MSI’s Intel-powered gaming handheld puts Meteor Lake into the hottest new gaming hardware trend. We go hands-on with it at CES 2024.
One of the coolest things we’ve seen at CES 2024 is the MSI Claw, the latest PC-based handheld gaming device announced at the show. With PC power inside, running on an Intel Core Ultra processor with the latest Intel Arc integrated graphics, it’s the first Meteor Lake-powered model in the growing family of compact PC gaming devices. I enjoyed some hands-on time with the MSI Claw here, and while I didn’t get a chance to have a full gaming session, or run any benchmark tests, I can tell you a bit about the hardware itself.MSI Claws at the Competition
Like the Valve Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally, this is a compact handheld gaming system, with built-in grips and game controls that fit around a 7-inch screen made for gaming on the go. The Claw follows this basic design template in most respects, but MSI has learned from its competitors to bring some interesting and innovative touches to the fairly new category.
The biggest, as mentioned above, is the inclusion of Intel Core Ultra processors, ranging from an Intel Core Ultra 5 135H CPU up to a Core Ultra 7 155H chip in the top configuration.
The device is fairly lightweight compared with its competitors, and features plenty of built-in cooling to avoid some of the overheating problems that have plagued the first wave of such devices.
