I've been seeing a lot of topics where people have been comparing the two, so I thought maybe we could keep it all in one thread. I figured this part of the forum would be ideal, although there might be some sales discussions between the two. Maybe I'll start off by listing some PROs and CONs of the two systems (my knowledge of the 3DS is a bit rusty, so feel free to add more to that; feel free to add PROs and CONs to both).

Feel free to offer any more PROs and CONs for the two systems, if you feel I have any missing.

EDIT (9/26/11) - Clarified some points

3DS PROs
- First party lineup
- Big name third party exclusives, for the time being (Monster Hunter 3G, Monster Hunter 4)
- Backwards compatible with DS games
- Casual appeal
- Glasses-free 3D
- Virtual Console (access to old Game Boy titles and the like are a plus)
- Head start over competition, including the unanswered holiday period in 2011 in US and EMEAA regions
- Recent price cut puts it at an edge
- StreetPass allows for interactivity with other systems easily (even while in sleep mode)

3DS CONs
- Identity crisis (i.e. some people don't view it as much of an upgrade over DS)
- The less powerful of the two
- Region locked
- Started off with barely any games (will be remedied this holiday season)
- 3D effect has been said to make some people feel ill
- Can't use gyroscope and 3D at the same time

Vita PROs
- Clearly the more powerful of the two
- Cross platform ability with PS3 (remote play, playing a title on both PS3/Vita with same save)
- Access to large library of games on PSN, including enhanced PSP games (using second analog stick, for example)
- Not region locked
- Strong launch line-up for Japan (unknown outside of Japan)
- Built-in second analog stick (some people consider it a plus over 3DS)
- Good amount of apps for the system (Social networking, for example)
- Near system allows interaction with other nearby players
- Two models, with one of the models having 3G available for it
- Free 100 hour 3G plan at launch (in Japan), plus an unlimited high-speed 3G data plan (Japan)

Vita CONs
- No clear system selling games (like Nintendo's first party/Monster Hunter)
- 3G plan is expensive in Japan (no announcements for outside of Japan yet)
- Memory cards are considered expensive
- No 2011 holiday release in US and EMEAA
- Price difference at launch of Vita ($250/300 for Vita vs. $170 for 3DS)
- No option for UMDs (people with a PSP and a lot of UMD games are left in the dust until Sony decides to announce a program to exchange UMD to digital, OR until a UMD peripheral is released)

Some things I didn't list include the battery life (about the same for both systems, so no advantage to either), the external battery for the Vita (don't think much is known about it, except that it will extend the battery life, but price and some other stuff is unknown, so can't place it).

VITA - because it's basically an Ipad at half the cost and able to play much better games.

I already made a thread like this a while back.

Link: http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=131744&page=1

I have a big issue with region locking and I never understood why companies even took up that practice. With that said, Capcom/Nintendo will take ages to get both MH games localized for the 3ds so I was honestly hoping Vita would get it.

Vita apparently has a lackluster battery life and expensive, proprietary memory cards.

In my eyes, both are looking unappealing.

ill get both but Ill probably buy the vita first

way to go not even putting 3D in the pro, it adds a lot to the games, a lot of people are just in denial about it.

The last response in that thread was at the end of July, which was 1 1/2 months ago, and a lot of new information has been released (specifically on the Vita, plus the price cut for 3DS). Also, I plan on updating the thread regularly with new/more info whenever I can. No offense to you, so if mods want to close this thread, they can.

Obviously, I overlooked some things and I will put it in the OP now (as a PRO and CON), even if some things are certainly clear.

Wow, this thread is asking to turn into a shitstorm.

Anyway, I voted Vita, I'm a remake whore and having FFX and the MGS collection on the Vita is just a dream come true. SONY have made the console look so promising and learnt from past mistakes.

3DS. Lower price + better games = win.