With the recent release of theMSI Claw, handheld gaming enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting to see if Intel Arc hardware can revolutionize the handheld gaming scene by delivering a meaningful boost in performance or efficiency. Positioned to challenge established devices like the Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally, the MSI Claw’s biggest selling feature lies in its utilization of an Intel chip, rather than the customary AMD variants that have dominated the market for years.
Boasting beefier and newer specs compared to its competitors, on paper at least, this should be a slam-dunk victory for MSI and Intel. However, early testing has shown inconsistency in this device’s performance and suggests that this may need more time to bake. Will the MSI Claw be the game-changer we’ve been waiting for, or will it serve as a cautionary tale of Intel’s unpreparedness to enter the handheld gaming arena?
Does the MSI Claw have what it takes to be a worthy competitor to the ASUS ROG Ally? Intel Arc graphics make their way to gaming handhelds for the first time, but early testing reveals that it isn’t all smooth sailing. This device needs more fine-tuning before it can hit the big league.
An Uphill Battle
The short answer:it’s complicated. Going toe to toe with its closest competitor, the ASUS ROG Ally, in many ways, these feel like identical devices. Both use the same 7-inch IPS display and their button layout is extremely similar. While the Claw is slightly larger and heavier, in hand it’s hardly noticeable. After about 15 minutes of playtime, however, I quickly realized that the Claw managed to stay cooler to the touch and had quieter fans under full load. My first impressions were very positive.
The MSI Claw shows most promise in games like Gotham Knights, where it outperforms the ASUS ROG Ally by a significant amount, as well as a desktop replacement where I could easily multi-task and forget I was using a handheld. However, as of right now, as a gaming-first device, in many popular titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, it trails behind by about 5-12 FPS (frames per second) in most presets, while in games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Claw at best matches the performance of the ROG Ally.
Adding to the uncertainty is the lack of support for Intel XESS in many games. Similar to its AMD counterpart, this feature optimizes gaming performance by dynamically adjusting resolution and settings in real-time to increase your FPS. However,not all gameshave implemented support for Intel XESS, further leading to an AMD performance advantage in many titles.
On top of this, there are a few titles, like Batman Arkham Knight, which fail to properly identify Arc graphics and will not load without a level of troubleshooting which your average gamer probably doesn’t want to go through. In many ways, the Claw feels like a beta with the potential for greatness, but in its current state, it’s asking gamers to bank on future performance improvements with better driver and game developer support. Considering Intel Arc Graphics is barely two years old now, this hardly comes as a surprise.
Fixes could come, but how soon and how significant will they be? If you want to enjoy all of your favorite titles - right now - the Claw’s is either really good or underwhelming. While recent driver updates have provided more consistent frame rates with fewer random dips, Intel Arc still has a long way to go.
Configurations
The MSI Claw is available in three configurations, each equipped with a 7-inch 120Hz Full HD display and 16GB LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The entry-level model, priced at $699, features the Intel Ultra 5 135h chip and 512GB of SSD storage. For $749, you jump up to the Intel Ultra 7 155h chip, promising enhanced performance. For $799, storage increases to 1TB. At this time, you must select the Ultra 7 chip if you want more storage out of the box without doing the upgrade on your own.
Speaking of upgrading, while usually a simple task, with Claw you first need to remove the fans and heatsink in order to access the SSD which is located behind. MSI is usually known for its more user-friendly upgradability, so this comes as a surprise, and for most users, you’re better off getting the 1TB configuration from MSI than doing this yourself.
Comparatively, the top-tier AMD Z1 Extreme 1TB Lenovo Legion GO retails for $749, while the ROG Ally offers maxes out at 512GB for $699. Given the MSI Claw’s newer hardware, its pricing is justified. However, given the frequent sales on these older models, the Claw finds itself in a tricky spot. Currently, the maxed-out ROG Ally is available for just $599. Even if you only occasionally game on the go, the Ally is hard to pass up at this price.
In the box, alongside the MSI Claw itself, you’ll find a 60W charger which is the same found with many of MSI’s smaller laptops. Overall, it is less compact than the one found with the ROG Ally, but I prefer having a cord go from the brick to the wall instead of plugging it in directly so that you don’t have to worry about it falling off, especially with less secure outlets.
Just as with the Ally, the Claw offers a single USB-C port, forcing you to choose between charging or using an accessory unless you have a separate hub. MSI will be releasing the Nest Docking Station for $79 sometime in the summer. This will give you full-size HDMI 2.0, USB-Type A, and extra USB-C ports, effectively transforming the handheld into a desktop setup.
While alternative USB-C docks and hubs offer similar functionalities at a lower price point, enthusiasts seeking the official branded MSI experience, complete with cradling the Claw upright, may find the Nest Docking Station to be a solid choice.
Do You Want Windows 11?
Beyond hardware concerns, there’s another major hurdle to overcome: Windows 11. Like other Windows handhelds, the MSI Claw is held back by the limitations of its operating system. Windows 11’s lack of touch optimization makes navigating menus and executing tasks a cumbersome experience. The virtual keyboard often fails to appear when needed, and performing basic functions feels clunky and unintuitive.
These usability issues takeaway from the overall gaming experience, leaving users longing for the simplicity of a traditional mouse and keyboard setup. The software experience plays a big role, and while this is no fault of the Claw, instead it falls on Microsoft to significantly overhaul its UI if it wants mobile gaming to be taken more seriously, this is why so many people love the Steam Deck so much, despite its far weaker hardware.
Design: Somewhat Familiar
Right away, the MSI Claw looks like a blacked-out version of the ROG Ally. The Claw weighs 676 grams, which is almost 70 grams heavier than the Ally’s 609, but a good amount lighter than the much larger 8" Lenovo Legion Go which weights 854 grams with its controllers or 650 grams without. Switching back and forth between the Claw and the Ally, I wasn’t able to feel the weight difference much. The deeper controller grips might give you more of that locked-in experience you get with a traditional X-Box or PlayStation controller, whereas the Ally feels slightly smaller, but I find both equally enjoyable to use.
Where it mostly differs is with its grated cooling vent system on the back, which not only makes the Claw look more “gamer”, it actually translates to a much cooler playing experience even with longer sessions with its hardware maxed out. you may also find subtle red stripes on the back along with the dragon logo and its two customizable buttons. It’s not until you look closer that you realize the actual cutouts for the fans' cooling take up much less space and that the rest is purely for aesthetics. Where these grates seem to make the most difference, however, is on its top where you can see the internals of the device when looking through them. At the top as well, MSI includes the power/fingerprint reader, a MicroSD card reader, USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, and a volume rocker.
The similarities to the Ally carry over to the front as well, where we also find nearly the same exact button and control layout. A few minor differences include the Ally using colored XYBA buttons which pop nicely against its white body whereas the Claw opts for a more subdued black and grey scheme. The Claw’s joysticks feel like a harder plastic whereas the Ally uses a softer rubber which I prefer.
The Claw uses a 7-inch 120Hz Full HD IPS display that looks decent indoors with very solid blacks. It’s best for playing indoors and really doesn’t hold a candle compared to the Stead Deck OLED, which is on a completely different level, offering significantly better brightness and contrast.
Staying Cool
One area where the Claw shines most is in its ability to keep its cool during longer gaming sessions. While both devices get hot, compared to the Ally, the Claw seems to be doing a better job at dissipating heat away from its side controllers and towards its central exhausts, resulting in a noticeably cooler experience.
In terms of battery life, the Claw boasts a larger 53Whr battery, offering extended usage for general tasks like web browsing and video streaming. With the Claw, you may expect around 30 minutes or more of usage on a single charge compared to the Ally’s smaller 40Whr battery.
However, when it comes to gaming, which I expect is what most of you care about most, the Claw’s larger battery is offset by its more power-hungry Intel chip, resulting in a maximum runtime of about 1.5 hours in most games at high performance. In contrast, the Ally manages to squeeze in an additional 20 to 30 minutes of gameplay before needing to recharge. On a positive note, the Claw impresses with its faster charging capabilities, making it one of the fastest handhelds to reach a full charge from 0% in a little under 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Gaming Performance
Despite its higher price tag compared to the Ally, its actual gaming performance often falls behind or at best matches its counterpart. In titles like Batman: Arkham Knight, the Claw is nearly identical to the Ally once that patch was installed. However, in games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Claw trailed behind by about 5 to 12 frames per second and 2 to 5 frames per second, respectively.
While this isn’t too significant, I found Red Dead 2 to be the perfect example of a title that felt much smoother and more enjoyable to play when I could consistently hit 40-45fps on the Ally compared to the Claw which more often dipped below 30 fps and experienced ongoing frame timing issues.
Similarly, it’s here that I noticed another more significant issue. In titles like Red Dead 2, the Claw’s full 8-GB of V-RAM isn’t recognized in the game’s settings, instead thinking it has 256 MB only. There were a few times when I went to increase the game’s visual presets to Normal or High where it would automatically crash when I tried to apply them. This was an inconsistent experience, as I at times could successfully benchmark the game at these more demanding presets, while other times I would have to restart and try again.
Interestingly, Gotham Knights emerged as a standout title where the Claw showcased better performance, reliably hitting 70 to 75 frames per second compared to the Ally’s lower 40s. While this may seem like a promising advantage, it’s essential to consider personal preferences in game selection. For the reviewer, Gotham Knights might not be a preferred title, thus diminishing the significance of this performance boost.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Batman Arkham Knight
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
ASUS ROG Ally
Should You Buy the MSI Claw?
While theMSI Clawholds promise with its Intel Arc, it faces challenges in delivering a seamless gaming experience. As Intel continues to refine its drivers and developers optimize their games for Intel XESS and the new hardware, the MSI Claw may yet realize its full potential. In general, MSI tends to be one of the best choices for performance per dollar.
Even with some promising results, overall, the Claw isn’t there yet. With so much desire to prove themselves in the gaming space, I imagine Intel is going to be putting a lot of effort into improving this generation of Arc. For now, expect the usual shortcomings as an early adopter playing a balancing act between your games, either running really well or facing a bunch of hiccups and underwhelming performance.
We probably won’t see a dramatic improvement in the next few weeks, but I have my fingers crossed that in 3 to 6 months we can revisit the MSI Claw and have a much happier ending to this story.
