Taiwan-based MSI (Micro-Star International) has now joined the dynamic PC handheld gaming arena with its latest launch of the MSI Claw A1M gaming handheld. The company revealed it during the CES 2024 in January, and now, released the handheld. Notably, the MSI Claw A1M distinguishes itself as the first among portable PC handhelds to boast the utilization of the Intel Core Ultra series. This new entrant into the handheld gaming offers a tough competition to Steam’s Deck console along with the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo’s Legion Go.
MSI Claw A1M specifications
When it comes to visuals, the MSI Claw A1M handheld boasts a vibrant 7-inch full-HD (1080P) IPS touchscreen, capable of delivering a peak brightness of unto 500nits coupled with a 120Hz refresh rate. At its core lies the formidable Intel Core Ultra 7-155H processor, seamlessly orchestrating operations on Windows 11 Home straight out of the box. In terms of performance, the Claw impresses with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM paired with up to 1TB SSD storage, which can be further expanded with the help of its MicroSD card slot. The visuals are powered by Intel’s Arc graphics.
On the connectivity front, the MSI Claw offers a Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 wireless capabilities, along with the a Thunderbolt 4 enabled USB Type-C port and a convenient 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack. The device also features dual speakers, backlit ABXY buttons (with a shade of RGB) and thumb sticks, a responsive D-pad, precise triggers and bumpers, immersive HD haptics, and a fingerprint scanner. Moreover, the Claw incorporates MSI’s Cooler Boost HyperFlow technology for efficient heat dissipation during intense gaming sessions.
In terms of battery life, the MSI Claw A1M handheld features a 6-cell, 53WHr battery that supports for upto 65W of wired charging. Despite its impressive and powerful specs, the MSI Claw maintains a sleek profile, measuring just 294 x 117 x 21.2mm and weighing in at a mere 675g.
MSI Claw A1M Price
The entry-level vanilla MSI Claw A1M-052US, featuring the powerful Core Ultra 5 chip and generous 512GB SSD storage, boasts a competitive price tag of $699 in the US (approximately Rs. 57,793). Apart from this, the higher end A1M-051US and A1M-050US variants come equipped with the upgraded Core Ultra 7 chipset, along with 512GB+1TB SSD storage options, priced at $749 (roughly Rs. 61,933) and $799 (roughly Rs. 66,067). The handheld is available in the sleek Black colour variant. The base model is currently on offer through the MSI store in the US and select retailers worldwide.
