The market of gaming handhelds is getting one more competitor with the arrival of the MSI Claw. The hardware-focused brand is now launching its first gaming handheld. One interesting detail in this portable PC is that it is the first to come with an Intel chip. So far, competitors like the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG have been launched with AMD Ryzen chips. Now, MSI comes to show the alternative that comes from Intel.
MSI Claw Features and Main Details
The MSI Claw runs on the Meteor Lake Intel Core Ultra chip. It is definitively a change for a market sticking with AMD’s solutions. The Meteor Lake Intel Core Ultra chip comes with up to the Core Ultra 7 155H, which features 6 P-cores, 8 E-cores, and 2 Low Power e-Cores with a max turbo clock of 4.8 GHz, and 24 MB of total chance. Until now, MSI has not specified all the options that will be available.
The Intel Core Ultra chip is paired with the new Intel Arc Graphics. The 155H GPU is at 2.25 GHz and supports modern rendering features such as ray tracing and native XeSS support. The MSI Claw will also have 16 GB of LPDDR5 Memory and M.2 2230 NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD of up to 1 TB capacity. There is also a microSD card slot for easy memory expansion.
The MSI Claw features a 7-inch, 1920 x 1,080 pixels resolution display. It has a 120 Hz VRR IPS LCD with touch support. The display has 100% sRGB coverage and up to 500 nits of peak brightness. The device features USB Type-C, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. You will get built-in 2x2W stereo speakers and audio jack. According to MSI, the Claw has a 53Wh which currently stands as the largest in the class. This is enough for two hours of battery life while gaming. While this does not sound much, keep in mind the device is designed to run heavy and demanding games. The MSI Claw comes with a 65W charger straight out of the box.
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The battery life is compared to the ASUS ROG Ally, and another similarity is the OS. The MSI Claw also runs Windows 11 straight out of the box. Of course, MSI will provide the MSI Center M app for managing the device settings and installed games. There is also a dedicated button to launch it. The device also includes the MSI APP Player, which lets you emulate Android apps and games. It’s an interesting feature.
MSI Claw Technical Specifications:
- Processor: Up to Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 155H
- OS: Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro
- Chipset: Integrated SoC
- Memory: LPDDR5 Onboard, 16 GB, Dual Channel
- Display: 7-inch Full HD 1920 x 1080, 120 Hz refresh rate, Touch Screen, 100% sRGB (Typical), 500 nits (Typical), IPS-level panel
- Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics
- Storage Slot: 1 x NVMe M.2 2230 SSD by PCIe Gen 4 x 4
- Sensor: 6-Axis IMU Vibration Motor
- Communication: Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750, Bluetooth 5.4
- Audio: 2x 2W Speakers / 1 x Audio Combo Jack / Hi-Ses Audio Readyk
- I/O Port: 1x Thunderbolt 4 / DisplayPort / USB Type-C with PD 3.0 Charging, 1 x MicroSD card Read, 1x Audio Combo Jack, 1 x Power Button with Fingerprint Scanner.
Pricing and Availability
The MSI Claw will start at $699 and will come in three distinct variants. For now, MSI is yet to disclose the configuration of each variant. The high-end variant does come with the 155H and will have 1 TB of Internal Storage. It will cost $799. The MSI Claw will go on sale in the first half of the year.
The MSI Claw is another interesting device to join this growing market of portable PCs developed for gaming. Steam opened the floodgates with the launch of the Steam Deck, and since then we have seen an array of new devices joining this category. With so many options, this will certainly become a strong trend in the gaming field.
