MSI is entering the portable gaming scene with its new Claw gaming handheld device. Announced at CES 2024, the MSI Claw will join the likes of the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion and other brands as it aims to get you gaming on the go. The difference between the MSI Claw and most other handheld gaming devices on the market is that the new gadget has partnered with Intel to make use of the new Meteor Lake Core Ultra processor to power the unit.
MSI plans to ship the Claw in three models. It starts at $699 and goes up to $799. The base model packs a Core Ultra 5 and 512GB of storage. There’s also a 512GB model with the same Core Ultra 5 and the $799 model that includes a Core Ultra 7. With the included Intel components, the MSI Claw will make use of Intel XeSS upscaling across supported games thanks to the ARC GPU in the chip.
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MSI is also equipping the Claw with a 53Wh battery which the company claims is the largest in its class compared to other portable gaming devices. It will let you game for a full two hours under a full load. The MSI Claw also packs a fancy cooling system which the company says is also 50% larger than other systems found on similar devices.
From a design perspective, the MSI claw weighs 675g making it a bit heavier than other models. It measures 294mm wide, 117mm tall and is 21.2mm thick. MSI has included tactile buttons across the unit as well as Hall effect triggers and analogue sticks. This means the device will likely avoid stick drift in the future.
As for the display, the MSI Claw includes 7-inch FHD 120Hz panel with the typical brightness of 500 nits. MSI says the display offers a variable refresh rate.
The device also includes a number of ports and buttons across the body. There’s an audio jack combo, Thunderbolt 4, Micro SD card reader, power button with a fingerprint scanner and various face buttons. The unit packs Wi-Fi 7 too which is impressive to see from a portable unit.
We don’t have a release date for the MSI Claw just yet. However, MSI says it will launch within the first half of 2024. We can confirm that the device will release in South Africa somewhere down the line. We will update you on the pricing and release date as soon as we know more.
Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Executive Vice President and GM, Client Computing Group at Intel said:
“We’re proud to partner with MSI to deliver unparalleled experiences for users around the globe. The new MSI Claw is an exciting new gaming handheld powered by an Intel Core Ultra processor that provides an unparalleled gaming experience to be enjoyed anywhere, anytime. Ultra stands out with its new silicon architecture, AI capabilities, and the pioneering ARCTM integrated graphics, boasting up to 8 Xe cores. This configuration delivers twice the graphical performance of previous generations. Enhanced by XeSS super-sampling technology, the ARCTM offers smooth gameplay at 1080p resolution and medium settings. Its SOC tile includes a media engine supporting advanced video”
You can find out more about the MSI Claw on the official website here.
