go aimed to cater to users seeking a more portable and streamlined gaming experience. Players could use the 16 GB internal memory to store games, movies, and music. The PlayStation Portable Go also came with Bluetooth for players trying to connect wireless headphones or other compatible accessories.

PSP Street (2011)

In 2011, Sony launched the PSP Street in an attempt to broaden its market appeal by offering a more budget-friendly option. This new model came in a Matte Black color to suit the Street theme but was made out of plastic over more premium materials. Sony implemented some cost-cutting when it came to making this device by excluding Wi-Fi support and providing only mono audio. Despite its affordability, PSP Street faced challenges in gaining traction. The compromises in features did not resonate strongly with the target audience.

PS Vita (2011)

It released in Japan on December 17, 2011, and later in 2012 for other regions. The PS Vita aimed to redefine handheld gaming with advanced features. The Vita featured a 5-inch OLED touchscreen display with a resolution of 960 x 544 pixels. It was equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor and a PowerVR SGX543 MP4+ GPU, delivering significant processing power for a handheld device. Some of the most notable games on the PS Vita were Gravity Rush, Persona 4 Golden and Hotline Miami.

PS Vita Slim (2013)

Introduced in Japan in 2013, and in Europe and America a year later, the PlayStation Vita Slim sought to revitalize interest in the Vita series. It featured a slimmer and lighter design, an LCD screen (replacing the original OLED display), and 1 GB of internal storage. The Vita Slim maintained compatibility with the existing game library while positioning itself as a companion device for the PlayStation 4. Further, it emphasized remote play and cross-platform connectivity.

Over the years, PlayStation has worked on many models of handheld consoles. The PlayStation Portal is the newest device in the handheld line, although it is only an accessory, a streaming device. Sony has worked hard on giving players some of the smoothest experiences even when playing on a handheld. With the popularity of stream-only compatible devices rising day by day, Sony’s attempt to stay in the race seems like a success.

With that said, which Sony handheld device has been your favorite over the years? Let us know in the comments below.

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