Opinion: Do we really want the 'PlayStation Phone'?

So, are they fake or are they real? If you’re a believer, then it would appear that the first solid details of the long-rumoured PlayStation Phone have finally leaked out in a surprisingly solid form.

Tech website Engadget claims to have pictures of a prototype unit. Along with them comes reported confirmation of the internal specifications. So – if true - we now have a pretty complete idea of what the PlayStation Phone is going to offer.

Of course, a rather confusing Sony statement which changed from “definitely fake” to “no comment” in the blink of an eye hasn’t helped settle the debate. It has to be said that the pictures look pretty rough, but what prototype doesn’t?

We thought we’d chew over some of the pictures and figures and offer an early opinion based on the age-old assumption that there’s no smoke without fire.

Almost as surprising as the fact that a physical prototype has apparently been leaked is the fact that it’s pretty much exactly how we all expected it to look - that is, like a cross between a PSPgo and a Sony Ericsson Xperia phone (which in itself could be a sign that the images are fake, but we’ll leave that to you to decide).

The unit is no iPhone 4-killer in terms of looks - which is a shame given that the stunning 'metal band' look adopted by Apple has more than a hint of the original PSP about it. Still, this is only a prototype, so expect that ugly control faceplate to receive some attention prior to launch.

In terms of design, hardcore gamers will no doubt whinge about the lack of any analogue sticks – let alone the dual setup they’ve been clamouring for since the PSP was first released in 2004. We’re not so bothered.

Just having a decent physical button setup will be a major step forward for mobile gaming, and that central touchpad could well offer an adequate stand-in for the PSP’s single analogue nubbin (it can’t be much worse).

It should also offer up some interesting new gameplay applications, as well as solving the issue of having that whopping great touchscreen (said to be “in the range of 3.7 to 4.1 inches”) removed from your immediate grasp when using the physical controls.

I have mixed feelings about the announced specifications.

On the plus side, a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8655 CPU, half a gig of RAM, and 1GB of ROM appears to put the PlayStation Phone well up there with – and probably slightly above - current high end Android phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S and the upcoming HTC Desire Z (already out in the US as the T-Mobile G2).

Indeed, the processor is reported to be similar to the aforementioned HTC device, which has returned some highly impressive 3D results in benchmark tests. The extra 200MHz of headroom should ensure class-leading performance.

The trouble is, that class is about to become second class. Over the coming months and into 2011 we’re going to start seeing dual core-powered Android devices coming onto the market, which should see significant 3D performance gains.

The PlayStation Phone could find itself outclassed by a new generation of stock Android units almost immediately.

Of course, power isn’t everything in a portable gaming device – just ask Nintendo – but it does seem a little short-sighted of Sony (and a little unusual given its history of bleeding-edge gaming tech) not to go with the best of what’s on offer at the time.

Along with the dirty screen and the factually inaccurate interface, this lack of power may be evidence that the pictures in Engadget's possession are of a device that doesn't exist.

Even if this prototype turns out to be real, nothing is set in stone, and we might well end up seeing a PlayStation Phone running on the Tegra 2 chipset (or better) at some point.

Sony would be well advised to avoid excessive hardware fragmentation, though. The traditional console gamers it’s bound to attract won’t take kindly to their investment being rendered all-but-obsolete in the space of a year.

Regardless of any misgivings, our overriding feeling surrounding the leaked PlayStation Phone is a positive one.

If true, it'll be a powerful, easily pocketable gaming device with its own cater-made games, as well as an excellent handset for playing the current crop of high-end Android titles like Reckless Racing.

What’s more, it’ll bring another major player into the elite Android handset group, and will be another step away from the inherently hamstrung hardware design of the Nexus One and its variants.

Regardless of whether this leak is the real deal or not, I can’t wait to get my hands on the first major game-focused phone since the release of the N-Gage QD six years ago. I suspect this one will do rather better.