By Sagar V. Mankar 
The MSI CLAW, unveiled at CES 2024, joins the growing market of handheld gaming PCs as a potential rival to Valve’s popular Steam Deck.
With advanced AI capabilities, long battery life, and superior ergonomics, can the MSI CLAW dethrone the current king of handheld gaming?
Let’s look at the key features that may give it a fighting chance.
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The CLAW’s standout feature is its Intel Core Ultra processor which enables advanced XeSS AI upscaling.
It is the same processor used in the latest AI laptops like Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon.
This tech boosts frame rates for smooth, immersive gameplay – something the Steam Deck’s AMD Zen 2 chip may struggle to match.
AMD Zen 2 processor is said to be about as powerful as a PS4.
MSI claims XeSS can significantly enhance performance in AAA games, providing a seamless gaming experience on a handheld device.
If it delivers as promised, the CLAW could run demanding titles more efficiently than the Deck.
Battery Life on Par with Steam Deck
With a 53Whr battery, the CLAW outpaces the Steam Deck’s 40Whr capacity on paper.
However, real-world battery life depends on multiple factors.
MSI states the CLAW lasts 2 hours under full workload – similar to Steam Deck owners’ experience.
While not superior, matching the Deck’s battery life would make the CLAW a worthy alternative.
Equal portability and playtime keep the choice between devices close.
Display – Smoother and Sharper
The CLAW’s 7-inch 1920 x 1080 screen with a 120Hz refresh rate provides some display advantages over the Steam Deck’s 1280 x 800 60Hz OLED panel.
The higher resolution and double refresh rate promise greater sharpness and responsiveness for a more immersive experience.
Smoother visuals improve gameplay across titles, especially fast-paced competitive games.
Cooling – Effective Heat Dissipation
Steam Deck’s unique cooling system channels heat away from hands.
MSI claims the CLAW also provides optimal cooling for extended comfortable use.
If it maintains performance and prevents overheating as efficiently as the Deck, the CLAW removes a potential pain point for handheld gaming.
Cool and consistent operation is key.
Ergonomics – Improved Balance
At 1.49 pounds, the CLAW is slightly heavier than the 1.48-pound Steam Deck.
However, MSI designed the CLAW for optimal weight distribution and grip.
This emphasis on ergonomics and balance could make the CLAW more comfortable to hold over long gaming sessions versus the Deck.
CLAW 2 is already in development
In an interview with IGN, MSI’s Managing Director Clifford Chun, revealed ambitious plans for the CLAW series and gave hints about the upcoming CLAW 2.
Chun confirmed that CLAW 2, 3, and 4 are already in development.
MSI plans to maintain a consistent release cycle, launching upgraded models every 2-3 years.
The focus will be on improving the CPU and GPU capabilities to keep up with gaming demands.
While MSI hasn’t disclosed specifics, we can make educated guesses based on Intel’s processor roadmap.
The CLAW 1 uses Intel’s Meteor Lake.
Upcoming options include:
- Arrow Lake (2024) – Iterative improvement over Meteor Lake. Unlikely to warrant a new CLAW model.
- Lunar Lake (2025) – Focus on low-power chips, not ideal for the 15-30W handheld form factor.
- Panther Lake (2025/2026) – Major architecture changes, new Xe3 graphics – perfect timing for CLAW 2!
The CLAW 2 will probably skip Arrow Lake and launch with Panther Lake to make a big splash.
Gamers can expect significantly boosted CPU and graphics performance perfect for AAA gaming on the go!
When Will the CLAW Launch?
MSI has not provided an official release date, but rumors suggest sometime in 2024 or 2025.
Some say late 2024, others early 2025.
One thing is certain – MSI will want the CLAW out before AMD launches handhelds with Zen 5 and RDNA 3.5 graphics which is launching in March 2024.
While CLAW 2 seems to be launched in 2025 aligned with the Panther Lake launch.
This gives time for Intel to optimize its new architecture for handhelds and for MSI to integrate it into the best possible gaming experience.
The Outlook for Mobile Gamers
The CLAW series marks a new level of power in handheld gaming.
While the Steam Deck and AYA Neo have pushed boundaries, CLAW will raise the bar with cutting-edge Intel hardware.
The models are said to be priced between $699 to $799.