Logic 3 External AA Power Pack

While Logic 3 already produces a mains-charged External Battery Pack for the PlayStation Portable (see our review in the PSP hardware section) those hardened on-the-move gamers perhaps venturing to far-flung places where their PSP's AC adapter will be all-but-useless in terms of differing voltage may want to think about Logic 3's more 'disposable' solution: the External AA Power Pack.

'External AA Power Pack' is little more than a fancy title for a portable AA 1.5V battery holder that comes equipped with four batteries, an attached 5V DC-IN cable, and a convenient main body switch for selecting voltage output for either the Sony PlayStation Portable or the Nintendo Game Boy Advance – oddly the voltage selector indicates 6V for the PSP while the console itself clearly states 5V.

Logic 3's External AA Power Pack is certainly commendable in its intent to deliver a PSP battery option that can be easily powered from virtually anywhere on the planet without you needing to lug a transformer on their person. And the handy sidestepping of mains charge time is also a relative plus, meaning that you can simply pop into the nearest 7-Eleven and grab a new set of batteries in order to carry on gaming.

That said, if the chosen batteries used in the AA Power Pack are not rechargeable (which to be honest then backtracks on the advantage of main supply avoidance) then you are looking at the growth of a rather hefty battery bill, outside of the unit's initially very modest £5.99 GBP price tag.

It's also worth noting that the four batteries supplied with the AA Power Pack are NOT rechargeable but rather standard alkaline offerings.

According to Logic 3, its AA Power Pack is able to inject the PSP with as much as five hours of play time. Sadly, we found the £5.99 bargain price point rather representative of the AA Power Pack's quality (or lack thereof) in terms of build and performance.

Firstly, the Power Pack itself feels extremely flimsy, and its wafer thin plastic shell might even break the first time the unit is dropped. Secondly, the battery door slides off so effortlessly that the precariously stacked AAs held within won't require much in the way of an impact to send them in every which direction.

However, the biggest disappointment we found was with performance (the wonders of Sellotape could at least bodge the unit together in the case of an unfortunate accident). On the unit Pocket Gamer reviewed, the jack plug housed at the tip of the AA Power Pack's fixed and trailing cable was such a 'snug' fit to the PSP's 5V DC-IN socket it was difficult to get a proper submerged connection.

To make matters worse, any significant turning or knocking of the jack plug – when finally in position – abruptly broke the power supply and instantly shut down the PSP, which quickly sent frustration levels through the roof.

Finally, Logic 3's claim of up to five hours of total play time is perhaps a case of over-egging the retail bread, as our four included batteries barely registered three hours of constant use.

Ultimately, the old adage that 'you get what you pay for' certainly rings true in the case of Logic 3's External AA Power Pack. While it's a decent concept that would have benefited greatly from enhanced build quality and solid reliability, we'd suggest taking a look at Logic 3's mains-charged External Batter Pack instead, which is considerably more reliable and better constructed than its AA counterpart.