MSI Claw: One-minute evaluate

The MSI Claw is the most recent PC gaming handheld to hit the scene because the launch of the Steam Deck a few years in the past, nevertheless it’s core distinction — being the primary Intel-powered gadget on this class — makes it each thrilling in addition to considerably perilous for each MSI and Intel. 

Given the robust displaying that AMD has had with its AMD Z1 and Z1 Excessive chips powering the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and sure many others to come back, Intel cannot afford to overlook out on this quick rising market. 

In the meantime, MSI is taking an opportunity on the brand new Intel Core Extremely processor line that’s powering most of the greatest laptops introduced at CES 2024, and as but, these chips are simply stepping into the arms of reviewers so it is too quickly to inform if the built-in Arc graphics within the MSI Claw could have the identical stage of efficiency because the RDNA Three graphics within the AMD Z1, particularly because the MSI Claw and newer AMD-powered handhelds function full 1080p shows with excessive refresh charges.

If there was one factor I’ve persistently heard right here at CES from each MSI and different laptop computer producers betting their laptop computer traces on the brand new chips is that the Intel Arc graphics within the Core Extremely processors is totally as much as the duty and in my restricted period of time messing round with the MSI Claw, I can see why they’d be so assured.

The variety of titles I used to be capable of check out on the Claw was restricted, however they performed brilliantly all the identical, and with a number of main benefits for Intel’s iGPU over AMD’s competing Z1 sequence, the MSI Claw may not simply be an necessary beachhead for Intel in a really important PC gaming market, it could additionally function highly effective showcase for what its chips are able to doing.

MSI Claw: Value & availability

There is not any agency pricing or launch date but for the MSI Claw, however I have been informed by MSI that it ought to launch between the center of February and the center of March, and will probably be obtainable in a number of configurations, which can dictate its sale value. 

The bottom configuration, with an Intel Core Extremely 5 135H processor and 512GB SSD, is anticipated to promote for $699 (about £560, AU$980), whereas the Core Extremely 7 165H processor with 1TB SSD storage configuration is anticipated to high out at $799, with the Core Extremely 5, 1TB SSD possibility costing someplace in between.

At the moment, there’ll solely be a 16GB LPDDR5 reminiscence possibility no matter configuration, however I count on that relying on the success of the preliminary manufacturing run of the gadget, the spec configuration vary may develop to incorporate extra reminiscence as nicely, however MSI has no official plans for a 32GB reminiscence possibility presently.

MSI Claw: Specs

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MSI Claw: Design

On the design facet of issues, the MSI Claw will probably be very acquainted to anybody who has used one of many new PC gaming handhelds, however there are some design selections which can be fairly solidly MSI.

With a really robust gaming laptop computer pedigree, MSI’s Claw may be very a lot consistent with a lot of its greatest gaming laptops by way of aesthetic and agressive gamer styling, however there are some useful variations between the Claw and its opponents as nicely that are not purely for seems.

The cooling system on the MSI Claw is bigger than on the ROG Ally, making for a considerably thicker gadget, and the extra open venting on the again of the Claw ensures that sufficient air is being pulled via to maintain the Core Extremely processor cool.

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There are additionally two buttons on the again of the gadget which can be for programming your personal macros into the gadget as nicely, one thing lacking on its opponents, and the selection of FHD decision and 120Hz refresh makes for a barely much less crisp trying image than the QHD show on the Legion Go, however with such a small-sized display screen, 1080p is far more than you in all probability even want and appears unbelievable in observe.

Weight-and-size-wise, the MSI Claw is heavier than the Steam Deck, nevertheless it’s not inordinantly cumbersome or unwieldy, no less than not any greater than its opponents. The buttons alongside the entrance may very well be defined a bit higher, because the buttons across the display screen that management issues like opening the MSI Heart M interface or opening the settings display screen are necessary, nevertheless it would not assist of you if you cannot bear in mind of instantly inform which button does what.

I’ll say that the MSI Claw did run considerably scorching beneath load, however it’s hardly alone on that entrance, and it does an admirable job of serving to bleed warmth from the gadget no less than.

MSI Claw: Efficiency

Given the restricted period of time I had with the MSI Claw, the very last thing I would have been capable of do is put the gadget via any type of formal battery of benchmarks, and the variety of video games I had entry to have been restricted to a choose few like Sonic Superstars and Murderer’s Creed: Mirage, each of which performed unbelievable with little to no points.

I spent most of my time taking part in Sonic because it terns out since I needed to deal with a recreation the place the pace of the onscreen components would actually showcase the 120Hz refresh price, and it was undoubtedly the best selection. Whereas not essentially probably the most taxing title, the Sonic and mates (and enemies, and frenemies) all regarded so crisp I stored considering that the show was a better resolutions than it was (it was 1080p), or that the show was OLED (it is not). In the meantime, flying via a stage with rings, buildings, characters, and way more flew previous Tails as I sped in the direction of the top of the course and I could not produce any display screen blur, ghosting, or display screen tearing.

The Intel Arc built-in GPU options eight Xe cores, which is identical because the Intel Arc A380, although the facility draw of the iGPU within the Core Extremely 7 165H is of course a a lot decrease wattage (I used to be informed it drew about 30-35W). This nonetheless manages to ship some stable graphics efficiency, nonetheless, and the enhancements that Intel has made for its Arc graphics driver over the previous yr has significantly improved my confidence in Arc GPUs. Older video games will nonetheless possible run into issues although, particularly something from the DX9 period or earlier, so for those who’re hoping to do quite a lot of retro gaming on the go together with this handheld, nicely, that’s the threat with counting on an Arc GPU going ahead. Something DirectX11 or increased will play significantly better, nonetheless, and this possible contains many of the video games that everyone is taking part in anyway.

The audio was additionally pretty strong for a handheld, so for those who’re planning on taking part in with no headset, you may be completely high quality. I solely had about 20 minutes of complete taking part in time with an MSI Claw, so I’m very comfortable to report that the 53WHr battery didn’t noticeably diminish a lot in that point. How lengthy it’ll truly final might want to wait till I do a proper evaluate in a number of weeks time, however MSI and Intel say that the battery ought to get you a few two hours of play time with full efficiency.

MSI Claw: Early verdict

Whereas a full analysis of the MSI Claw should watch for extra rigorous benchmarking and prolonged play time, all the pieces I noticed was very promising, particularly for a chip that is comparatively new to the scene. Intel Arc has very robust {hardware} fundamentals, particularly the {hardware} AI cores that energy XeSS tremendous sampling to spice up body charges and visible high quality. It needs to be a lot simpler hitting a lot increased body charges on the MSI Claw than on the Asus ROG Ally (for these video games that help it) in consequence.

The worth is a tad too excessive for my liking, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly consistent with the market, and the MSI Claw is unmistakably an MSI gadget by way of aesthetics. The MSI Heart M additionally appears to have realized from the foibles of the ROG Ally and Legion Go’s UI and stored issues a lot less complicated.

With nothing however my eyes and my intestine to go on, I dare say that MSI and Intel have pulled off a hell of a tool that’s actually going to tell apart itself from an more and more crowded subject of gadgets. In the end, February or March will inform the story of whether or not Intel’s new Core Extremely processors are as much as the duty of powering the subsequent era of PC gaming handhelds, or whether or not AMD can preserve its present management place out there.

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