MSI is teaming up with Intel to introduce the Claw, a high-end gaming handheld that aims to bring more balance to the market dominated by AMD-powered devices like the ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and Steam Deck. While sharing design similarities with the ROG Ally, including a 7-inch full HD LCD screen with 500 nits brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate, the Claw differentiates itself by featuring Intel Core Ultra 7 or Core Ultra 5 chips. This departure raises questions about Intel’s capability in the gaming handheld space, as it relies on the relatively untested integrated Arc graphics and a less extensive driver library compared to AMD.
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The Claw’s design, with a black finish and larger grips for enhanced comfort, stands out, while the integration of Intel’s Thunderbolt 4 port and Killer modems for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 provides advanced connectivity options. The device’s 53Whr battery offers advantages over competitors like the ROG Ally with its 40Whr pack, and the mesh vents on the back aid in heat dissipation. Additionally, precise hall effect sensors for buttons and joysticks, as opposed to potentiometers, contribute to a refined user experience.
Despite being in the pre-production stage with unfinished software, the Claw showcased smooth performance during game launches. MSI claims, based on internal testing, that the Claw delivered 20 to 25 percent higher frame rates than an equivalent AMD-based handheld in 14 out of 15 popular titles. While impressive, the true test will be whether these figures translate to a broader library of modern games.
The inclusion of a Thunderbolt 4 port enables fast data speeds and the potential for connecting an external graphics dock for additional performance. The Claw is positioned competitively in terms of pricing, starting at $699 for the base model with a Core Ultra 5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The faster model with a Core Ultra 7 CPU is priced at $749, and the 1TB SSD variant is available for $799. Overall, the Claw presents itself as a promising Intel-based gaming handheld with potential advantages in performance, connectivity, and pricing.
