Introducing the MSI Claw, a portable Windows gaming PC that takes on the Steam Deck, offering new technologies and competitive performance.
MSI recently announced the Claw, a portable Windows gaming PC that follows in the footsteps of the Steam Deck. It aims to compete with the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, with the same starting price of $699. This device features an Intel Core Ultra processor, which MSI claims is superior in performance and battery life compared to AMD.
It was recently showcased at CES 2024, where it was noted that it's impossible to judge whether it's any good, as performance and battery life aren't final. MSI showed off engineering samples here, which appear to need further refinement before their planned launch in the first half of 2024.
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There are some positives, though: if you like the Asus ROG Ally and would like a more comfortable, longer-lasting battery, the Claw could be the solution. The grips are larger and more comfortable than the Asus, without the excessive bulk of the Lenovo Legion Go. In many ways, the Claw looks like it took inspiration from the ROG Ally, with a similar port layout, similar button placement, and a 7-inch 120Hz 1080p display.
The interface looks similar and needs similar improvements that haven't come to the Ally in a while. It's also worth noting that itincludes a 53Wh battery, larger than the ROG Ally, and supports variable refresh rate, offering a smoother experience.
However, as for the Intel Core Ultra processor, it seems to have some issues with gameplay smoothness at the moment, with frame spikes. The engineering samples have a default TDP of 24W-27W, more than we would expect from a more efficient processor. (Again, these are engineering samples! Probably months before launch!) The fans seem relatively quiet under load, but it's hard to judge this at close range.
It certainly doesn't compete with the Steam Deck in terms of low power consumption yet. When I set it to the 15W "Ultra Battery Saver" mode, similar to the Deck, it struggled on an Assassin's Creed Mirage even at 720p on the lowest settings. I saw an average of just 24fps with large frame drops.
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But there are turbo modes, just like other Windows laptops: up to 35W on battery or 40W when plugged into the wall. Even the 27W performance mode gave me an average of 40fps at 720p and over 30fps at 1080p on the Mirage. You can customize fan curves, map your keys, and program up to 12-key macros with per-key delay. The Claw also has Wi-Fi 7, though an MSI spokesperson says that Windows 11 may not officially support Wi-Fi 7 until the second half of the year.
Additionally, the laptop features artificial intelligence, such as noise cancellation and a performance mode that uses the Intel processor's NPU to dynamically adjust display brightness and processor power. Power consumption was observed to range between 24W and 27W on the Mirage when this mode is enabled.
Despite its current high power consumption, MSI says it expects to deliver two hours of battery life for demanding games, four hours for lighter games, and five or more hours of video playback. That's certainly not far off what's expected from the Deck OLED, but it's not always guaranteed for Windows laptops. A spokesperson says they're already getting two hours with Forza 5, where they would have gotten an hour with the Asus ROG Ally.
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While I can't confirm this yet, I did notice the battery drain by 25% within 30 minutes of testing. Calculations suggest I might have managed two hours if I had continued.
Source of information: https://www.theverge.com
