The gaming handheld market is fierce, but MSI attempts to claw to the top with its new Windows contender. Boasting ergonomic design, stunning visuals, and monstrous specs, can the MSI claw compete with the reigning champion ROG ally? Our early impressions investigate.
Did you know that 72% of visitors are more likely to make their purchases soon after watching a product video? This makes it necessary to have a product demonstration or promo video for showcasing your product’s potential values and benefits. At Product Video Studio, we are equipped with camera gear, tools, and most importantly expertise to make your video captivating and engaging. Just send your products and we’ll handle the rest. Contact us today to create something amazing together!
One look at the MSI Claw and our inner gaming beasts are roaring with excitement. Its name says it all. This handheld is built to grip tight with its uniquely contoured handles along the back. We can confidently say the claw sets a new standard for gaming handheld comfort. The textured plastic side panels feel tailor-made to cradle our palms, while the triggers, buttons and joysticks fall readily under our fingers. Its black finish paired with RGB lighting oozes the gamer aesthetic in the best way. Although we notice the macro buttons tucked against the handles can be accidentally pressed, this is a prototype after all. We expect the final design will have this sorted out.
At 1.48 pounds and 0.85 inches thick, the claw hits that sweet spot between the lighter ROG Ally and the beefier Legion GO. When it comes to gaming for hours on the go, the claw seems primed for an optimal balance between power and portability. Consider these claws sharpened and ready to slash through mobile gameplay.
Peering through the Claw’s 7-inch 1080p touchscreen is like gazing through a portal to vivid gaming worlds. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures our games will flow as smooth as butter, while the 500 nits of brightness let those rich colours pop even under harsh lighting. Running Assassin’s Creed Mirage on the Claw was a revelation. Ninth century Baghdad shone in radiant detail. Although its 1080p resolution falls slightly short of the Legion Go’s drool-worthy 1600p display, the Claw still appears sharper than the Aradji Allie. Factoring in its 100% sRGB color reproduction, this screen looks ready to showcase our games in all their graphic glory.
The Claw’s specs have our trigger fingers itching. Packed inside its sleek chassis lies a beastly mix of next-gen Intel processing power and speedy connectivity. Configurations go up to an Intel Core i7 Media Lake processor, which, paired with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage, promises exceptional multitasking and lightning quick load times. The Claw also uniquely boasts Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 4 support for blazing fast connections. This could make it the most future-proof Windows handheld yet in terms of connectivity. While its gaming performance remains to be fully tested, the specs suggest it can stand snout to snout with the competition when it comes to processing power and speed.
MSI Center M looks to be the Claw’s not-so-secret weapon when it comes to software. This centralized app automatically organizes your game library while integrating one-click access to major launchers like Steam and Epic. Customizable quick settings and macro recording let us tailor the experience to our gaming needs. Seeing our Android apps seamlessly integrated through MSI App Player is a major plus. But what’s bound to be a total game changer is the intelligent battery optimization backed by AI to learn our usage patterns. If this allows over two hours of continuous gaming as MSI claims, it could outlast both rival devices on a single charge.
Our early tinkering did uncover some slight lag in the software side of things. However, smoother performance by launch seems an attainable goal considering the beefy hardware it’s running on. Once the kinks are worked out, MSI Center M could give the Claw some serious teeth.
From its unconventionally comfortable design, to its drool-worthy spec sheet, the MSI Claw has already sunk its hooks deep into our gamer hearts. This early prototype convinced us MSI may have a real contender on their paws, one ready to claw for the top spot among Windows handhelds. Of course, the proof is in the final product. But if MSI can smooth out those minor software hiccups, while fully delivering on the promised performance and battery life, the claw could end up the apex gaming predator on the go.
