Due to so many misinformation, false claims and confusion that goes around the web I've decided to make this quick comparison of all most known backup enabling tools, hackable vita firmwares and which one you should be using and why.
Date of last update: 05.05.2019
NoNpDRM Rips vs Dumps
| NoNpDRM Rips | Vitamin / MaiDumpTool Dumps | |
|---|---|---|
| All original files untouched | ||
| Support Retail DLCs | ||
| Support Ripped (NoNpDRM) DLCs | ||
| Support Dumped (Vitamin/Mai) DLCs | ||
| Can be updated from pkg or livearea | ||
| Does not have saving issues | ||
| Does not introduce game breaking bugs | ||
| Support console suspending | ||
| Support Game and DLC Modding | ||
| Support Eboot Modding | ||
| Can be Dumped/Ripped on All Hackable Firmwares | ||
| Can be converted from Rip to Dump or Dump to rip | ||
| Are supported by NPS, developers and the community | ||
| Support custom manuals and changelogs | ||
| Can be be played on FW lower than required one |
1 2 4Using RePatch
3Using RePatch+FAGDec
5Using Compability Packs or reF00D
Conclusion
STOP using Dumped Games and tools for dumping all together. Those tools are obsolete and broken to their cores, due to the way how they work. Eboot and Modules are altered in order to keep everything together, which introduces a handful of bugs. For best Vita Experience use NoNpDRM rips.
Firmware comparison
| 3.55/3.57 MEMEKAKU | 3.60 ENSO | 3.65 ENSO | 3.67-3.70 H-ENCORE/TRINITY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permament Hack on boot | ||||
| Allow Homebrew and Plugins | ||||
| Can use SD2vita/PSVSD/USB drive as main storage | ||||
| Have PSN Access | ||||
| Activate Console & Allow PSS Downloads | ||||
| Doesn't require memory card on FAT console | ||||
| Allow playing games requiring (up to) 3.68 | ||||
| Can reinstall firmware and hack | ||||
| TLS 1.2 Support | ||||
| Support (NoNpDrm or NoThemeDrm) Retail Themes | ||||
| Support Custom Themes | ||||
| Can play PSP/PSX Games6 | ||||
| Can play NoPsmDrm Games | ||||
| Can Play Vita-only titles on PSTV8 | ||||
| Support decrypted contents in /patch/ | ||||
| Support custom epilepsy warning on boot | ||||
| Support custom boot splash11 | ||||
| Support using decrypted OS modules |
1This is recent change. No one can tell why SONY allowed 3.60 hacked consoles to use activation servers again. Use with caution on 3.60.
2Using MLTHaKu
3Only if:
- Used MLTHaKu on 3.60 -> IMCUnlockLite to create internal ux0 -> 3.65 OFW Update(+h-encore +3.65 enso installer) OR 3.68 OFW Update(+h-encore)
- While being on 3.65/3.68 already, memory card is used at least once in order to install hack, then create internal ux0 with IMCUnlockLite
4Using Compability Packs or reF00D
5Using iTLS-Enso, web browser ONLY.
6Using Adrenaline
7Only on original ux0 (memory card or internal)
8Using AntiBlacklist/Whitelist
9Using RePatch through /RePatch/ directory
10Using CustomWarning
11Using Custom Boot Splash
Conclusion
Your best option are ENSO firmwares, but depending what FW you had factory installed you might be limited to 3.68 h-encore only.
Personally, I do suggest 3.65 ENSO if possible.
Vita Downgrader has been released! Now, if you have hackable 3.67-3.70 vita, you can use Modoru to downgrade your vita back to supported ENSO firmware like 3.60 or 3.65 (as long as your Factory FW is at 3.65/3.60 or lower.)