At CES 2024, MSI unveiled the latest entry into the handheld gaming market with the introduction of the MSI Claw. This handheld gaming device is set to complete with the Valve Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion.
The MSI Claw sets itself apart from the others by using a Intel Core Ultra processor. This is a game-changer that steers away from the typical AMD chips used in other gaming handheld devices.
Design and specs
The MSI Claw has an ergonomic design that’s designed for long gaming sessions. And, it’s meant to feel great in your hands. It comes equipped with an impressive 7-inch, 120Hz, 1080p display for crisp, colourful and smooth visuals. In addition, the Claw comes powered with a 53Whr battery. MSI claims this battery is capable of delivering up to two hours of gameplay at full capacity. Considering the Claw’s power-intensive display, this is an impressive accomplishment for the handheld gaming market.
The MSI Claw is powered by an Intel Core Ultra processor, specifically the 14th-gen Core Ultra 7 155H. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is part of Intel’s Meteor Lake lineup and is notable for its integrated Arc graphics. This processor includes Intel’s XeSS upscaling technology, which uses artificial intelligence to boost frame rates in games. Moreover, the Claw comes with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM. This works alongside the Intel Core Ultra processor to allow you to easily play your favourite games.
All this tech under the Claw’s hood generates heat and to keep it cool, the Claw uses MSI’s proprietary Cooler Boost Hyperflow technology. This advanced cooling system redirects airflow to keep the Claw’s internal components cool, maintaining performance and preventing overheating.
Operating system and storage
Like the Lenovo Legion Go and the Asus ROG Ally, the Claw runs on Windows 11, which gives you instant access and compatibility to your PC gaming library and applications. In terms of storage, the Claw doesn’t skimp. It supports up to 1TB of PCIe M.2 storage and has a microSD slot to add more storage capacity.
Additionally, MSI has included a Thunderbolt 4 port in the Claw. This opens up its connectivity options for fast data transfer and external display connections. The Claw also features customizable RGB lighting and is compatible with MSI’s user-friendly software, MSI Center M, which simplifies game management and settings adjustments.
MSI Claw configurations and release date
A specific release date from MSI has not yet be announced but we can expect the MSI Claw in the first half of 2024. The MSI Claw comes in several configurations. The entry level model has a 7-inch LCD, 120Hz, 1080p display, an Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
If you are looking for a bit more power, the next model up comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU. This model also has 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Finally, the top tier model comes with same Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and 16GB of RAM but increases the storage to 1TB. No matter which model you choose, all Claw models have the same 7-inch LCD display.
Let me know in the comments below what your thoughts are on the the MSI Claw. Keep watching the blog for more from CES 2024.
