The MSI Claw has been introduced as a handheld that could compete with the Steam Deck. MeinMMO presents all the known information about the new gaming handheld.
What is the MSI Claw? The MSI Claw was officially unveiled at CES 2024. After ASUS and Lenovo, a third major hardware manufacturer has presented a handheld, excluding smaller developers like OneXPlayer or Aya Neo. You can find the best gaming handhelds currently available for purchase on MeinMMO as well.
MeinMMO provides all the important information regarding the new gaming handheld and explains what you should know.
- MSI Claw: Release
- MSI Claw: Price and where to pre-order?
- MSI Claw: Specs at a glance
- MSI Claw: Performance
- MSI Claw compared to ROG Ally, Steam Deck, and Legion Go
MSI Claw: Release
When will the MSI Claw be released? The official release date is March 8, 2024. The handheld is already available in German retail and can be ordered through Amazon and other platforms.
MSI Claw: Price and Pre-order
How much does the MSI Claw cost? There are three different models for the MSI Claw: Similar to the Steam Deck, the price you have to pay depends on the specifications:
- In Germany, you can order the cheapest variant for 849.00 Euros.
- You can buy the most expensive variant for 949.99 Euros.
- There is currently no third option available at German retailers.
Can you pre-order the MSI Claw? Yes, you can already pre-order the device in several shops:
- Either directly from the MSI Shop, where the model is currently available for 849.00 Euros.
- Or alternatively at Notebooksbilliger. Here you can find the 949.00 model.
MSI Claw: Specs at a glance
What hardware is in the MSI Claw? MSI has presented three different models of the MSI Claw. The second and third variants only differ slightly from each other:
- The entry model for 849 Euros comes with an Intel Core Ultra 5-135H with 512 GB SSD. It also includes 16 GB of RAM and a Full HD display with VRR support.
- The middle model comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7-155H and 512 GB SSD. It also has 16 GB of RAM and a Full HD display with VRR support. However, this model is currently not available in Germany.
- The third model for 949.99 Euros offers the same specifications as the middle model but comes with a 1 TB SSD instead of 512 GB.
MSI Claw: Performance
How fast is the MSI Claw? The first YouTubers and experts have already had the opportunity to see the new gaming handheld at CES 2024. The performance is surprisingly good, which is primarily due to the upscaling technology “XeSS”. This allows games to run very smoothly on the handheld.
However, some YouTubers, like Linus Tech Tips, criticize that the battery life is not very good. This would need to be proven in a long-term test. Linus was also able to disassemble the MSI Claw. We have embedded his video here for you:
MSI Claw compared to ROG Ally and Steam Deck
MSI Claw vs Rog Ally: The first testers report that the MSI Claw feels lighter and more ergonomic than the ASUS model. This is not surprising since the ROG Ally weighs “only” 608 grams, while the MSI Claw officially weighs 675 grams.
Particularly, the MSI proprietary software feels significantly better than ASUS’s “Armoury Crate.” The MSI Claw is also more playful than the ROG Ally. The size and type of display are identical for both devices.
MSI Claw vs Steam Deck: The Steam Deck is slightly lighter than the MSI Claw (640 vs 675 grams). The main difference is that the MSI Claw relies on Intel, while the Steam Deck uses an AMD APU.
You can read our test of the Lenovo Legion Go in the following article on MeinMMO:
MSI Claw vs Rog Ally, Steam Deck, and Legion Go
| MSI Claw | Lenovo Legion Go | Steam Deck | ASUS ROG Ally | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 5 135H or Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme | 6 nm AMD APU | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme or Ryzen Z1 |
| GPU | Intel Arc Graphics | AMD Radeon, 2.5 GHz, 780M (30 Watts) | RDNA 2, 1.6 GHz (4-15 Watts) | AMD RDNA 3, 2.5 GHz (9-30 Watts) |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Display | 7 inches, IPS | 8.8 inches, IPS | 7.4 inches, LCD or OLED | 7 inches, IPS |
| Storage | 512 GB or 1 TB | 64 GB or 1 TB | 256 GB – 1 TB | 512 GB |
| Weight | 675 grams | 854 grams | 640 grams | 604 grams |
| Price | From 849 Euros (512 GB) | From 799 Euros (512 GB) | From 369 Euros (64 GB) | From 599 Euros |
More alternatives to the Steam Deck: MeinMMO has listed the best alternatives to the Steam Deck in the following article. This could be particularly interesting for those of you who either did not want to pre-order the Steam Deck or are looking for a powerful alternative gaming console: Steam Deck: These are the 8 most exciting alternatives in 2024
