Sony PS Vita Design and Handling: Consoles Compared

After picking up a PlayStation Vita last week, we've been hard at work testing Sony's latest portable console, due for UK release on 22 February. Ahead of our full product review, here's a first look at the Vita's design, control layout, comfort, handling and how all that compares with other gaming systems.



First of all, we decided to compare the Vita with the console it's effectively designed to replace, the PSP 3000.

The first thing that's immediately obvious is the difference in size between the Vita and the PSP 3000, mainly because the screen has been upped from 4.3 inches to 5 inches. As you can see, the Vita's buttons have been made smaller as a result. The buttons on the right of the screen aren't as nice to use, as seeing as they're so close to the analogue controller, you really have to press them with the very end of your thumbs. We also found the Start and Select buttons a bit too small and hard to press.

From the back, you can see that the PS Vita has been reinforced around the edges and has grip pads to help improve handling. In practice, though, we didn't find them all that useful, as to use them you have to hold the console with your fingertips. If you hold it in the palms of your hands, your fingers naturally fall further along the back of the console, right on the touch-sensitive panel. These grip pads are mainly useful for grabbing onto the console when feels like it might slide out of your hands, or for holding it in one hand.

Compared with the PSP, the main new feature on the back of the console is obviously the touch-sensitive panel, which is the same size as the screen. You'll need pretty long fingers to reach the middle of the panel, however.

Now let's take a look at the PlayStation Vita next to the Nintendo 3DS which, smartphones aside, is probably the console's main rival.

The 3.5-inch screen in the 3DS looks pretty ridiculous next to the huge screen in the Vita. It therefore goes without saying that viewing conditions are superior in the Vita. The Vita's capacitive touchscreen works with a simple swipe of the finger, making it more responsive and more pleasant to use than the 3DS touchscreen (although the 3DS screen still isn't bad).

However, we prefer the location of the analogue stick on the 3DS, because it falls naturally under the thumb. On the Vita, you have to bend your thumbs round to use the analogue sticks, which can be tiring after a long gaming session. That said, we found the arrow pad on the Vita was better designed than the 3DS arrows, with a slightly less harsh, aggressive feel thanks to softer, more rounded edges. As with the buttons, each arrow makes a reassuring click, a bit like a mouse click but quieter and duller, which we think is a nice touch.

Note that the position of the speakers can prove problematic when you hold the Vita in one hand to use the touchscreen. We found that we often covered up a speaker with the thumb left gripping the console. Thankfully, you're more likely to be using headphones with a portable console, and the headphones jack is ideally located on the bottom edge of the Vita.

The PlayStation 3 DualShock 3 controller doesn't have any issues with the location of its analogue sticks, however, and they're a whole lot bigger too!

The PlayStation Vita has two analogue sticks—one on either side of the screen—while the PSP only has one. This improves handling and gaming potential considerably, particularly in action and adventure games and third- or first-person shooters. The sticks aren't the same flat pads as seen in the PSP either—they're raised, dome-like controls similar to those used in the DualShock 3. The analogue sticks are nice to use and they're precise too, in spite of their relatively small size. You will, however, need to be a little more restrained with your thumb movements than with the DualShock 3!

The raised sticks make the Vita a little bulkier, and you may have trouble slipping it into a tight pouch or protective sleeve. In fact, you'll need a full-on case to carry the Vita around in, and it won't fit in your pocket, that's for sure!

On the other hand, the more compact Nintendo 3DS has to be loaded with a huge clip-on accessory if you want a second circular pad!

With this accessory hooked up, the 3DS is almost as big as the Vita, and becomes much thicker too. Nintendo would have been better off building this stick into its console from the outset—especially since there's room to spare to the right of the screen.

Check out the different analogue sticks in these close-up shots.

All in all, the Sony PlayStation Vita is a pleasant console to use and is still pretty light (260 g) in spite of its rather large size. In fact, it's barely heavier than a 3DS, which means you won't get tired of holding it too quickly.

In games that often use a mix of the touch-sensitive controls and the traditional analogue sticks, you have to change the position of your two hands quite often. Plus, sometimes it feels like you're going to drop the console, although we've managed to avoid any accidents for the time being.

So our first few hours with the console have proved pretty conclusive. In fact, the only real downside is that your thumbs could get tired from being bent around to use the two analogue sticks.

While our full PS Vita review is still in the pipeline, you can always check out our first impressions from a hands-on with a near-final version of Sony's latest handheld console.


> Hands-On: Sony PlayStation Vita, First Impressions

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