Ultimate Vita Comparison (Firmwares & Rips vs Dumps)

ultimate-vita-comparison.md

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: 31.05.2021

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	✅1	✅
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	✅2	✅
Support Eboot Modding	✅3	✅
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	✅4	✅
Can be be played on FW lower than required one	✅5	✅

^{1 2 4}Using RePatch
³Using RePatch+FAGDec
⁵Using Compability Packs or reF00D or 0syscall6

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 Ensō	3.65 Ensō	3.67/3.68 h-encore	3.69/3.70 h-encore² /Trinity	3.71-3.73 h-encore²
Permament Hack on boot	❌	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Allow Homebrew and Plugins	⚠️1	✅	✅	✅	✅2	✅2
Can use SD2vita/PSVSD/USB drive as main storage	❔	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Have PSN Access	❔	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Activate Console & Allow PSS Downloads	❔	✅3	✅	✅	✅	✅
Doesn't require memory card on FAT console	❔	✅4	✅5	✅5	✅5	✅5
Allow playing games requiring (up to) 3.73	❔	✅6	✅6	✅	✅	✅
Can reinstall firmware and hack	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
TLS 1.2 Support	❌	✅7	✅7	✅	✅	✅
Support (NoNpDrm or NoThemeDrm) Retail Themes	❔	✅	✅	✅	❔	❔
Support Custom Themes	❔	✅	✅	✅	❔	❔
Can play all PSP/PSX Games8	❌	✅	✅	✅	❌	❌
Can play NoPsmDrm Games	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Can Play Vita-only titles on PSTV9	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Support decrypted contents in /patch/	✅	✅10	✅10	✅10	❔	❔
Support custom epilepsy warning on boot	❌	✅11	✅11	❌	❌	❌
Support custom boot splash12	❌	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Support using decrypted OS modules	❌	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Support Chovy PSPemu Hack13	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Support FW Downgrade14	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅

¹Most Homebrew and plugins are made for 3.60+ and thus won't work on firmwares lower than 3.60. ²Most plugins are made for 3.60-3.68. ³This 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.
⁴Using MLTHaKu
⁵Only 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 hackable FW already, memory card is used at least once in order to install hack, then create internal ux0 with IMCUnlockLite

⁶Using Compability Packs or reF00D or 0syscall6.
⁷Using iTLS-Enso.
⁸Using Adrenaline
⁹Using DolcePolce
¹⁰Using RePatch through /RePatch/ directory. Note: 3.60 supports it natively in /patch/ directory, although for consistency sake, rePatch usage is recommended.
¹¹Using CustomWarning
¹²Using Custom Boot Splash
¹³Using Chovy-Sign
¹⁴Using Modoru (Applies to 3.60-3.73)

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 upgrading or downgrading to 3.60 ENSO or 3.65 ENSO for permanent hack on boot, most features you can use and having FW that are supported by most if not all scene devs. IF YOU ARE ON 3.71-3.73, USE FORKED MODORU. IF YOU ATTEMPT TO DOWNGRADE FROM 3.71-3.73 USING ORIGINAL MODORU IT SOFTBRICKS THE CONSOLE!