Gaming handhelds are all the rage and MSI Claw overview is its attempt to enter the fray with an Intel-powered device. It's a bit late to the party as most existing gaming handhelds use an AMD processor but it does offer a lot of features and has a nice 7-inch display along with Hall Effect joysticks and triggers.
It also has a USB-C port that can do Thunderbolt so you could hook it up to a monitor, keyboard and mouse to game on a bigger screen. It also has a headphone jack, volume buttons and microSD slot on the top edge along with a power button and charging port.
The main attraction is its Intel chip that has a higher maximum TDP of 45W (compared to 30W for the ROG Ally and 15W for the Stead Deck OLED). Intel and MSI make bold claims that it offers better performance than the competition while consuming less power and getting better battery life. We'll see about that.
I can say that the CPU is very fast for such a small device and the graphics are pretty decent as well. However, it still struggles to keep up with competitors when we run our performance tests. Even with a flurry of BIOS and driver updates it's not pulling ahead of the Ally or Legion Go. Plus, it's a bit more expensive than the competition and it has a lower battery life.
One of the major things that set it apart from the other handhelds is its ability to play both Windows and Android mobile games through the exclusive App Player app. I tried running some popular titles and found that they ran great. I also tested its AV output to see how it performed with an external 7.1 speaker and it did quite well. It's not a bad way to spend a little extra cash.
MSI's decision to use a hall effect sensor for the rear triggers is a nice touch as it makes them feel more precise and should wear better over time. The rest of the control layout feels familiar as it mirrors the ROG Ally's. The face buttons and D-Pad are nicely sized and the grips are well placed. The only thing missing is a stand as you'll need to buy a carrying case separately for this one.
Like other gaming handhelds, the Claw has software that manages your games and settings. Unfortunately, the app is clunky and hard to use on a handheld. This is partly due to Microsoft's refusal to release a version of Windows made for these tiny devices. But it's also due to the fact that the app itself isn't very good. Asus' Armoury Crate SE and Lenovo's Legion Space have far better apps than this one. Hopefully MSI can do something about this with future updates.