Redesigned Vita announced, is 20% thinner and 15% lighter

Much like the PSP, Sony's Vita handheld is getting a second-generation refresh. The PS Vita-2000 is 20% thinner and 15% lighter than the original...

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Much like the PSP, Sony's Vita handheld is getting a second-generation refresh. The PS Vita-2000 is 20% thinner and 15% lighter than the original version. The updated system will also include 1GB of built-in memory, which is something, at least. The new Vita will also support Micro USB (ditching the proprietary cable of the original system). It will also be wi-fi only, dropping 3G support.

The new system also includes a 5" LCD screen, a shift from the OLED screen of the original Vita. The refresh also promises an extra hour of battery life.

In Japan, the updated Vita will be available in six different colors on October 10th. However, there's no word yet on what Sony's US plans for the system are. The company recently dropped the price of the hardware to $199.

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

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  • reply
    September 8, 2013 11:08 PM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Redesigned Vita announced, is 20% thinner and 15% lighter.

    Much like the PSP, Sony's Vita handheld is getting a second-generation refresh. The PS Vita-2000 is 20% thinner and 15% lighter than the original...

    • reply
      September 9, 2013 12:14 AM

      No OLED..woof.

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      September 9, 2013 12:17 AM

      I dreamed that I had a 3DS last night. Sorry Sony, you're late!

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      September 9, 2013 1:40 AM

      Micro USB instead of the custom plug, thank fuck. I'll probably stick with my original still though, OLED is super sexy. I shouldn't be surprised but a bit annoying they're updating it so soon.

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      September 9, 2013 1:45 AM

      I enjoyed playing wipeout and that golf game, but the Vita gave me severe handcramps. I wonder if this would help.

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        September 9, 2013 11:57 AM

        I've noticed the same. The top of my hands, especially my right one, get pretty sore after about 30 minutes of playing on it.

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      September 9, 2013 5:07 AM

      No vita xl... that sucks. No xperia play 2... that sucks too.

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      September 9, 2013 5:08 AM

      yessssssssss, waiting pays off!!

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        September 9, 2013 8:36 AM

        have fun waiting even longer! unless you're japanese.

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      September 9, 2013 5:10 AM

      Don't get the people dissing the lack of OLED. That's (probably) a good thing! It means better color accuracy... and apparently, more battery life.

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        September 9, 2013 5:33 AM

        Not necessarily. OLEDs can be oversaturated, but they can also be properly calibrated. And they're the only screen tech currently on the market that can do true blacks.

        I have no idea if the original PS Vitas was well done or not, but it's you shouldn't associate OLED with bad accuracy just because some cell phones are poorly calibrated.

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          September 9, 2013 5:39 AM

          True, it's just that accurate OLEDs are rare. IPS-based LCDs are the gold standard to me.

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            September 9, 2013 12:22 PM

            Accurate screens of any type are rare. I wonder if it's just the case that LCDs can't over saturate as badly, so out of the box they tend to be closer to what we expect. Some OEMs do give screens great calibrations though, for example people that measure such things raved about retina iPads since they were introduced.

            Honestly I wonder if the crazy cranked OLED screens aren't a marketing decision, just like the TVs in the store being on torch mode. Hopefully reasonably priced big OLED displays aren't far off because their contrast is probably the next big step in home TV image quality as long as they don't have other problems.

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              September 9, 2013 4:27 PM

              OLED's tend to have a wider gamut; manufacturers don't seem to be properly taking that into account.

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          September 10, 2013 9:38 AM

          Yeah...they're the only screen tech that can compete with CRT in a number of areas. I imagine when my CRT gives up the ghost (hopefully in several years or more) I'll get an OLED screen to replace it.

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      September 9, 2013 5:11 AM

      Glad I got mine when I did! I like Sony handhelds a little heavier, but damn it would have been nice to have 1 GB!!!

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        September 9, 2013 5:20 AM

        1GB would be nice if you just have save games and old school rpgs that take up 20 mb each. If you want to download any of the free games you get with the playstation account, your still gonna have to shell out for their overpriced memory cards.

        Hopefully I can pick up an older model and a memory card on ebay for a decent price.

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      September 9, 2013 5:36 AM

      I'd probably pick this up if it wasn't for the ridiculously overpriced memory cards. Ah, well, maybe on sale.

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      September 9, 2013 6:29 AM

      Honestly normally I get a bit envious of the redesigns, but they didn't increase the screen size and the built in storage is only 1gb, so I am alright.

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      September 9, 2013 6:47 AM

      My Vita is dead and I can't find that stupid ass cable to recharge it.

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        September 9, 2013 6:59 AM

        You can borrow mine bro.

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          September 9, 2013 9:22 AM

          I just ordered a replacement so I can play Batman when it comes out. If Batman doesn't own, my Vita is getting sold.

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            September 9, 2013 9:42 AM

            The only thing making me hang on to mine is the PS4 integration, but I don't even know why I'm looking forward to that. The lack of games on the Vita is a huge, huge problem and I'm surprised more attention hasn't been on that issue.

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              September 9, 2013 9:58 AM

              The Vita->PS4 has to work a LOT better than PSP->PS3 for me to keep it around.

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            September 9, 2013 11:59 AM

            Mine is basically a Spelunky machine now. Oh, and I play the free Pinball game that's on PS+ sometimes.

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      September 9, 2013 8:30 AM

      Damn, smaller footprint is super enticing but I don't use my Vita enough to justify the purchase. Also not sold on the switch from OLED.

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      September 9, 2013 8:41 AM

      Vita-2000? Is this like a model number or a marketing name? Because I thought the "2000" moniker for marketing went out with... well, with the year 2000.

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        September 9, 2013 8:52 AM

        Model. PSP and playstation systems also had models to the effect of 1000, 2000, 3000

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        September 9, 2013 10:31 AM

        2000 sounds cooler than 2, II, or B

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      September 9, 2013 9:21 AM

      What games are good for this thing again? Like does anyone have a top 5?

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        September 9, 2013 12:12 PM

        Uncharted, Little Big Planet, Assassin's Creed III Liberation, and Dynasty Warriors Next are my favorites so far. The resistance game had great graphics and the controls were tight, but the gameplay was kinda blah. Mortal Kombat is a good port, but it can't cross-play with the console version which sucks. I'm gonna pick up the Ninja Gaiden re-release next since I never played those (unless you count the original NES version!).

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      September 9, 2013 9:36 AM

      [deleted]

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        September 9, 2013 10:07 AM

        I'm not sure what you mean by chunkier, but it's more comfortable to hold overall. It's deeper and heavier.

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      September 9, 2013 10:29 AM

      [deleted]

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        September 9, 2013 11:05 AM

        Never heard of or noticed that.

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          September 9, 2013 12:05 PM

          I wonder if it's an "it technically possible since individual pixels age in this kind of technology" kind of issue versus "a lot of people complain about permanently ruined screens."

          Or you could have the in-between people will freak out about over plasmas, "I saw some temporary image retention in a certain set of circumstances so that must be the same as screen-ruining burn in. "

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            September 9, 2013 2:12 PM

            Yeah, I would like to know if it is just people freaking out over temporary image retention or not...

            because I'm definitely tempted to go with an OLED model before they disappear.

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              September 9, 2013 2:30 PM

              [deleted]

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                September 9, 2013 2:44 PM

                oh shit i didn't know that's what that was. i can barely see it on all black loading screens. don't see it at all when i'm playing a game and even then it's not as bad as the images depict. i couldnt even take a picture of it, would be too dark

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        September 9, 2013 2:41 PM

        i would think the thing would die before anything would get burned in

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      September 9, 2013 11:05 AM

      Nice.

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      September 9, 2013 4:15 PM

      [deleted]

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      September 9, 2013 6:12 PM

      [deleted]

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