MSI Claw Handheld Game Console Hands On: Smooth Operator

[btarunr]

MSI made a really bold move building a handheld game console around an Intel Core Ultra processor, when traditional logic would've pushed them to the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme. The Claw is powered by a Core Ultra 7 155H processor with some tight power management by MSI. The 155H comes with a maxed out Arc Xe-LPG integrated graphics, with 8 Xe cores, worth 128 EU (1,024 unified shaders). In comparison, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme has a maxed out Radeon 780M with 12 CU worth 768 stream processors. Specs are just half the story, the design win the Arc Graphics gets from MSI as the primary GPU, over the Radeon 780M that comes from company that's been designing GPUs for close to 3 decades, is the main story here.

The MSI Claw is about the same size as an ASUS ROG Ally (powered by the Ryzen Z1), with a 16:9 1080p, 120 Hz touchscreen in the middle, flanked by two halves of the main controller. The MSI Center M is the main user interface, which runs on top of Windows 11. This has a game launcher, a platform aggregator (though not with a storefront), and will probably get some gamer social media features down the line. There are two variants of the Claw, the $749 main variant powered by the Core Ultra 7 155U, and a cheaper $699 variant that rocks a Core Ultra 5 135H (with 4P+8E CPU). Both come with a 53 Wh battery that's larger than the 40 Wh on the ROG Ally. The demo piece is the $749 model powered by the 155H, and was shown running "Assassin's Creed: Mirage" with XeSS enabled. Gameplay was butter smooth, and with reasonably good settings. The Claw is a much needed vote of confidence for the Arc Graphics team, more than anything.



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[Solaris17]

Wow. Thats awesome. Honestly did not see that coming at all. AMD dominates the mobile console space, thats wild.

 

[LabRat 891]

-Arc Xe-LPG integrated graphics, with 8 Xe cores, worth 128 EU (1,024 unified shaders)
-16:9 1080p, 120 Hz touchscreen
"The Claw is a much needed vote of confidence for the Arc Graphics team, more than anything."

Consider my attention, grabbed.
Also, agreed. A Major Partner like MSI, investing in an integrated design for gaming, shows high-confidence in performance and support.

 

[Camm]

Going off Phoronix's testing of the 155, it looks like the 155 has better legs than the Z1E, but just can't match it for power efficiency or lower TDP performance.

Considering the large battery size on the Claw, I honestly think it might be a better option than the Ally (higher peak performance, but similar battery life), although it might not be so clear cut with other Z1E devices with larger batteries.

The bezels with that screen scream to me a 16:10 unit should be used instead, with the extra vertical helping with emulation aspect ratios.

Also, any talk of the Claw supporting VRR? That really is a killer feature with the Ally that helps with low fps gaming.

 

[Kyan]

It's a really good news for the future of ARC even if it's just good enough, it should be on par with the rog ally from what we've heard. We just need to see the pricing and review.

 

[Daven]

Where is Battlemage?

 

[trsttte]

The bezels with that screen scream to me a 16:10 unit should be used instead, with the extra vertical helping with emulation aspect ratios.

Yes, and 1080p is also the wrong screen resolution for handhelds. Either less with 1280 by 800 (steam deck) so it's easy to drive or going up to 2560 by 1600 (lenovo legion go) so you can use integer scalling.

 

[Cheeseball]

This really looks like the ROG Ally shell with subtle, appropriate changes. Probably uses the same 1080p 120Hz panel too, which is natively landscape unlike the Steam Deck and Legion Go's portrait panels.

 

[Gooigi's Ex]

Yes, and 1080p is also the wrong screen resolution for handhelds. Either less with 1280 by 800 (steam deck) so it's easy to drive or going up to 2560 by 1600 (lenovo legion go) so you can use integer scalling.

No 1280x800 is wrong resolution because there are older games that can’t play in 16:10 resolution, plus most media sources are either 16:9 or 21:9. Plus I prefer 24:10 over 16:10

Not a fan of MSI but very thankful of them releasing a handheld that’s NOT an AMD APU. Just like GPUs, APUs needs competition more than ever and AMD is getting complacent over the years.

 

[trsttte]

No 1280x800 is wrong resolution because there are older games that can’t play in 16:10 resolution, plus most media sources are either 16:9 or 21:9. Plus I prefer 24:10 over 16:10

A lot of older games do not support 16:9 either and 16:10 is a fair bit closer to their native 4:3 or whatever resolution was used.

 

[Gooigi's Ex]

A lot of older games do not support 16:9 either and 16:10 is a fair bit closer to their native 4:3 or whatever resolution was used.

Maybe for console games but PC games especially older do not play at 1280x800. This is why I would like a a foldable gaming handheld because you can have a clamshell device that a screen(16:9 or 16:10) can be there and when unfolded, you damn near get a 1:1 ratio resolution

 

[Logoffon]

A lot of older games do not support 16:9 either and 16:10 is a fair bit closer to their native 4:3 or whatever resolution was used.

They should use a 4:3 screen then, problem solved.

 

[HOkay]

No 1280x800 is wrong resolution because there are older games that can’t play in 16:10 resolution, plus most media sources are either 16:9 or 21:9. Plus I prefer 24:10 over 16:10

Surely just play those games that don't support 16:10 at 1280x720 then...? You get small black borders top & bottom but the same useable screen size as if it was a native 16:9 panel.

Yes, and 1080p is also the wrong screen resolution for handhelds. Either less with 1280 by 800 (steam deck) so it's easy to drive or going up to 2560 by 1600 (lenovo legion go) so you can use integer scalling.

I fully agree with this! I had a Deck & switched to a Legion Go & having the option to play 1280x800 upscaled to 2560x1600 is lovely! The usual artifacts from upscaling are much less noticeable on a small screen, it's working really nicely on my Go. Plus older things you can run at 1600p native look sharp af!

 

[Gooigi's Ex]

Surely just play those games that don't support 16:10 at 1280x720 then...? You get small black borders top & bottom but the same useable screen size as if it was a native 16:9 panel.

I mean if I only play games that only accept 16:10 resolution, then sure I’ll will deal with the borders. I hate borders in general and just prefer to play on full screen, which is why I prefer 16:9 because there are some emulators that’s you adjust the resolution to play games at 16:9.

The ones that are 4:3 or 3:2, or 8:9, i want to get a foldable phone sooooo bad. Foldable phones are the closest to playing at that native resolution ratio and just makes more sense.

They should use a 4:3 screen then, problem solved.

Exactly! Foldable phones has a much closer ratio to 4:3 than 16:10(by a long shot and same goes for 16:9)

 

[HOkay]

i want to get a foldable phone sooooo bad. Foldable phones are the closest to playing at that native resolution ratio and just makes more sense.


Exactly! Foldable phones has a much closer ratio to 4:3 than 16:10(by a long shot and same goes for 16:9)

I actually recently got a foldable phone, the OnePlus Open, so far I would recommend it! I've not played any games on it yet though, I just don't game on my phone, I don't get a chance to & I really hate touch controls anyway.