Embark on a Gaming Odyssey: MSI Claw’s Price Cut

The MSI Claw, a handheld gaming PC, has seen its price slashed just weeks after its release. This drastic move comes after the device received overwhelmingly negative reviews. UK retailer Currys, which has exclusivity on the console in the United Kingdom, has reduced the price of the MSI Claw A1M with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and 1TB SSD from £799 to £599.

A handheld gaming PC with a questionable future

The MSI Claw’s poor performance has led to its price cut, making it an unappealing option compared to other handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck OLED and ROG Ally. The device’s lack of optimization has resulted in a subpar gaming experience, making it difficult to compete with other handheld gaming PCs on the market.

“The MSI Claw won’t be featured on our list of the best handheld gaming PCs any time soon, with massive optimizations needed before it can even compete with the likes of the Steam Deck OLED and ROG Ally.”

We were fortunate enough to preview the MSI Claw at CES earlier this year, but our testing was done in a controlled environment set by MSI to make the Claw look as good as possible. Now that the handheld is out in the wild, its shortcomings are evident.

The freedom to game anywhere, anytime

The top model of the MSI Claw has been reduced by £200, but it still eclipses the Steam Deck LCD and OLED in price. The Intel Core Ultra 5, 512GB model, on the other hand, has maintained its full MSRP, making it an impossible buy for anyone interested in the handheld.

The ROG Ally has dropped to a new MSRP of £549, while the Lenovo Legion Go is currently on sale for £649, a £50 saving vs MSRP. This means that even with the huge £200 saving, the MSI Claw remains largely unappealing in comparison to handhelds that are viewed as much more complete and outright better gaming devices.

The bigger implication of this price cut is that it could see North American retailers follow suit, looking to shift units that they have on hand before the public image becomes so negative that demand dries up beyond repair.

The future of handheld gaming

Granted, MSI isn’t likely to leave the Claw out to dry, and updates will be worked on, but without a magic crystal ball to see into the future, it’s hard to say whether these updates will fix the major performance issues it currently suffers from.

If you already own a gaming handheld, it’s worth checking our picks for the best Steam Deck games, all of which are well-optimized for playing on the go regardless of which device you own.