Reviewed: May 15, 2006
Reviewed by: Mike Colgan
Manufacturer
Nyko
Type: Charger & Grips
System: Sony PSP
Rating: 10.0
Features
MSRP: $34.95
I love my PSP. The Sony PlayStation Portable is, to me, an excellent example of clever design – movies, music, games, and Internet capability, all in one sleek package with an extra-large screen. But something has been missing from the way it feels – sometimes I feel like I don’t have a very strong grip on the PlayStation Portable itself, and if I dropped it and broke it, it would be a $250 shame. With the buttons so close to the edges of the console, sometimes I feel like my hands are in the way of the buttons.
Nyko apparently saw this as well, and came up with an excellent, convenient solution with its PSP Charger Grips. Not only do the Charger Grips provide a look and feel similar to the original PlayStation controllers, but they provide extra grip and balance, which will no doubt save a few PSP’s from accidental breakage.
If that’s not enough, Nyko added chargeable batteries to the Charger Grips, which plug directly into the PSP’s AC adapter port and provide up to an additional 5 hours in charge, which is especially great for movies, which draw a lot of power from the PSP’s battery pack.
The PSP Charger Grips are an extremely compact package – to take them on a plane or in a backpack with you, all you need to do is remove the PSP from the clamps, and slide the two sides of the Charger Grips together. To attach the PSP, all you need to do is slide the Charger Grips apart to their maximum width and seat the PSP firmly into the clamps. The fit is perfect; it holds the PSP securely and does not obstruct the screen at all.
The Charger Grips are made of smooth black plastic, similar to the finish used for the black PS2 controllers, and blend in well with the look and feel of the PSP console. Protruding from the bottom of the Grips are two handgrips almost identical to those on the PlayStation controllers, allowing you to hold them firmly in your hands and letting your thumbs access the PSP buttons easily and comfortably.
You can hold the PSP comfortably with one hand while using the other to access the volume buttons, and there is less likelihood of your hands smudging the PSP screen. When you hold the PSP by one grip, it does not shift at all and feels well balanced, not much heavier than a PlayStation controller, and just as sturdy.
In addition to being a very clever solution to comfortable and ergonomic PSP handling, the PSP Charger Grips have a built-in battery for extra playtime for the PSP itself. To power up the battery, you can plug in the original PSP AC adapter to the top of the grips. Then, to run power from the auxiliary battery to the PSP, all you need to do is plug a small connector from the Grips to the PSP’s AC adapter port. The result is that you receive extra battery life without having to flip any switches or swap out batteries.
The extended battery life is extra handy for movies, which draw a lot of power for the constant animation and disc reading required, as well as the extra volume to the speakers. It would be a great thing to take on a plane with you to allow you to comfortably hold the PSP and watch movies without worrying about the power dying.
At an MSRP of $34.95, the Grips aren’t one of the cheaper accessories you can buy, but for both added comfort and a backup battery, $35 is a pretty good deal. The Grips add a lot of functionality to the PSP without sacrificing any of the PSP’s strong points – it leaves the screen unobstructed, makes the buttons easier to access, and easily folds up for convenient storage. If you play your PSP a lot and take it on frequent road trips, the Nyko Charger Grips could be a very good investment.