MSI steps into the ring for Steam Deck, Rog Ally and Legion Go: The device was shown with a teaser and leaked just a few hours later
Update 05.01.2024 14:00: No sooner have we typed and published the news about the teaser than a leak reveals what the handheld will look like, what it will be called and what specs it will have.
The handheld will be called MSI Claw and will indeed use an Intel chip. Via Geekbench we learn that the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H will be used, which has 16 cores and 22 threads.
The integrated graphics will use the Arc Alchemist architecture and have 8 Xe cores with a boost clock of 2.25 GHz. The MSI Claw will also have 32 GB of RAM at its disposal. However, it is possible that there could also be variants with less RAM;
The buttons and joysticks are very reminiscent of the Xbox controller.
– Алексей (@wxnod) January 5, 2024
Original message: PC gaming away from the desk: What used to require a bulky gaming laptop has become much more convenient today thanks to Steam Deck and co. And since the two well-known hardware manufacturers Asus and Lenovo entered the market last year, there is also a choice
Now MSI wants a piece of the pie and publishes a video of its first own PC handheld.
The year of the dragon is coming – also at MSI
On (Instagram) MSI released a short teaser video with the description: A new kind of MSI dragon is coming. Hold on tight and be ready.
The video apparently shows a PC handheld – the company’s first.
The look: The video doesn’t reveal much, but we can extract the first details. The handheld will use an asymmetrical joystick layout, as we know it from the Asus Rog Ally or Lenovo Legion Go.
Because it is a PC gaming product, RGB lighting is of course a must: The sticks have glowing rings.
The MSI dragon emblem is prominently displayed on the back. Otherwise, MSI only shows a few close-ups of the cooler openings.
Intel could be involved: The reaction of Intel’s X account to the teaser is attracting particular attention.
A whole new breed of MSI dragon is coming.
Get a grip and stay tuned.MSIxCES2024 RGB Gaming pic.twitter.com/W9mp2cDo9w– MSI Gaming (@msigaming) January 4, 2024
The three thoughtful emojis indicate that the MSI handheld was created in collaboration with Intel and could therefore be the first with a Core Ultra CPU.
The supposed biggest competitors of the new MSI handheld are the Asus ROG Ally and the Lenovo Legion Go – both rely on the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme. The Steam Deck APU also comes from AMD.
Apart from the choice of CPU, it is not yet known how MSI intends to differentiate itself from its competitors.
The Asus Rog Ally, for example, can score points with its particularly quiet operation and low weight. The Lenovo Legion Go has detachable controllers and a large 9-inch display. The Steam Deck OLED is inexpensive, easy to use and has a fantastic screen.
We’re definitely looking forward to CES 2024 – that’s when we’ll find out more about the first MSI PC handheld.
What are your expectations of the handheld PC from MSI? What features and functions would you like to see on it? And what do you think of the fact that it will possibly be equipped with an Intel CPU? Let us know in the comments!
