Price, specs, features, and more

The hand held PC gaming scene is heating up rapidly. The Steam Deck bought issues began in 2022. Since then, we have seen the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and the Logitech G Cloud. MSI is throwing its hat into the ring with the MSI Claw, which the corporate introduced at CES 2024.

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MSI Claw: Value and launch date window

MSI has three variants of the Claw that vary from $699 to $799 and may launch someday within the first half of 2024, in line with the corporate. The official spec sheet solely lists the specs for the top-end $799 mannequin. MSI will seemingly share particulars on the opposite configurations nearer to launch.

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MSI Claw: Specs and options

The MSI Claw is the primary handheld gaming PC to function Intel’s Meteor Lake CPUs, with the high-end mannequin set to incorporate an Intel Core Extremely 7. Right here is the complete spec sheet:

• CPU – As much as an Intel Core Extremely 7
• OS – Home windows 11 House
• Show – 7-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), 120 Hz IPS contact display
• Graphics – Intel Arc Graphics
• Reminiscence – As much as 16GB of LPDDR5-6400 RAM
• Storage – As much as 1TB
• Connectivity – Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4
• Audio – Two 2W audio system and a 3.5mm combo jack
• Battery – 53Whr
• Dimensions – 294 x 117 x 21.2mm
• Weight – 675 grams

Another goodies included within the combine are a fingerprint sensor constructed into the ability button, a Thunderbolt 4 port, a microSD card reader, and two macro buttons behind the grips. The entrance of the show additionally options an MSI Heart M button for fast entry to customizations.

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MSI Claw: Design and {hardware}

The MSI Claw appears much like different PC handhelds. You’ve gotten the standard two-joystick format with ABXY buttons on the precise and a d-pad on the left. All of the ports, together with the amount rocker and energy button, are alongside the highest backbone, whereas the underside is usually empty. The left and proper joysticks have RGB lighting that you could virtually actually customise by way of MSI Heart.

The again and a part of the highest of the gadget is principally one massive vent that helps the Claw keep cool. MSI’s cooling system, which the corporate calls Hyperflow, brings air in, redirects a part of it to the inner parts, after which makes use of the remaining to chill the CPU and GPU earlier than venting the new air out of the highest. The again venting has purple accents, which look cool.

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MSI Claw: Battery life and efficiency

We can’t know pure efficiency numbers till benchmarks come out. Nevertheless, we all know that Meteor Lake compares favorably towards the prior technology, so efficiency ought to be fairly good. The larger query is Intel’s built-in Arc graphics. Even when the Arc platform is healthier than it was previously, some avid gamers might scoff on the lack of higher-end graphics.

With that stated, the Claw ought to nonetheless play video games fairly properly, even when they are not on the highest doable settings. Certainly, the Core Extremely 7 is not any joke and CPU-bound video games ought to be dealt with adequately by Intel’s newest choices. Once more, benchmarks will inform the complete story.

When it comes to battery life, MSI boasts that the Claw will stand up to 50% extra battery life than competing handhelds. For starters, it contains an industry-leading 53Whr battery. Moreover, Meteor Lake CPUs are available in a giant.LITTLE configuration, so the CPU’s effectivity cores will assist draw out as a lot battery life as doable. It ought to do fairly properly with battery life, however additional testing can be wanted.

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Must you attempt MSI Claw when it releases?

MSI has positioned itself moderately properly throughout the echelon of handheld gaming PCs. It has a bigger battery than all of its main opponents, together with the latest CPU from Intel. That is excellent news as a result of it is also costlier than all of its opponents. Thus, if MSI has a winner right here, it will need to do higher than everyone else. It actually appears primed to just do that.

MSI Claw

MSI Claw is a handheld gaming gadget powered by Intel Core Extremely processors that promies a clean and immersive gameplay expertise even on AAA titles.