MSI Unveils Claw Handheld Gaming PC to Take on Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally
MSI has officially launched its long-awaited Claw handheld gaming PC, entering the increasingly crowded portable gaming market. The MSI Claw was first unveiled at CES 2024 in January as the company’s answer to devices like the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go.
MSI Claw Pricing & Availability
The base model MSI Claw A1M-052US is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 5-135H processor and runs Windows 11 Home out of the box. It has 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, a 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD, and Intel Arc graphics. This entry-level configuration is priced at $699 in the US. For those looking for more power, MSI offers two higher-end Claw variants with Intel’s Core Ultra 7-155H chips. The A1M-051US has a 512GB SSD and will retail for $749, while the top-spec A1M-050US bumps the storage up to 1TB for $799.
MSI Claw Specifications & Features
All three models share a sleek black industrial design and feature a 7-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) IPS touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 500 nits peak brightness. The Claw also boasts gaming-centric features like hall effect joysticks and triggers, RGB lighting on the controls, dual 2W speakers, and haptic feedback. Connectivity is handled by Killer WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The handheld’s 53Wh battery can be recharged via the included 65W USB-PD adapter. MSI has implemented its Cooler Boost HyperFlow thermal solution to manage heat during intense gaming sessions. Weighing in at 675g, the Claw measures 294 x 117 x 21.2mm. The base MSI Claw A1M-052US is now available in the US, and select markets in its Black colorway are available through MSI’s online store and major retailers. The two higher-end Core Ultra 7 configurations will follow on March 12th.
Conclusion
With the launch of the MSI Claw handheld gaming PC, MSI is set to compete head-to-head with established players like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally. The Claw’s impressive specifications and features make it a strong contender in the portable gaming market.
