Portable Consoles

If you can’t get enough video game action while you’re on the go, then a portable games console is the way to go. The top selling models are definitely the Sony PSP and Nintendo DSi, DS Lite, and DSi XL. Sony has also introduced the new touch screen PS Vita. It features 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity so you can access the internet, social media, and challenge other players in multi-player gameplay. Nintendo also has released their innovative Nintendo 3DS model that renders games with fun third dimensional graphics without the need for special glasses. It features front and back cameras and wi-fi connectivity. All of these portable games consoles are compatible with a myriad of game titles such as The Sims, Metal Gear Solid, SpongeBob, and Monster Hunter. If you’re looking to purchase a handheld console for yourself or as a gift, Kelkoo has lots of great deals from such trusted retailers as Amazon, Sears, Dell, Sony, and HP Direct. ... View more - View less

View the Portable Consoles Buyers Guide

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- Nintendo DSi Black
  Rated 4.5 out of 5
- from $118
- Available from 1 retailers
- from $118
  
  Colour: Black • Platform: DSi • Category: Handheld / Portable • Media type: Cartridge • Network gaming: System link
  - $118.89
  View all 1 offers
- Nintendo 3DS Aqua Blue
- from $169
- Available from 3 retailers
- from $169
  
  Colour: Aqua Blue • Platform: 3DS • Category: Handheld / Portable
  - $198.67
  - $169.99
  - $173.93
  View all 3 offers
- Nintendo DSi Blue
- from $104
- Available from 1 retailers
- from $104
  
  Colour: Blue • Platform: DSi • Category: Handheld / Portable • Media type: SD card • Network gaming: LAN gaming compatible
  - $104.96
  View all 1 offers
- Nintendo 3DS Red
- from $169
- Available from 7 retailers
- from $169
  
  Colour: Red • Platform: 3DS • Category: Handheld / Portable
  View all 12 offers
- Sony PS Vita WiFi
- from $239
- Available from 7 retailers
- from $239
  
  Platform: PlayStation Vita • Category: Handheld / Portable
  - $239.99
  - $277.56
  - $246.99
  View all 7 offers
- Nintendo 3DS Cosmo Black
- from $169
- Available from 6 retailers
- from $169
  
  Colour: Cosmo Black • Platform: 3DS • Category: Handheld / Portable
  - $191.12
  - $169.99
  - $169.97
  View all 6 offers
- Nintendo 3DS Coral Pink
- from $172
- Available from 5 retailers
- from $172
  
  Colour: Coral Pink • Platform: 3DS • Category: Handheld / Portable
  View all 5 offers
- Nintendo DSi Red
- from $127
- Available from 1 retailers
- from $127
  
  Colour: Red • Platform: DSi • Category: Handheld / Portable • Media type: Cartridge • Network gaming: Online gaming compatible
  - $127.97
  View all 1 offers
- Sony PS Vita WiFi & 3G
- from $358
- Available from 3 retailers
- from $358
  
  Platform: PlayStation Vita • Category: Handheld / Portable
  View all 3 offers
- Nintendo DSi XL Blue
- from $133
- Available from 2 retailers
- from $133
  
  Colour: Blue • Platform: DSi • Category: Handheld / Portable • Media type: Cartridge • Network gaming: LAN gaming compatible
  - $152.59
  - $133.93
  View all 2 offers
- Sony PSP 3000 Black
- from $133
- Available from 1 retailers
- from $133
  
  Colour: Black • Platform: PSP • Category: Handheld / Portable • Media type: UMD • Network gaming: LAN gaming compatible
  - $133.93
  View all 1 offers

Portable Video Games Consoles Buying Guide

Kelkoo.com

Introduction

Portable consoles or handheld video game consoles are lightweight and pocket-sized electronic gaming devices with a built-in screen, game controls, and speakers that provide the user with an amazing gaming experience on the move. We’ll try and help you select the right portable console for the type of gamer you are, so that you don’t ever have to be away from your favorite pastime.

The Popular Players

Single-unit entertainment devices are numerous, and they vary according to their types and specifications. Picking the right portable video games console might prove to be quite a challenging task as their continuously expanding features overwhelm both avid gamers and beginners alike. Recent trends show that the three major selling portable video games consoles on the market are the Sony PSP, the Nintendo 3DS and the Nintendo DSi.

Handheld video game consoles have been around since 1970s, and these were initially designed with LED or VFD screens. Mattel was one of the pioneers in this field, and the main aim was to introduce gaming devices that were roughly the size of calculators.

Nintendo then captured the video game market with the well-designed Game Boy series during the 1980s, although Atari Lynx and Sega Game Gear were also popular. With further advancements, a number of popular handheld video games console models like the Nintendo DS, Nokia N-Gage, Game Boy Advance and PlayStation Portable were released as we moved into the 21^st century.

Key Factors: The Aspects That Matter

The usual checklist to be considered when buying a portable video games console will include the following:

Budget: Portable video games consoles are relatively cheaper than normal gaming consoles, making them quite affordable.

Audio and Video Output: The audio and video quality of a video games console can affect the gaming experience to a great extent. A high definition video with surround sound can carry you right into the adventure, while a blurred video and lagging audio might ruin the whole gaming experience.

The Sony PSP video games console has a widescreen TFT LCD with four brightness level settings. It delivers a video quality that’s quite competent for a pocket-sized package. If role-playing, strategy, sports games, or first-person shooting capabilities are your priority, then this handheld video games console offers the best deal on the market. Thanks to its high definition video quality that provides better images onscreen. Sony’s PSPs also have built-in stereo speakers and microphones that provide 3D sound and multichannel audio along with synthesizing and equalizing effects. Although the PSP’s video game output is bright and large, its refresh rate is a bit of a disappointment that affects the overall game view.

The Nintendo DS video games console comes with a dual screen and a clamshell design. The screens are TFT LCDs with 18-bit depth and a resolution of 256 x 192 pixels. The gap between the screens is less than an inch, and very often one screen is used as the game controller and the other screen for the game display. Many video games available on this portable console use the dual screen feature as this is incorporated in their game design. Also, unlike PSPs, the Nintendo DS sports a better refresh rate in spite of its slower processing speed and prevents blurring while the game is on.

Connectivity and controls: The interface and controls offered by the handheld video games console define the range of games that can be supported by it, and also speak of its functionality in features other than games.

The Nintendo DS video game console offers dual screens with a touch-screen interface and a built-in microphone that enables the gamer to interact with the console through speech. The console also has a stylus that can help you choose, browse between, and control video games. The voice control feature can also be used for connecting with friends and co-gamers through the Nintendo Wi-Fi connectivity. The Nintendo DSi also supports wireless DSiWARE downloads.

The PSP video game console has a built-in 802.11b (Wi-Fi) wireless LAN access. Around 16 PSPs can be connected to one another directly for head-to-head contests in ad hoc mode. The PSPs can be connected to each other through IrDA, Bluetooth, wireless connections, or mini USBs.

Both the Nintendo DS and PSP portable video games consoles feature a D-Pad, four action buttons and two triggers for basic game control. However, the PSP’s game controls offer a better choice for cross platform games.

Available Video Games: All handheld video games consoles come with a popular game or two that all users like. A large library of video games is available on the Nintendo DS including Brain Age, Tetris DS, Nintendogs, Super Mario and other puzzle games. The Sony PSP offers a more action packed deal with video games such as God of War, Kingdom Hearts and Ape Escape.

Storage and Peripheral Expandability: The storage and expandability features of the Nintendo DS video games console include 256 KB of serial flash memory and 656 KB of video memory. The DS has expandable memory (through SD card slots) and a special Memory Expansion Pak version for the DS is available for enhancing the memory of the Nintendo browser feature.

The PSP from Sony is a clear winner in this field. It is the first and only handheld video game console that uses optical discs (Universal Media Discs) for its storage capability. The PSP is available in two categories: standard PSPs that can use UMDs (the optical disc format designed for PSP) and then store the downloaded content on optional memory sticks, and the newer PSP Go that has UMDs removed to bring in 16 GB of internal flash storage. The PSP can also be attached to a PlayStation 2 or PlayStation 3 video games console for a totally unique gaming experience.

Gaming communities and networks: The community features offered by a handheld video games console is an important factor to consider if you want an amazing multiplayer gaming experience. Some community features to look out for are price, profile, ranking options, and IM while gaming.

Additional features: Most portable video games consoles on the market feature additional multimedia usage such as video and music players, browsers, and digital comic readers. The PSP allows gamers to access the Internet, play network games, and play audio and video files. Your PSP can even be turned into a GPS! The Nintendo DS video games console supports audio and video playing capability, and a browser that’s similar in nature to the one offered by PSP.

Battery life: PSPs have become slimmer over the years, thanks to their decreasing battery size, but their performance remains untouched. The batteries take 1.5 to 2 hours to charge, and last for 4.5 to 7 hours. Comparatively, the Nintendo DS offers its users better battery life and consistent performance.

Variety

Nintendo produces more than 47 models of portable video games consoles that you can choose from, and there are different console lines that you can opt for, including the Nintendo DS Lite Series, the Nintendo DSi series, the Game Boy Advance SP series, the Nintendo DSi XL series and the Nintendo DS series. Some of them use cartridges, while the rest use flash memory cards. Sony has always been a sought after company in the field of video games consoles, and they offer two portable models: the PlayStation Portable and the PlayStation Portable Go. There are nineteen models that you can choose from in the former line, including the Sony PSP 300, Sony PSP 3000 Gran Turismo Pack, and Sony PSP 2000.

All you need to do in order to get your perfect video games console is to identify the key factors, make a list of your expectations and opt for a console that fulfils your needs. In case you need any more help, especially in terms of getting a good deal, compare prices for handheld video game consoles across numerous online retailers listed with us. You are sure to get a competitive deal for your money.

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