In a bold move set to shake up the handheld gaming scene, MSI has announced its latest creation: The Claw. As part of their CES 2024 showpiece, this device has turned heads, not least because of its catchy name but due also to its impressive specs. MSI is stepping into an arena occupied by formidable players like Valve's Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally, and The Claw seems geared to make a significant impact.
The Claw stands out from the crowd by being the first handheld gaming device to run on Windows 11 and to sport a 14th-gen Intel Core Ultra chip. Unlike the detachable controllers on devices like the Lenovo Legion Go, The Claw maintains a traditional fixed layout. It houses an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H APU, which is the same kind found in high-performance gaming laptops, and it's coupled with integrated Arc graphics for GPU functions.
The decision to opt for an Intel APU over the AMD versions used in the Steam Deck and its various competitors is a notable shift in the market. MSI has expressed confidence that this new Intel APU provides a smooth and immersive gaming experience even for AAA titles.
An equally impressive feature of The Claw is its battery capacity. It's equipped with a substantial 53Whr battery that is said to outdo the upgraded 50Whr cell found in the Steam Deck OLED model. As claimed by MSI, this juicy battery can sustain a "2-hour battery life under full workload conditions." The implication here is that for the most demanding games, which push hardware to its limits, The Claw will be able to hold its own for at least a couple of hours—par for the course or even slightly better than the current benchmark set by the Deck OLED.
However, The Claw doesn't just pack a punch in terms of performance; it also boasts a high-resolution, 1920x1080 IPS display, superior to the Steam Deck's. The 7-inch screen is not only higher in resolution but also offers a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, eclipsing the 90Hz offered by the OLED model of the Steam Deck.
Despite these advancements, MSI has remained tight-lipped about The Claw's pricing and exact release date. Consumers and gaming enthusiasts alike are left hoping that it will be competitively priced in alignment with similarly specced devices like the top-tier version of the ROG Ally. Strictly speaking, unless Intel’s Arc graphics pull off a remarkable feat, it would be hard to justify a significant price difference.
While the larger capacity battery is undoubtedly a boon, there is some concern about the energy demands of The Claw, especially given the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H’s base TDP of 28W which is much higher compared to the typical energy consumption of the custom AMD APUs in other handhelds that run games well below 10W. It is unclear whether the larger battery is simply to offset the higher power consumption or if there will be some ingenious engineering to enhance the APU's efficiency.
The announcement of The Claw was followed by news of new MSI gaming laptops, also powered by 14th-generation Intel CPUs and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs, updating MSI’s lineup. Although these did not receive the distinctive naming treatment, they consist of upgraded offerings in the Titan 18 HX, Raider 18HX, the Vector HX 16 and 17, the Crosshair HX 16 and 17, and the Pulse 16 and 17 series.
With the introduction of The Claw, MSI has potentially redefined what gamers can expect from portable gaming devices. Featuring powerhouse specifications and a specially designed battery, The Claw could very well be a game-changer. As we wait for further details, the anticipation among the gaming community continues to build, eager to see how MSI's new contender will perform in the real world.
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