Handheld Gaming Confrontation: Nintendo 3DS Vs. PlayStation Vita

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Nintendo 3DS and Sony PlayStation Vita have provided gamers with amazing games over the past four or five years, but each offers a completely different experience. Both systems have matured and underwent many changes, and now that they have probably reached their final form, it is time to compare them.

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There are tons of mobile games out there these days, but the best on-the-go games still happen on dedicated portable systems. If you want the best possible mobile gaming experience, you will need to choose between these two handheld consoles:

  • Nintendo 3DS ($ 174.99-199.99) Since its release in 201, there have been several glasses-free versions of the Nintendo PDA for 3D: the original 3DS, 3DS XL, 2DS , and now New 3DS and New 3DS XL. The newest and best system will set you back around $ 200 unless you find a bargain, and it comes with a 4GB memory card and a touchscreen stylus. However, newer 3DS models do not come with an AC adapter . It is sold separately for about $ 10 . On the other hand, 2DS costs about $ 80 and often comes bundled with the game . It plays almost the entire library of 3DS games, but does not offer glasses-free 3DS capabilities. However, fewer and fewer 3DS games actually use 3D more, so there is a lot you won’t be missing out on with 2DS. The new 2DS also comes with an AC adapter. For the sake of this Sunday showdown, we’ll be focusing mainly on the 3DS specs, but it’s worth mentioning the 2DS as well.

Now let’s get down to the smallest details of each PDA, as well as how it feels to own and play.

Hardware and Usage: How These Two Systems Differ

3DS offers unique gaming experiences that you won’t get anywhere else, but sacrifices graphics power to do so. Vita is betting on a ‘take-away home console’ concept that delivers great graphics and functionality, but lacks mobility. Let’s see how the other two consoles differ in terms of equipment and usability.

Nintendo 3DS

  • Hardware: The top screen is an autostereoscopic LCD screen that makes everything look 3D without the need for any glasses or other equipment. A slider to the right of the screen allows you to adjust the 3D effect or turn off the 3D effect entirely. The bottom screen is a QVGA resistive touchscreen that can be used with your finger or the stylus that comes with every system. There’s also a front-facing camera, a rear-facing camera capable of taking stereoscopic 3D photos and videos, a microphone, infrared sensor, stereo speakers, a headphone jack, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Storage: The 3DS has 1GB of internal flash memory, which is mostly occupied by the operating system and basic applications such as system settings. However, each 3DS comes with a 4GB SDHC card and supports SDHC cards up to 32GB. They can be found at a very low cost compared to their Vita counterparts.
  • Graphics: The graphics power of the 3DS sits somewhere between the Nintendo 64 and the Nintendo GameCube on a lucky day. The new 3DS has 10MB of dedicated video memory, and the graphics don’t look quite as good as the Vita’s. Of course, Nintendo has proven that the system doesn’t sell graphics, but games that are fun to play.
  • Portability: The 3DS has a built-in 1750mAh Li-ion battery, providing 3.5 to 6.5 hours of real gaming time. It will take longer if you close the system and let it go to sleep. There are also cases and external battery packs on the market that will extend battery life, and thanks to the 3DS design, they don’t make the console any less portable. In terms of actual size, the New 3DS is 3 ⅛ “wide, 5 1/2” long and about an inch thick. The new 3DS XL is 3 “wide, 6” long and about the same thickness as the standard New 3DS.

Playstation vita

  • Hardware: The Playstation Vita is a slightly more straight forward shooter than the 3DS. It has one large LCD touchscreen, a front camera, a rear camera (both allow you to take photos and record videos) and a micro USB port for data transfer and charging. It also has a rear touchpad (used in some games), stereo speakers, headphone jack, microphone, Sixaxis motion detection system found in Playstation 4 controllers, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
  • Storage: The Vita has 1GB of built-in flash memory and uses proprietary PS Vita memory cards that are available in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB sizes. No other memory card formats will work. Unfortunately, these memory cards are obscenely expensive compared to similar third-party memory cards, and are almost essential if you want to do anything significant with your Vita. The smallest available, 4GB, will set you back around $ 20, and the largest, 64GB, will set you back a whopping $ 100 (half the cost of the system).
  • Graphics: The Vita is a portable graphics card that sits somewhere between PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 (closer to PS3) compared to PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. It has 128MB of dedicated video memory and games look great on the LCD screen.
  • Portability . The Vita battery is a 2200mAh Li-ion battery that lasts 4-6 hours of play (longer in sleep mode). The Vita is 3 “wide, 7” long, and the current model is only about an inch thick. It’s not really pocket-friendly and the large screen is vulnerable to scratches. You can protect it with a case, but many of the cases available on the market are bulky due to the Vita’s design.

As you can see, both handhelds approach mobile games differently.

Games

Generally gaming exclusives would be the main selling point for a console, but 3DS and Vita deal almost entirely with exclusives. For the most part, a game that you can get for one portable device will not be available for another. This makes the 3DS and Vita additional competitors in a way, because there isn’t a single suitable console to buy if you want the best experience on your “favorite games”. Let’s take a look at some of the best games that each PDA has to offer.

Nintendo 3DS

Playstation vita

Online and connectivity options

Both PDAs have Wi-Fi and online functions, but online gaming isn’t quite what they were made for. However, each of them has its own peculiarities of Internet connection.

Nintendo 3DS

3DS lets you create or link your existing Nintendo Network ID and add friends, share game data, buy and download new games and apps from Nintendo eShop , send messages using SwapNote, and access Miiverse. Some games also allow online multiplayer, but this depends on the game. There is also a built-in web browser in case you are never near your phone or computer. For the most part, the online functionality of the 3DS is pretty straightforward, but there is no monthly fee, so it’s hard to complain.

What the 3DS lacks in online functionality is mostly compensated for by other connectivity features. StreetPass encourages you to carry the 3DS with you wherever you go. While it is in sleep mode, your 3DS will connect and interact with other 3DS systems and StreetPass relay points it encounters, offering you the ability to communicate with other players without the Internet. If you happen to cross any Streetpass or Nintendo Zone Wi-Fi networks, you will often receive some free stuff like game demos and in-game items.

Playstation vita

The Vita uses the PlayStation Network for all of its online features and is designed to expand your PS3 or PS4 console. By creating or linking your PlayStation Network Online ID , you can add and chat with friends, earn game trophies, join player groups and shop on the PlayStation Store . If you subscribe to PlayStation Plus for $ 49.99 a year, you will have access to in-game multiplayer mode where it is available, and you can download two free games from the PlayStation Store every month. The Vita also has a web browser if you really need one.

The Vita’s StreetPass counterpart, Near, was dropped by Sony last year , but the PDA still has some nifty connectivity features up its sleeve. The Vita can be used to play games remotely on a PS3 or PS4 console over a decent Wi-Fi connection or home network. This is a great feature when someone in your family wants to use the TV or just wants to play Destiny in your closet.

Multimedia capabilities

In the world of smartphones, tablets and laptops, it seems a little odd to use a portable gaming system to access media. However, there are a few more features and options for each console that are worth looking into.

Nintendo 3DS

The Nintendo 3DS has YouTube, Netflix and Hulu apps for streaming videos. In terms of music, you can add MP3 files to your SD card and play them in the 3DS Sound app, but that’s not ideal. Better to listen to music on almost any other device.

Playstation vita

The Vita is a little more media-friendly with a built-in video player, dedicated MP3 player and photo viewer. It also has Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll, MLB.TV, and access to PlayStation Video to download and rent movies. The Vita even has a Skype app. You can also access local media files from your PS3 console or computer via your home Wi-Fi network using the Media Player app. Sony designed the Vita as a device that does a little bit of everything, like a smartphone or tablet, that can also play great games. Over the years, this vision has not really materialized, but much of this “multi-tool” functionality still exists. It’s not ideal, but it is a nice feature if you consider it a bonus rather than a main advantage of the console.

Each of them is truly unique: why not both?

There is no right or wrong choice here. It just depends on what kind of mobile gaming experience you want and what kind of games you like the most. In many ways, the games will determine your decision. I have owned all versions of 3DS and Vita (yes, I am one of them) and I can honestly say that both of these systems are noteworthy.

I would suggest choosing New Nintendo 3DS or New Nintendo 3DS XL if you can only choose one (I have a regular size). It has an amazing and extensive library of games, which is really important for a gaming system. Not to mention, you also have access to all Nintendo DS games, and this system had the same epic library that you can play for cheap. Add to that the fact that Sony has almost dropped support for the Vita , and it seems like 3DS will give you the most bang for your buck in the long run. Even if you don’t want to play 3D games, the Nintendo PDA reigns supreme.

That said, the Vita is still an incredibly powerful portable device, especially if you like JRPGs, crappy imported games, or any games with a Japanese flair. It’s also better suited for those looking to play games that are more comparable to modern console games in terms of graphics, gameplay, and more mature content. If you already own a PS3 or PS4, remote play really works really well and adds some serious value to the PDA. It also outperforms 3DS when it comes to multimedia. Listening to music and watching movies on the Vita’s big screen does make sense, although on the 3DS it seems like a last resort. Vita is a well-balanced system that deserves much more support than it received and still delivers a great gaming experience. If you can get the Vita for a decent price, it’s well worth it.

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