The MSI Claw is real, and it’s the first Core Ultra gaming handheld

Throughout its CES 2024 showcase, MSI formally revealed the Claw, its first handheld gaming PC. Powered by Intel Core Extremely, the MSI Claw seems to be to take a barely totally different method to efficiency in comparison with its rivals, and it has a battery greater than something Valve, Lenovo, or Asus can present.

The MSI Claw, on paper, stacks up properly when in comparison with the Leigon Go and ROG Ally, however a primary HD display screen sees it fall wanting the Steam Deck OLED, which has confirmed extremely well-liked since its shock launch final 12 months. We actually see the MSI Claw as a possible contender for the best handheld gaming PC, however what makes it stand out from its opponents?

One space the place the MSI Claw is innovating is with its Intel Meteor Lake chipset. All of its main opponents use an AMD APU, however MSI has opted to undertake Intel’s latest cell chip expertise to energy the Claw. It’s going to have an Intel Core 7 Extremely 155H chip and Arc Graphics with 8 Xe-cores. In efficiency phrases, that is double the ability of the AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive that resides within the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go.

Backing up this {hardware} would be the Intel XeSS, AI-enhanced upscaling tech designed to assist video games carry out and look higher, while not having entry to Nvidia {hardware} for its proprietary DLSS answer.

Trying previous the headline {hardware} and software program inclusions, we will see that the MSI Claw is packing a 53Whr battery, greater than something provided up by its foremost opponents. In actual phrases, MSI expects this to translate into two hours of use below a full workload.

Solely time will inform the place the MSI Claw sits inside the very best handheld gaming PC hierarchy, however early indicators counsel it has each the ability and the battery to be an actual contender. Can it overcome a primary 7-inch HD show to dethrone the Steam Deck OLED?

Stick to us for extra CES 2024 information, together with hands-on previews and interviews from the present flooring in Las Vegas.