MSI has revealed new variations of its Claw handheld gaming PC, which will probably be accessible in seven- and eight-inch fashions. Pricing begins at $799 for the Claw 7 AI+ and $899 for the Claw 8 AI+.
The new MSI Claws will characteristic a number of upgrades when in comparison with its predecessor, like greater batteries, tweaks to its ergonomic design, and Intel’s new Lunar Lake Core Ultra 7 processors. These can even be Copilot+ PC-capable handhelds, therefore the AI label. RAM has been doubled for the brand new fashions, as these have 32GB every, and the CPU pace has elevated to 2.2GHz. The authentic MSI Claw had a 1.2GHz CPU on its Ultra 5 base mannequin, whereas the Ultra 7 model had a 1.4GHz CPU.
Another large change is the look of the MSI Claw, as you’ll decide one up that sports activities khaki-colored panels. MSI says this design was impressed by wind-sculpted desert rocks, however for those who’d choose one thing plainer, these will probably be accessible in black as effectively.
The sticks, bumpers, D-pad, and the Hall Effect triggers have obtained a redesign to permit for extra correct button presses, and MSI says that each of the Claws are outfitted with a 120Hz VRR LCD show with an improved decision of 1920 x 1200.
The Claw 8 has an 80-watt-hour battery–a sizable enhance in comparison with the 53-watt-hour battery from the primary model–while the Claw 7 is provided with a 54.5-watt-hour battery. Here’s a better have a look at the specs on every one.
MSI Claw 8 AI+
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- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 258V
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Storage: 1TB
- Chipset: Integrated SoC
- Memory: 32GB
- Display: 8-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200), 16:10, Touchscreen, 120Hz Refresh Rate
- Graphics: Intel Arc 140V GPU
- Storage Slot: Up to 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD Easy-Access
- Sensor: 6-axis IMU, vibration motor
- Audio: 2 x 2W Speakers
- Dimensions: 299 (W) x 126 (D) x 24 (H) mm
- Weight: 795 grams
MSI Claw 7 AI+
Gallery
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 258VV
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Storage: 512GB
- Chipset: Integrated SoC
- Memory: 32GB
- Display: 7″ FHD (1920 x 1080), Touchscreen, 120Hz Refresh Rate
- Graphics: Intel Arc 140V GPU
- Storage Slot: 1 x NVMe M.2 2230 SSD by PCIe Gen 4 x4
- Sensor: 6-axis IMU, vibration motor
- Audio: 2x 2W Speakers, DTS sound results, assist Hi-Res Audio
- Dimensions: 290 (W) x 117 (D) x 21.2 (H) mm
- Weight: 675 grams
The first iteration of the MSI Claw launched to lukewarm opinions earlier this 12 months. While it was praised for its wonderful audio system and cozy design, critics famous that it had a weak battery life and poor efficiency, particularly when in comparison with rivals within the Windows handheld gaming PC area.
If these are drawbacks you’ll be able to dwell with, you’ll be able to decide up an MSI Claw at an honest worth proper now. Amazon is providing the MSI Claw with 16GB of RAM and an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor for $500 (was $749), or you will get one with an Intel Ultra Core 5 processor for $430 (was $699).
Windows handheld gaming PCs on sale
While they’re just a little pricier, the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go supply a greater expertise general. The 2023 Asus ROG Ally Z1 is on sale for $400 at Walmart, and it is a fairly good gadget for having fun with indie and AA video games. It’ll nonetheless play AAA video games for those who’re prepared to make fairly a number of graphical concessions, however you may wish to contemplate getting the Z1 Extreme mannequin or the newer ROG Ally X mannequin as an alternative if you need high-end gaming on the go. Both fashions have the identical Z1 Extreme chipset, however you will get a model of the ROG Ally X that has 2TB of storage capability.
The Legion Go can also be really helpful, and you may decide one up on the excellent worth of $540 presently. Normally $700, it is outfitted with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, Radeon 700M Series GPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and a large 8.8-inch show that helps a 144Hz refresh fee and a 2560 x 1600 decision.
