3DS vs PSVita battery test, Minimum settings.

[heartgold]

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In a head-to-head battery test, the Nintendo 3DS outlasted the PlayStation Vita. YouTube user Kurekureyon filmed himself comparing the battery life of the two competing handhelds. In the video below you can see the two separately timed play-sessions.

To ensure that both systems would get the most battery life, the systems had their screens dimmed, volume minimized, wi-fi disabled, and 3D turned off (for the 3DS obviously). He played F1 2011 on both systems, timed the tests, and recorded the results. If you're too lazy to watch the entire 9 minute video, just skip below for the results.

As you can see the PlayStation Vita dies just before the 4 hour and 4 minute mark. The 3DS, or I guess DS since the 3D was turned off, died three minutes short of 5 hours.
While there are some discrepencies with the testing, such as turning off the 3D, I think you get a good idea for the overall lengths of each handhelds. Subtract about 30 minutes for the 3DS if you play with the 3D turned on and you end up with the Nintendo 3DS still finishing ahead - but barely.
Either way, both companies were accurate when they promised 3 to 5 hours of battery life. And if that's not enough, there are plenty of external batteries to extend your battery life - like the Nyko Power Grip.

So the Vita beats the 3DS on highest setting and the 3DS wins on the lowest! It's a draw I suppose

 

[Qtis]

Inb4 trolling: "What's the point of the 3D if it's turned off?"

OT: Well this is expected and basically it can sum up to the differences in the consoles. Personally I don't really use the 3D while playing the 3DS except for cutscenes, but it is pretty much the main selling point compared to a normal DS/DSi. Now to wait for the PSVita release and see what games are going to be released..

 

[Valwin]

SNIP

that last test was crap seem how system were ON but none was playing them

what i want is a test with both at full settings with people playing the system


also both system have shitty battery i

 

[ZaeZae64]

SNIP

that last test was crap seem how system were ON but none was playing them

what i want is a test with both at full settings with people playing the system

What does it matter if somebody is playing them or not

 

[Valwin]

SNIP

that last test was crap seem how system were ON but none was playing them

what i want is a test with both at full settings with people playing the system

What does it matter if somebody is playing them or not

,,,,,,,,,,,, because it brings more realitic condictions

 

[ZaeZae64]

SNIP

that last test was crap seem how system were ON but none was playing them

what i want is a test with both at full settings with people playing the system

What does it matter if somebody is playing them or not

,,,,,,,,,,,, because it brings more realitic condictions

But does it really matter? I mean it's not like holding the thing and pressing buttons will make HUGE difference.
Oh and a protip you're supposed to use periods, not commas.

 

[SifJar]

The problem with a test on "minimum settings" or "maximum settings" or whatever is that those aren't the settings most people would play with. The only way to truly compare is to get each console, put the settings as you want them and playing both till the battery dies.

 

[Schlupi]

Ugh... there isn't any comparison! They both SUCK!

There isn't ANY mobile device without shit battery nowadays... get over it people. If you want 20 hrs battery life go whip out Game Boy Micros.

 

[DiscostewSM]

What does it matter if somebody is playing them or not

I would say it does matter, since when playing a game, you are interacting with different parts of it, to which the game has to deal with them. New data being read in, changes in how much has to be processed (both more and less), etc. If you happen to be doing a test where not much is happening, then it won't have to processes as much, and can therefore last longer. Opposite if right in a spot where a lot is happening.

 

[shakirmoledina]

interesting as it seems 3d eats up a lot like 2 screen displays for 1 pc. what i dont understand in the image is why there is a green thin rubber on the hinge connecting the lower half of the 3ds. broken hinge?
maybe the answer comes after watching the vids

 

[Valwin]

SNIP

that last test was crap seem how system were ON but none was playing them

what i want is a test with both at full settings with people playing the system

What does it matter if somebody is playing them or not

,,,,,,,,,,,, because it brings more realitic condictions

But does it really matter? I mean it's not like holding the thing and pressing buttons will make HUGE difference.
Oh and a protip you're supposed to use periods, not commas.

yes it does matter because the system is been use

 

[Psionic Roshambo]

The problem with a test on "minimum settings" or "maximum settings" or whatever is that those aren't the settings most people would play with. The only way to truly compare is to get each console, put the settings as you want them and playing both till the battery dies.

I would have to agree with this, the 3DS in that video looked like it needed some more brightness (in a dark room the lower brightness setting is fine I use it all the time on my DS so I don't burn out my retina's.) but the Vita looked fine in that lighting.

I do like that this time the 3DS and Vita seem to be more equal in terms of graphics then the DS VS PSP. Don't get me wrong I would rather have my DS any day of the week then a PSP graphics are cool but games.... you gotta have some games!

 

[AaronUzumaki]

interesting as it seems 3d eats up a lot like 2 screen displays for 1 pc. what i dont understand in the image is why there is a green thin rubber on the hinge connecting the lower half of the 3ds. broken hinge?
maybe the answer comes after watching the vids

It's not a broken hinge. He used a rubber band to hold down the R button on both systems. On topic: The batteries are similar, so people will just have to go with the one that has the most games that appeal to them (or get and enjoy both).

 

[steve1974]

no-one would play either with min settings. Sound on full, brightness at highest, 3d on and then redo this

 

[heartgold]

interesting as it seems 3d eats up a lot like 2 screen displays for 1 pc. what i dont understand in the image is why there is a green thin rubber on the hinge connecting the lower half of the 3ds. broken hinge?
maybe the answer comes after watching the vids

There's a green rubber on the Vita too o-o

Edit: Oh, the poster above explained it...nevermind

no-one would play either with min settings. Sound on full, brightness at highest, 3d on and then redo this

Not really, I play on level 1 brightness and 3D on. So if I were to test my normal conditons, lowest brightness, wifi off, powersave on, max sound on earphones and 3D on.

 

[AceWarhead]

Ugh... there isn't any comparison! They both SUCK!

There isn't ANY mobile device without shit battery nowadays... get over it people. If you want 20 hrs battery life go whip out Game Boy Micros.

or DS Lites
But anyways, the PS Vita's battery life is understandably low, because of its high specs.
Whereas the 3DS, has low specs and low battery life.
But still, 4-5 hours is okay.

 

[SifJar]

Ugh... there isn't any comparison! They both SUCK!

There isn't ANY mobile device without shit battery nowadays... get over it people. If you want 20 hrs battery life go whip out Game Boy Micros.

or DS Lites
But anyways, the PS Vita's battery life is understandably low, because of its high specs.
Whereas the 3DS, has low specs and low battery life.
But still, 4-5 hours is okay.

DS Lite does not have anywhere near 20 hours of battery life.

 

[AceWarhead]

Ugh... there isn't any comparison! They both SUCK!

There isn't ANY mobile device without shit battery nowadays... get over it people. If you want 20 hrs battery life go whip out Game Boy Micros.

or DS Lites
But anyways, the PS Vita's battery life is understandably low, because of its high specs.
Whereas the 3DS, has low specs and low battery life.
But still, 4-5 hours is okay.

DS Lite does not have anywhere near 20 hours of battery life.

It has about 14 hours. A very long battery life, even if it doesn't have 20 hours.

 

[heartgold]

Ugh... there isn't any comparison! They both SUCK!

There isn't ANY mobile device without shit battery nowadays... get over it people. If you want 20 hrs battery life go whip out Game Boy Micros.

or DS Lites
But anyways, the PS Vita's battery life is understandably low, because of its high specs.
Whereas the 3DS, has low specs and low battery life.
But still, 4-5 hours is okay.

DS Lite does not have anywhere near 20 hours of battery life.

Pretty close, capable of delivering 15-19 hours, says in the specs sheet.

Man I remember my brand new DSlite back in the days, i used to pump 18 hours out of it, i swear that thing never died.

 

[AceWarhead]

Ugh... there isn't any comparison! They both SUCK!

There isn't ANY mobile device without shit battery nowadays... get over it people. If you want 20 hrs battery life go whip out Game Boy Micros.

or DS Lites
But anyways, the PS Vita's battery life is understandably low, because of its high specs.
Whereas the 3DS, has low specs and low battery life.
But still, 4-5 hours is okay.

DS Lite does not have anywhere near 20 hours of battery life.

Pretty close, capable of delivering 15-19 hours, says in the specs sheet.

Man I remember my brand new DSlite back in the days, i used to pump 18 hours out of it, i swear that thing never died.

Same here. Left it on the entire day. When i came back, i still used it for about 1 hour, 30 mins, before it died. Best battery life EVAR.