Vita's new LCD screen defended

Sony's redesigned Vita is slimmer and lighter than the original. However, the new model drops one of the most well-received features of the original system: its OLED screen. Sony defends the decision.

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Sony's redesigned Vita is slimmer and lighter than the original. However, the new model drops one of the most well-received features of the original system: the OLED screen. Instead, the upcoming system uses an LCD screen.

There are numerous reasons for the switch. Sony points out that using LCD makes it easier to make the system slimmer. However, it's also cheaper, which LCD providing a better yield rate.

However, "the main reason is that the LCD panel can now realize an image quality as high as that of the OLED panel," SCE president Andrew House told Nikkei (via CVG).

Unfortunately, an early look from Japan would disagree with that assessment. In particular, color reproduction seems to be significantly affected by the switch to the cheaper panels.

No US release of the Vita-2000 has been announced yet. However, Sony recently dropped the price of the OLED-equipped Vita to $199.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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  • reply
    September 12, 2013 9:30 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Vita's new LCD screen defended.

    Sony's redesigned Vita is slimmer and lighter than the original. However, the new model drops one of the most well-received features of the original system: its OLED screen. Sony defends the decision.

    • reply
      September 12, 2013 9:32 AM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      September 12, 2013 9:36 AM

      [deleted]

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      September 12, 2013 10:19 AM

      Still waiting for a vita xl that can be up in my face and I don't have to squint my eyes to make out Pa Rappa the Rapper in PS All Stars Battle Royale. I want it to match my wii u gamepad size. Might be waiting for the rest of my life, if Xperia Play 2 is any indication.

      • reply
        September 12, 2013 10:31 AM

        Just wait for them to bring the Vita TV over here - then you can have a 50"+ Vita ;P

        • reply
          September 12, 2013 11:12 AM

          Yeah, but almost all their main games for vita are not compatible with Vita TV.

    • reply
      September 12, 2013 10:59 AM

      [deleted]

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      September 12, 2013 11:53 AM

      OLED screens also grow dimmer over time. I don't know if the Vita screen is better in this respect than previous generations, but I had OLED screens in my headunit and a gauge in my last car, and they seemed to have a brightness half-life of 3 years.

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