Why is the PSP so cheap? Revealing the current market status of second-hand game consoles
In recent years, the price of Sony's classic handheld console PSP (PlayStation Portable) has continued to drop on the second-hand market, even less than one-tenth of the original price. This phenomenon has aroused players' curiosity: Why is the PSP so cheap? This article will use structured data and analysis to reveal the reasons behind it.
1. PSP price trend analysis (second-hand platform data in the past 10 days)

| platform | Average price (yuan) | Lowest price (yuan) | Trading volume (Taiwan/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xianyu | 200-300 | 150 | 50+ |
| turn around | 180-280 | 120 | 30+ |
| Jingdong second-hand | 250-350 | 200 | 20+ |
2. Five reasons why PSP is cheap
1. End of product life cycle
The PSP was officially discontinued in 2014, and Sony has fully shifted to the PS Vita and home console markets. The end of official support has led to shortages of repair parts and after-sales services, directly affecting second-hand values.
2. Mature cracking technology
| Cracked version | Penetration rate | impact on price |
|---|---|---|
| 6.60 PRO-C | 90%+ | 30% reduction in value |
| 5.00 M33 | 60%+ | 20% less value |
After being cracked, you can play pirated games for free, causing the value of genuine game cartridges to depreciate, which will also affect the price of the console.
3. Substitutes emerge
Android handheld consoles/open source handheld consoles (such as Retroid Pocket, ANBERNIC series) provide more powerful performance at a lower price:
| Equipment | Price (yuan) | Performance comparison |
|---|---|---|
| PSP 3000 | 200 | raw performance |
| Retroid Pocket 3 | 800 | 5x performance |
4. Market supply and demand imbalance
According to Xianyu data, the average number of new PSP units released every day reaches 500+, but the number of units purchased is less than 100 units. Oversupply causes prices to continue to fall.
5. Hardware aging problem
| parts | Failure rate (10 years old) | maintenance cost |
|---|---|---|
| battery | 75% | 40-80 yuan |
| CD-ROM drive | 60% | No replacement parts |
| joystick | 45% | 30-50 yuan |
3. Purchase suggestions
1.Key points of machine inspection: Check screen dead pixels, joystick drift and battery life
2.Version selection: Type 3000 is better than type 1000 (lighter and thinner)
3.Price reference: A stand-alone machine with good quality should be controlled within 250 yuan.
4.Attention to accessories: The original charger is worth about 30 yuan. Replacing it will reduce the cost performance.
4. Future Price Forecast
As the group of nostalgic players stabilizes, PSP prices may enter a plateau in 2024, but there is little room for growth due to the following factors:
- Memory card prices continue to fall (64GB TF card has dropped to 30 yuan)
- Improved simulator (PPSSPP Android version can run at 4K resolution)
- The collection market prefers new, unopened products
To sum up, the low price of PSP is the result of the joint action of technology iteration, market rules and product life cycle. For nostalgic gamers with a limited budget, now is a good time to buy one, but you need to pay attention to choosing a reliable seller and properly evaluating the condition of the machine.
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