Sony PSP's weak battery life

We'll give props to Sony for putting a relatively inexpensive removable battery in the PlayStation Portable ($45 each), but the bad news is that you're probably going to need a spare since the power of said battery is reputed to be a bit weak, at only 4 to 6 hours per charge. Now comes news (from Sony Computer Entertainment's head man Ken Kutaragi no less) that when running complex 3D games (read: non-puzzle ones) the PSP mught require even more juice, perhaps even limiting battery life to as little as 2 hours of playtime per charge. Sony says they're working on the issue (of course), and they point out that even the fabled Walkman had a weak initial battery life when it debuted. Not that we're reassured or anything…

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

I don't know how Sony's going to 'fix' this one. Looks like they're already using a Lithium-Ion battery, which is basically the densest battery technology on the market (that is in wide distribution). The only thing they could do is either redesign a portion of the system (not practical) or increase the size of the battery (not nice). Let's see what you've got up your sleeve, Sony.

[Kamalot @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

This is totally unacceptable. If you are going to get less than the 4 hours they were already advertising, how much shorter will it be when to try to play wireless multiplayer games?

If I wanted to play puzzle games, I'd play on my GBA or PDA. If I wanted short battery life, I'd play my Game Gear.

Lame

[SickPuppy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

Can you say FLOP!

The PSP is so gonna fail....

Ninty aren't going to lose much sleep to this one that's for sure!

[Chris K @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

$45 is inxepensive!? It's basically a reduced-capacity/size camcorder battery. While Sony charges $50 or so for their camcorder batteries, they can charge a LOT less. Third party batteries are usually closer to $20. And this battery is smaller.

I don't think it's smart for Sony to release their FIRST handheld with crappy battery life and then make the batteries so expensive ($45 doesn't include a charger either, I bet) that the ONE easy solution for users (carry three batteries) is too expensive to consider.

A DS gets 10 hours of battery life, right? And it costs $150?

You can't even buy the BATTERIES to get 10 hours of battery life for a PSP for $150! It would cost $380 to buy a PSP with the five batteries you would need to match a DS. And then you have to carry and charge all the stupid things.

Personally I'll be sticking with my SP until they can make these things MUCH smaller. Battery life and size is much more important than grpahics power for a portable, to me.

[leon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

Agreed. This is a joke and there aint no way i'm paying for a machine that may cost me heaps more in additional batteries!

[Fredrik @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

>>"Speaking to Japanese press, Kutaragi-san said, �A puzzle game will last longer, but Ridge Racer will probably be shorter than that," <<
What, exactly, was the question that was asked to which he gave this reply?
Also, when he said "... Ridge Racer will probably be shorter than that" -- shorter than what? Shorter than the 4-6hours? Or shorter than the puzzle game he mentioned earlier?
It'd really help if we knew in just what context that quote was made.

[Kamalot @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

Here is the original article: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=5251

It sounds like he is referring to the announced 4-6 hour battery life. Puzzle games will be longer than the 4-6 hours while graphically intensive games will be shorter than the announced 4-6 hours.

Also note the 4-6 hours was determined without using the wireless capabilities of the device. Wireless is expected to cut the battery life dramatically.

How long will the battery last while playing Ridge Racer wirelessly?

[Fredrik @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

Well, people seem to think that they will get 10 hours all the time on their DS. But that's not true. Depending on what games they play and what functions they use, they'll get between 6-10 hours according to Nintendo.

On the DS they'll get 10 hours with no sound, wlan off and playing puzzle games.

The PSP seem to get 3-8 hours depending on what games you play and what functions you use, it's not that big of a diffrence.

[Kamalot @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

Big difference. When was the last time your Vaio laptop really got the advertised battery life? When was the last time your GBA SP got the advertised battery life?

Nintendo consistently under-promises and over delivers on battery life for their products. Check out the GBA SP, GBA and WaveBird controllers.

The DS always uses the wireless connection to look for other DS users. It is always on and they still manage to get AT LEAST 6 hours and up to 10. That is very different from Sony'c claim that you can get AT MOST 6 hours without turning on any of the wireless features.

[Chris K @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

My SP gets battery life I could only describe as "perfect" for this type of device. I haven't measured it scientifically, but it is good enough that I will never have to worry about it. I typically charge it once a month or so, and I usually play it for 2-4 hours at a time, maybe twice a week. Always with the backlight and speaker on.

One time I even left it in "sleep mode" for three days after having played and not charged it for at least a month, and I STILL didn't get a low battery indicator after continuing to play it for another two hours.

Another way to look at it: I have played through Metroid Fusion and Metroid Zero Mission while charging the battery only once. And I didn't charge it then because it indicated low, I charged it because I hadn't done so in a while and I figured dark current must surely be sapping the battery close to discharge.

Battery life like this is the goal every device should aspire to. It is so good that I never have to think about it. Compare that to the PSP, with which you will be fiddling with backlight and volume settings to eek another 15 minutes of battery life out of. Thanks, I'll stick with my SNES-level handheld and play GT4 at home. I don't need PS2-level graphics so badly that I'm going to sacrifice the usability of the device.

[norman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

Another problem is that some Developers will make a game where its only possible to save progress at the complition of each level. So you'll be playing you're PSP and the low battery indicator comes, oh dear, you're f*cked, can't save till I get to the end. I'm telling ya, on some games its gonna happen.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

I doubt I would ever play the PSP for more than a couple of hours at a time. If I do, that's when this spare will come in handy. Otherwise, I'm not worried about the battery life at all. I charge my mp3 player every other day already anyway. And for the potential this handheld holds? I'd say it's more than an acceptable tradeoff.

[dark vic @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

I don't like what sony is doing whit the battery life and is to expensive , but psp is so much more powerfull and the graphic's more is better

Personally I'll be sticking with DS until they can make a better version of psp if not thet ds has good graphic's too

[Danny Friedman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

GAME GEAR. Thats all I can say. GAME GEAR. If you still have one, make sure it's plugged into the wall.

[Eric Toombs @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

Personally, I'm going to go with the DS. Even though I'm torn between the PSP and the nintendo DS, the DS's battery life gives it the edge. Think about it, you're more than likely going to use one of these devices when you're away from a power source, and when you do the last thing you want to worry about is the battery life. If I want to stay at home and worry about charging my handheld, I might as well be playing my PS2.

[Game_Over @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

you all need to calm the hell down, I have an imported PSP and it last six hours playing Ridge Racer, They test there battery life at the most extremes. The system WILL NOT fail just because of the battery life, or some Nintendo FANBOI say it will, I have both systems and I like them Both but, name one person that is going 10 hours with out even touching an AC/DC. This is 2005 the PSP it will do well. You can just replace it with a hire voltage battery from a third party when it launches the could let it last up to 40 Hours on a single charge. Stop Hating on Sony.

[qq @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

pity http://www.fedown.com

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

we should be able to get 10+ with all of the features. we wanna PLAY games, not adjust and dumb off features so we dont worry about skrewing up our batteries. THAT is crap.

[Fatal @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

Well i read on IGN that while you play a game, when the batterie dies out it goes into sleep mode, so after recharging you can continue from where you left off.
So games that have certain save points shouldn't be a problem.
As for the battery life on the PSP, i'm not concerned at all, it's enough for me.
From what i see, the PSP is still awesome.

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

In response to Fredrik's post about the DS having a higher battery life when playing puzzle games, the game has nothing to do with battery life when the game is being played off of a cartridge.

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

No battery is going to be able to keep the PSP going for 40 hours numbnuts(Game_Over). They are using a Lithium Ion battery right now, and as Tom already stated, and thats pretty much the top in battery compression.
External battery packs might be able to squeeze off 20-25 hours, but even that is kind of far-fetched.

[seema @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

hi,
i m seema gautam 4m media lab asia, NGO of ministery of informatation and technology , India.

my queries r:


how to increase the life of PDA battery, so that it can work for 6-8 hours continously with all the applications running. can u suggest any battery or any solution will work..

kindly send me the solution ASAP.

Regards,
seema gautam

[illuga @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

ok look.
in response to the guy who says to name one person who goes that long without charging a system, it would be me. my dads a trucker, driver 13-17 hours a day, and im homeschooled, so i go with him a lot.
to all the people who bitch and moan about the psp's battery life...
look, you have all wanted a game with high ass graphics at one point or another. and when you finally get it, you bitch because it cant last as long as you all wanted. choose which you want and stay with it. dont bitch. just stay with it. the playstation people have worked their asses off to bring u this kind of game system. ds is nice, but psp is much better.im out.

[julz_sega_bob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

I say this to a lot of people, and I think I have to say it again.

If I wanted near PS2 quality graphics, I'd play my PS2. I wouldn't have to worry about how long it will last and how much longer I've got to save before me system screws me over.

If I wanted to play handheld games, that:

1. Entertained me
2. Lasted
3. Gave an unique experience AND
4. Could be highly trusted

I'd go with DS in a flash.

Nintendo have got it in the bag. Both systems will do well, it's just that the DS will do a hell of a lot better.

[skag @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM]

DS every time, just play games like meteos and trauma center and then you'll realise what's important, GAMES, and damn good games at that, and you can't play games without battery life.
Both of these the DS wins on. PSP has been widely crapped on for it's games and it's battery life. Just try the DS, fall in love with the stylus and play GAMES.