the PSVITA overall review: On Par with the 3DS

The new handheld system doesn't hit stores until next week on wednesday (or earlier for some lucky pre-order people at gamestop) and none of us here have a vita either, but reviews are already spreading like wildfire across the world wide web. And after reading many hundreds of reviews, we finally have an idea of just what to expect from this new device:

1. The Screen: the first thing anyone will notice is the new screen, which is now actually the biggest screen to appear on a handheld. Being a 5-inch 960x544 OLED screen it shows bright and colorful visuals that are better than the PSP and near-dang close to the PS3. The fact that it's in the same neighborhood of the console is amazing. There's also no hints of ghosting and tearing, and video playback works great too.
2. Design of the handheld: From what has been said, the system feels incredible in your hands. It's larger than any other handheld but not to the point that it's awkward. The buttons still all work great like that of the PS3 dualshock controller, and the D-pad still works great even with it's different structure. The dual control sticks is where the system dominates,these are incredibly responsive and make games very easy and fun to play. One downside is that the left and right control sticks are pretty close to the X button and bottom arrow of the D-pad which would only be a problem with fat-fingered people (like Tom :P).
3. Battery Life: We heard rumors that the battery life was just 2-3 hours long, but that's not the case! the battery life can last 4-5 hours, putting it on par with PSP but still not as long as the DS. Still, the system happens to beat the 3DS by offering longer continuous play and a longer sleep time even with a paused game in progress.
4. Touchscreen: the touchscreen works great like the DS and 3DS, but even this system can't escape the long-running issue with finger smudging. Thankfully it is as easy as other touchscreens to clean off. Some reports even say that the touchscreen works infinitely better than any of Apple's offerings! The touchscreen on the back works equally as good.
5. Camera: the camera now is just a gimmick for any handheld device. It's the same as the 3DS cameras.

Verdict: The Vita has proven to be an excellent new system that improves on everything that was of concern for the PSP. As for whether to buy a Vita or a 3DS, it's up to you. Both are equally impressive and on par, with only slight gimmick differences (3DS - the 3D, Vita - Rear Touchscreen). And while some things may make the other seem fair (like 3DS being cheaper in price, or Vita already having all accessories that you would normally buy separately) the fact still stands: Both have proven to be outstanding. Those who have a PS3 may want a 3DS, and those who don't own a PS3 may want the Vita, or perhaps if your a rich fool you'll want both. We don't really have a favorite between to two, comparing them is nonsense, in the end it's whatever is in your best interests. Be sure to hear Shrew's review of the 3DS in the Podcasts to learn more about that particular device (i believe he reviews it in episode 2, but i'm not sure).