MSI, a leading brand in gaming laptops and peripherals, has recently announced its entry into the handheld gaming market with the MSI Claw A1M. The device, which is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2024, is a direct competitor to the popular ROG Ally and Legion Go, both of which are priced at $699. The MSI Claw aims to offer a superior gaming experience with its powerful hardware, sleek design, and innovative features.
The MSI Claw: A Challenger to the ROG Ally and Legion Go
The MSI Claw is a 7-inch handheld gaming device that runs on Windows 10 and supports Steam, Epic Games Store, and other PC gaming platforms. It is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 5800U processor, which has 8 cores and 16 threads, and an AMD Radeon RX 6600M graphics card, which has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. The device also has 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and 1 TB of NVMe SSD storage. The MSI Claw boasts a 1920×1200 IPS display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a 16:10 aspect ratio, which offers a wider field of view and smoother gameplay than the 16:9 displays of the ROG Ally and Legion Go. The device also has a 60 Wh battery, which can last up to 6 hours of gaming on medium settings, and supports fast charging with a 65 W USB-C charger.
The MSI Claw has a unique design that features a detachable keyboard and a magnetic cover. The keyboard, which has RGB backlighting and mechanical switches, can be attached to the bottom of the device to create a laptop-like form factor, or detached and used wirelessly via Bluetooth. The magnetic cover, which has a built-in kickstand and a cooling fan, can be attached to the back of the device to provide extra ventilation and stability, or detached and used as a stand-alone accessory. The MSI Claw also has dual stereo speakers, a 3.5 mm audio jack, a microSD card slot, a USB-A port, and two USB-C ports, one of which supports DisplayPort and Power Delivery.
The MSI Claw is priced at $699, the same as the ROG Ally and Legion Go, but offers more value for money in terms of performance, display, and features. The ROG Ally, which is made by Asus, has an Intel Core i7-11370H processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of SSD storage. The Legion Go, which is made by Lenovo, has an AMD Ryzen 7 4800U processor, an AMD Radeon RX 5500M graphics card, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of SSD storage. Both devices have 8-inch 1280×800 displays with 60 Hz refresh rates and 16:10 aspect ratios, and 40 Wh batteries, which can last up to 4 hours of gaming on medium settings. Both devices also have detachable controllers, but no keyboards or covers.
The Headache for Competitors
The MSI Claw poses a serious threat to the ROG Ally and Legion Go, which have dominated the handheld gaming market since their launch in 2023. The MSI Claw offers a better gaming performance, a higher resolution and refresh rate display, a larger and faster storage, a longer battery life, and a more versatile design than its rivals. The MSI Claw also supports ray tracing, a feature that enhances the realism and immersion of games by simulating realistic lighting effects, which is not available on the ROG Ally and Legion Go. The MSI Claw also has a wider compatibility with PC games, as it runs on Windows 10 and supports various gaming platforms, while the ROG Ally and Legion Go run on custom operating systems and have limited game libraries.
The MSI Claw could potentially disrupt the handheld gaming market and force the ROG Ally and Legion Go to lower their prices or improve their specifications to stay competitive. The MSI Claw could also attract more gamers who are looking for a portable and powerful device that can run the latest and most demanding PC games. The MSI Claw could also appeal to non-gamers who are looking for a versatile and productive device that can handle various tasks, such as browsing, streaming, editing, and coding.
The MSI Claw is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2024, and will be available in black, red, and blue colors. The device will also come with a one-year warranty and a free subscription to MSI’s gaming software and services, such as MSI Dragon Center, MSI App Player, and MSI Game Boost. The device will also be compatible with MSI’s gaming accessories, such as MSI’s gaming mouse, headset, and backpack. The MSI Claw is set to be one of the most anticipated and innovative devices of 2024, and could change the landscape of the handheld gaming market.
