The gaming industry witnesses a new entrant as MSI’s first gaming handheld device equipped with an Intel Meteor Lake CPU becomes available for pre-orders. This new gaming handheld, the MSI Claw, integrates Intel’s Arc iGPU, bolstering its position as a strong competitor against devices running on AMD APUs with Radeon 780M integrated graphics. Gamers in the US can now secure the base model of this handheld equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 5 135H processor.
Revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024, the MSI Claw presents two processing options for potential buyers, including Intel Core Ultra 5 135H and Core Ultra 7 155H CPUs. Priced at $699, the base variant has opened up for pre-orders exclusively on MSI’s official website, with an expected shipping date set for March 12, 2024. Although there are no official announcements yet for the other model variants, it’s likely they will hit the pre-order stage soon given the fast-approaching shipping date.
Comparison with contenders such as Lenovo’s Legion Go, featuring a potent AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and retailing at a similar starting price point, raises questions about value. Notably, the Lenovo Legion Go has seen its price drop to $649.99 on Amazon with occasional sales. Similarly, the Asus ROG Ally, bearing the same processor, frequently dips below the $700 price on Amazon, currently listed at $689.99.
However, final judgments about MSI Claw’s value proposition must await comprehensive launch reviews and performance benchmarks. Notably, all MSI Claw variants are equipped with a 7-inch IPS screen boasting FHD resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate. Alongside these features, each model includes 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM operating at a 4800 MHz clock speed. Prospective buyers can find detailed specifications and a hands-on video provided for a closer look at what MSI Claw has to offer.
With pre-orders now live, it’s an opportunity for gaming enthusiasts to be among the first to embrace MSI’s latest foray into the portable gaming landscape.
