Is the PSP Street (E1000) Still a Good Buy in 2023?

TL;DR

The PSP Street (E1000) is hard to recommend: to hit a lower price Sony removed the Wi-Fi and the removable battery, so you cannot connect to the internet, play multiplayer online, or download games or DLC. Released in 2011 and discontinued in 2014, it still plays the full UMD library on a 4.3-inch 480x272 display, making it a nostalgic budget pick but a clear downgrade from the PSP 3000 or PSP Go. Here is what changed.

Transcript

welcome back everyone today we finally get to talk about a console that you know I'd actually own this for about two years and I still have not made a video about it and so now and that specific console is the PSP street or the PSP e1000 there's so many different actually there's only two names for it but those are the names that are most commonly ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫥 The PSP Street, released in 2011, was the last console in the PSP line and marked a shift towards budget gaming.
• 🏑 Key features like Wi-Fi and removable batteries were removed to lower production costs, affecting functionality and online gaming.
• 🎮 Despite limitations, the PSP Street can play a variety of classic PSP games, which remains its primary attraction.
• 🤌 The PSP Street features a 4.3-inch TFT display, which while sufficient for gaming, does not match the quality of competitors like the Nintendo Switch.
• 🐕‍🦺 The absence of online services and network features significantly reduces the value of the PSP Street for multiplayer gaming.
• 🙈 Similar to trends seen in other electronics, the PSP Street serves as a testament to the balance between cost-cutting and consumer expectations.
• 🎟️ The review highlights the potential for Sony to innovate within portable gaming, suggesting a missed opportunity with current trends favoring handheld consoles.

Questions & Answers

Q: Is the PSP Street (E1000) good?

The reviewer is skeptical of its value. It plays the same classic PSP games as earlier models, but Sony removed Wi-Fi, network access, and the removable battery to cut costs, which the reviewer calls a huge downgrade from the PSP Go or PSP 3000. It works as a nostalgic budget option, but earlier models offer more for a similar price.

Q: Does the PSP Street have Wi-Fi?

No. Sony took out the wireless connectivity, so you cannot connect the PSP Street to the internet. As a result you cannot play multiplayer games online, and the home screen has no PlayStation Network buttons or network options at all.

Q: Can you download games or DLC on the PSP Street?

No. Because there is no network capability, the home screen has no PlayStation Network or network options, so you cannot download games or any downloadable content. Coming from a PSP Go or PSP 3000, the reviewer considers this a massive downgrade.

Q: How is the PSP Street different from the PSP 3000 and PSP Go?

The PSP Street is a cheaper model positioned as a successor to the PSP 3000 and PSP Go, but it drops key features to lower the price. It has no Wi-Fi, no network access, and no removable battery, and the volume, Select, and Start buttons are digital rather than physical.

Q: What games can the PSP Street play?

It still uses the UMD slot, so it can play the standard PSP game library just like earlier models. When you boot it up it behaves like a normal PSP, and the UMD drive spinning up is described as very nostalgic.

Q: What screen does the PSP Street have?

It has a 4.3-inch TFT panel with a resolution of 480 by 272. The reviewer says these panels were never the greatest but are good enough for the most part when playing games on it.

Q: How is the PSP Street's battery?

The battery is no longer removable, which the reviewer wishes Sony had kept. On the plus side, the reviewer notes the battery life on the console really is not that bad.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The PSP Street, released in 2011, serves as a budget variant of previous PSP models but omits key features like Wi-Fi and removable battery, impacting its usability and appeal.

• Despite its shortcomings, the PSP Street retains access to a diverse library of PSP games through UMD support, enabling continued engagement with classic titles.

• The review expresses skepticism about the PSP Street's value compared to earlier PSP models and considers the missed opportunity of Sony not continuing its portable console line.