Published , by Sam Chandler
Published , by Sam Chandler
The handheld PC market has its latest competitor in the form of the MSI Claw. This powerful device was unveiled today at CES 2024, with MSI showing off its 7-inch 120Hz display and the system’s Intel Core Ultra processor.
On January 8, 2024, the MSI Claw was revealed at CES. The manufacturer states that the handheld device will be able to offer smooth gameplay on triple-A titles thanks to its Intel Core Ultra chips. These utilize Intel’s XeSS technology that offers advanced AI upscaling, effectively boosting FPS.
On the form factor side, the MSI Claw weighs marginally more than the Steam Deck OLED, though MSI states that the Claw has been “ergonomically tailored for comfort”. Users that found the Steam Deck’s thumbstick layout uncomfortable will be pleased to know that the Claw has an asymmetrical thumbstick layout and face buttons that matches Xbox’s own controller.
Additionally, the MSI Claw offers a 53Whr battery capacity that can hit a 2-hour battery life under full workload conditions and supports the MSI APP Player for access to Android mobile games.
“In our commitment to enhancing the gaming experience for our users, we aim to address market pain points and dedicate efforts to the handheld space,” Eric Kuo, the Executive Vice President & NB BU GM of MSI said in a press release. “We have fine-tuned specific designs tailored exclusively for gamers, debuting our very first handheld, Claw, which redefines the standards in the handheld market."
MSI told The Verge that it plans to ship three models, with the entry-level coming in at $699 with a Core Ultra 5 and 512GB of storage. The top model appears to be the Intel Core Ultra 7 I55H.
While no release date has been given, MSI anticipates launching its MSI Claw in the first half of 2024. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the other handheld PCs on the market like the aforementioned Steam Deck, the ASUS ROG, and the Razer Edge. Head over to our CES 2024 page for more exciting tech revealed at the annual event.