Nintendo 3DS Vs. PSP vs. DS vs. iPhone Graphics

First, let’s talk resolutions. The image below shows the actual resolutions of our portable contenders. While the 3DS is a large improvement over the DS, it still doesn’t reach the resolutions of the iPhone and PSP. What the diagram doesn’t show is the 3DS is powering two screens… and there’s the small issue of the screen being 3D. In fact the 3DS’s screen actually displays 800 x 240 pixels, 400 x 240 for each eye.

Also missing from the illustration above is the new iPhone 4. The reason is that it has a colossal resolution which is just too big to fit on this page (seriously). The diagram below has been shrunk to fit on the page but you can click it if you’d like to see the iPhone 4′s actual resolution.

What we really want to see is how the games look. I’ve tried to compare like-with-like as much as possible but it is difficult to find images displaying similar things from the various platforms. Also remember that, as with some of the other games, all the 3DS games you see here are unfinished, and you can’t see them in 3D obviously.

Animal Crossing

For starters, a straight comparison between DS and 3DS. It’s obvious which will come out on top but this works well to demonstrate how much smoother and more detailed 3DS games look compared to DS games.

Mario Kart

Another straight forward battle of old and new. Things are looking pretty jagged on the original DS.

Kingdom Hearts

Here we go, Nintendo vs. Sony. Does the 3DS beat the PSP here? Probably not. Both games look fantastic but in this case, PSP just about has the edge. Though if you were to add in the 3D effects, we would likely be a different outcome.

Metal Gear Solid

Let’s throw the iPhone into the mix with this one, I have to because between the 3DS and PSP, it’s just too close to call. The iPhone game has an entirely different style of gameplay and looks OK, but considering this was the best image of the game I could find, it’s not all that impressive.

Resident Evil

This could be the most impressive thing we’ve seen on 3DS. Some of the 3DS screenshots look like they could have been taken from the PS3 or Xbox 360 Resident Evil games. The textures on the iPhone game look as though they come from another era. On a happier note for iPhone, the game only costs a few pound.

The Sims

In contrast with the other games we’ve looked at, The Sims actually looks best on the iPhone. Bear in mind, The Sims 3 isn’t available on PSP so I’m showing you a picture from the 5 year old Sims 2.

Splinter Cell

Splinter Cell looks great on PSP and 3DS, adequate on iPhone and pretty old school on DS.

Street Fighter IV

While the iPhone does a decent job graphically, and it’s good that the controls are transparent, it’s unfortunate that you can’t see through your thumbs while playing.

Your Thoughts

What do you think? Is the 3DS delivering what you hoped it would? Is the iPhone a threat to Nintendo’s throne? Where does the PSP stand now? Whatever you think, let us know in the comments below.