PSP Lite Stress Test

Durability

The PSP came out of the scratch test absolutely covered in scratches on the screen and casing. Check out the video below of the test and the unboxing of the PSP.





We then dropped the PSP three times onto carpet, wood and tarmac. We had a couple of things break off on the drops and the PSP totally powered off after each but it's still working and playing games.. Onto stress testing!






Stress

The PSP came out of stress testing working fine after a little scare. The video below is of it being kicked down stairs, having tea poured over it, 20 mph drop, and being viciously stepped on!



Next... Extreme testing!




Extreme Testing

We threw it from a second storey window, dropped it at 50 mph, ran it over, threw it against a brick wall then tore it to pieces! Video below!






Conclusion

The downfalls of the PSP are the screen and the UMD drive, both of these failed in the final tests, however, the rest of the hardware seemed to be working as we could still click through the menu and display it on a TV. Games wouldn't play, the drive didn't even try to spin them. We took it apart with precision screw drivers and couldn't see anything obvious to fix as far as the UMD drive was concerned, the screen seemed to have been crushed, causing it problems. We figured this was beyond repair. At the end when we ripped it to pieces, we not only found it far easier than the Nintendo DS Lite to rip apart but found that the screen and pretty much everything else had far less protection than the Nintendo which was packed full of protective layers and little bits of foam and squidgy plastic/rubber.

We got the feeling from the PSP that it wouldn't get through the first couple of tests, let alone get onto extreme testing. It felt very flimsy and light, but it proved us wrong and stood up very well, if the screen and UMD drive had held in there, we'd be giving it a much higher score.

If you're thinking about buying a PSP, get a case and a screen protector for it, the screen scratches very easily and a good quality case will keep it extra safe. It's not as flimsy as people think, and under normal conditions we can't see it having any problems.

Scratch test - 5/10
The PSP suffered a surprising amount of scratches both on the screen and casing.
Low level drop - 6/10
The PSP powered off on every drop, on one drop the UMD cover popped out of one of its "hinges", along with the disk flying out, the battery cover came off on another.
20 MPH Drop - 8/10
A few minor scratches, powered off, battery and cover came off. Grazing of plastic around the screen.
Kick down stairs - 8/10
Only a few dents and scratches. The UMD drive hinge came out again and the screen played up a little afterwards but was working perfectly again after 10 minutes or so.
Stomp/kick - 7.5/10
Quite a few pretty deep new scratches and scuffs on the casing.
Tea spill - 9/10
The sound temporarily went out, other than that a perfect test!
First floor drop - 3/10
PSP screen was not working, but not cracked, the sound seemed to be broken, however on the 50mph drop it came back. The menu did not work, the UMD drive was broken and it suffered denting. Parts flying everywhere.
Run over - 4.5/10
Destroyed the screen, with major cracks coming through, sound continued to work and it functioned when hooked up to a TV. (UMD was broken from previous test)
50 MPH drop - 7/10
Sound working perfectly, screen didn't suffer any further damage, minor scuffs and scratching to the casing. Battery and cover came off.
Second floor drop - 3/10
Totally destroyed, no power light, no sound, no charging light. Battery split.
Thrown against wall - 1 /10
We split the case throwing it against the wall, also metal casing from around the PSP was deformed and snapped out. The screen was further cracked and inked, and buttons got stuck and impossible to press, part flew all over the place!
Toughness - 3/10
It was far too easy to rip up, no knifes involved, no smacking it against tables, just softly pulling at parts.

+ 10 because the PSP Slim and Lite wasn't designed, and isn't advertised as being tough

Over all - 64/100

You can view more pictures of the PSP here.

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In the review: Play Station Portable