There is nothing worse than getting up to the final level of your game and the battery dying just as you deliver the killer blow. With the PSP, stating that the battery life is poor is an understatement. Logic3 has come up with a great idea in the PSP Solar Charger. This deceptively named product is actually a Lithium Ion Battery with a solar panel on the exterior which draws power from the sun and stores it to be used at a later date.

When we first saw this product we were a little dumbfounded. The name suggests it's a charger to be used with the PSP but the directions of the PSP clearly state the product is not to be left in the sun and the screen is unplayable in any kind of sunlight. When we discovered that it was in fact a battery, the relevance of the product increased dramatically. Being able to have a backup battery for the PSP is not only extremely useful but also rather desirable too.

We tested the solar panels and found them quite adequate. Essentially, the product did what it said it would. The battery lasts for about an hour, giving the gamer that added stretch of play when the battery gives up the ghost. However, there is no indicator which lets the user know when the batter is fully charged so our assessment is based on an assumption that the battery was fully charged when we tested its performance.

The device comes with a sturdy case which houses not only the unit but also the accompanying PSP as well. The pack has two different power connectors to use with the unit, one for the PSP and another for the Nintendo DS. While this is marketed toward the PSP it is good to see that the DS users aren't being forgotten.

The PSP Solar Charger is slightly too expensive perhaps, but only when compared to its nearest competitor which is a mobile phone battery which retails at roughly $70. If you want a quick and easy solution backup battery solution for your handheld gaming devices, look no further.