Manufacturer: NYCO
Price: $29.95
Requirements: PSP with AC Adapter

The ChargerGrip advertises two features welcomed by PSP owners, both extended battery life and ergonomic grips to make the PSP experience similar to PlayStation console controllers. It uses the standard PSP AC adapter for charging with a power input jack on the back of the right handle, and a convenient LED indicates when it is charging.

As with any rechargeable device, it is recommended to fully charge the ChargerGrip before use. The included reference suggested four hours were required for the first charge, but our unit took six hours. After the initial charge, the PSP is easily installed by snapping onto the top of the ChargerGrip. The PSP is then plugged into the ChargerGrip with a short wire that attaches to the PSP's power port.

NYCO suggests that the ChargerGrip can add up to five hours of battery life. After several weeks of testing the unit, we found that to be a safe estimate based on PSP usage. While playing UMD games, the PSP/ChargerGrip combo averaged 7-12 hours. Using the PSP for MP3 playback doesn't drain power as quickly because the UMD drive isn't running — and we found battery life ranged between 10-16 hours depending on volume and display settings.

The ChargerGrip definitely helps ergonomically, making the PSP much easier to play for extended periods. As with standard PlayStation console controllers, the PSP/ChargerGrip is supported by the palms of the hand. This leaves fingers and thumbs free to access controls more quickly and with less strain.

For those on the move, the ChargerGrip collapses horizontally when not in use. Unfortunately, the fact that the ChargerGrip is not a continuous molded unit makes it less solid during gaming. The somewhat insecure snapping latches that hold the PSP in place add to minor creaking and rattling of the PSP/ChargerGrip when in use.

The left handle is molded to accommodate headphones, but only barely. Headphones with "L" plugs fit easily, however those with straight plugs (including the standard Sony PSP earbuds) didn't have enough room to fit without stressing both the PSP jack and headphone wiring.

Results: Disappointing

Our first several days with the ChargerGrip were fun. Overlooking the occasional rattles and headphone issues wasn't difficult, because the added battery life and ergonomics improved the gaming experience. At the end of our second week of use, we noticed the ChargerGrip felt significantly less solid. The handles felt as though they were a different shape, and there was a lot more creaking during use. At no time was the ChargerGrip abused, dropped, or exposed to sunlight.

During week three things got worse. We noticed the top of the handles no longer matched the bottom, the seams were widening, and the latches no longer held the PSP securely. Over a few more days the seams grew so wide that the blue batteries in each side of the handles could be seen through the gaps. A stress crack appeared on the top of the left handle near the headphone port.

While we never noticed anything unusual during use, these issues appear to have come from battery heat. After the third week the plastic deformations and damage stabilized, probably because the gaps that exposed the batteries were venting more properly. The unfortunate result of the damage was the ChargerGrip behaved differently during play, feeling significantly less rigid and making much more noise because of the gaps and insecure latches.

Our recommendation for NYCO is to properly vent the batteries or add an effective heat sink. The ChargerGrip would also benefit if the collapsing feature was eliminated, since space savings of less than two inches is pointless. Without the collapsible sliding feature, the unit would be significantly more solid during use and provide a much better gaming experience.

Even with the deformed plastic, the unit continues to work and battery life is the same. We still use the ChargerGrip because of the improved ergonomics and extended portable game-play. Unfortunately, until NYCO resolves the battery heat issues we are unable to recommend the ChargerGrip to others.