New PC Handheld MSI Claw Shows the Future of Portable Gaming – CNET [CNET]
The Claw looks very much like the Steam Deck or the Asus ROG Ally handheld, but has specs that appear to be a cut above: an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with Intel Arc graphics (the latest Meteor Lake chip technology); 16GB of RAM; a 7-inch, 1,920×1,080-pixel, 120Hz IPS display; Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. There’s also a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, a microSD card slot and a power button with a fingerprint reader.
Like the Lenovo and Asus devices, this handheld runs Windows 11. There’s a 53-Wh battery onboard, with battery life at full performance mode estimated to be around two hours. All that adds up: This beefy handheld weighs 675 grams (nearly 1.5 pounds).
I haven’t played anything on the MSI Claw yet, but what it symbolizes may be even more important than what it does. Intel is joining the party on new handheld-ready gaming chips, which suggests that hardware manufacturers should be even more able to create Steam Deck-like handhelds running Windows.
I still love the Steam Deck, especially the new OLED model. Microsoft likely needs to help optimize game handhelds to work even better as manufacturers make more Windows-running Steam Deck-alikes. But at this point, I’d expect this to just be the beginning of where PC handheld gaming is going. The MSI Claw looks familiar, but in a very good way.
For more coverage of CES 2024, take a look at our favorite products from CES so far, and check out the coolest AI tech we’ve seen at the electronics show.