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This article was taken from the September 2013 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Which of these portable games consoles gets the highest score?
How we tested
With the help of The Gadget Show presenter Pollyanna Woodward, Wired tested a selection of hand-held gaming devices away from their power supplies. Points were awarded for battery life and boot-up times (although all were unsuitable for a plug-less long-haul flight or instant-access gaming). Storage on all devices was a factor: newer games' file sizes are huge, so you can't store more than five games per console without extra memory. The library of games also differs massively between devices, so if you want a varied experience, go for a device that runs a popular OS such as Windows or Android. The Gadget Showis on Channel 5, Mondays at 8pm.
Nintendo 3DS This is the XL, with a 90 per cent bigger screen and a longer battery life thanthe original. This enhances the 3D effect, but the screen is the same resolution as the standard model, so it looks pixellated. Strangely, it doesn't include a charger. "I love Super Mario but have never been enamoured of this device," says Woodward. "The 3D strains the eyes. If you want a 3DS, I'd go for the normal model."
Wired: Great Nintendo games and apps
Tired: Lack of charger, pixellated graphics
Score: 5
Cost: £189 (Fire Emblem 3DS XL model)
Specifications
Time from cold boot to playing a game: 19.8 seconds
Battery life (play): 3 hours
Storage: 4GB; SDHC card (included, upgradeable)
Example game size: 1GB (Mario Kart 7)
Archos Gamepad
At £129, this seven-inch tablet-cum-console seems too good to be true. Unfortunately, it is. It's slow, the screen is dim and battery life is poor. However, Woodward liked the fact that its Android support gives you access to thousands of free games and social networking."It offers a tablet experience, so it's something I'm more likely to take with me," she says.
Wired: Thousands of Android games
Tired: Slow pace, poor screen, low battery life
Score: 4
Cost: £129
archos.com/products/themed/gamepad
Specifications
Time from cold boot to playing a game: 1 min 3 seconds
Battery life (play): 2 hours 10 mins
Storage: 8GB (microSD upgradeable)
Example game size: 1.2GB (Real Racing 3)
Razer Edge Pro
This is a gaming PC squeezed into a 10.1-inch portable console, but at a price: $1,299 (£836) for the 128GB model, $249 (£160) for the optional Gamepad controller. Battery life is just over an hour -- an extra battery pack is $69 (£45), and in this form it weighs nearly 2kg. "It's beyond Xbox 360 in terms of visuals, but the issue is the weight," Woodward says. "I won't be ditching my existing tablet for it."
Wired: Playing Bioshock Infinite on the move
Tired: Cost, weight, battery life
Score: 6
Cost: $1,299 (128GB model)
Specifications
Time from cold boot to playing a game: 59.1 seconds
Battery life (play): 1 hour 15 min
Storage: 128GB SSD (256 GB SSD model also available)
Example game size: 17GB (Bioshock Infinite)
Sony PlayStation Vita
Sony's PlayStation Vita boasts a solid feel and a gorgeous screen, but games cost as much as the PS3 equivalents. However, PlayStation Plus gives you a new game a month for £40 a year. Also you buy games just once and can play them on PS3 and Vita. "The library, screen and design are fantastic, but games are pricy. Still, this is my number one," says Woodward.
Wired: PlayStation Plus support
Tired: High priceof games and storage
Score: 7
Cost: £229.99 (Wi-Fi + 3G)
Specifications
Time from cold boot to playing a game: 47.8 seconds
Battery life (play): 3 hours 15 mins
Storage: None (Vita memory cards sold separately)
Example game size: 3.4GB (Uncharted: Golden Abyss)
What to play Nintendo 3DS XL
Game*: Animal Crossing: New Leaf* Publisher: Nintendo
Price: £29.99
Verdict: Few 3DS games will consume you like this.
Razer Edge Pro
Game: Bioshock Infinite
Publisher: 2K
Price: £29.99
Verdict: A sure-fire contender for many awards.
Archos Gamepad
Game: *Rayman Jungle Run*Publisher: Ubisoft
Price: £2.99
Verdict: Once an experiment, now a great mobile game.
Sony PlayStation Vita
Game: Guacamelee!
Publisher: Drinkbox Studios
Price: £9.99
Verdict: A gorgeous actioner playable on Vita and PS3.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
