HardwareHandheldsHey handheld kids, I want to talk about the MSI Claw before Black Friday kicks offWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareHandheldsHey handheld kids, I want to talk about the MSI Claw before Black Friday kicks offWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
The MSI Claw has had a bit of a bad rap since it rolled onto the handheld scene. At launch, the portable PC was criticized for its underwhelming performance, battery life, and egregious $750 MSRP. I’ve been playing around with the Steam Deck rival for a few weeks, and now that the disappointing launch dust has settled, it feels like a nice time to chat about how it stacks up ahead of Black Friday.
It’s safe to say thebest gaming handheldcontest has more contenders than ever, and MSI Claw could tempt some of you away fromBlack Friday Steam Deck dealssince it’s$471.18 at Amazon. Keep in mind it originally cost $749.99, and it only managed to drop to around $550 during the summer. Amazon’s current discount certainly counters my personal gripes about the portable gaming PC’s price, but I still wouldn’t recommend it universally.
MSI Claw (Ultra 7-155H)|$749$471.18 at AmazonSave $277.82-I’d never dream of recommending this handheld at full price, but with over $270 off, it’s starting to look like a Steam Deck rival. It previously only managed to fall to the $550 mark, so it’s nice to see its price on a downward trajectory.Buy it if:✅ You’d like a Windows handheld✅ Performance isn’t a priority✅ You want excellent soundDon’t buy it if:❌ You’d rather just pick up Steam Deck❌ You’d pay for for beefier specsPrice check:Best Buy $699.99|Walmart $569UK:£699£498 at AmazonView Deal
MSI Claw (Ultra 7-155H)|$749$471.18 at AmazonSave $277.82-I’d never dream of recommending this handheld at full price, but with over $270 off, it’s starting to look like a Steam Deck rival. It previously only managed to fall to the $550 mark, so it’s nice to see its price on a downward trajectory.Buy it if:✅ You’d like a Windows handheld✅ Performance isn’t a priority✅ You want excellent soundDon’t buy it if:❌ You’d rather just pick up Steam Deck❌ You’d pay for for beefier specsPrice check:Best Buy $699.99|Walmart $569UK:£699£498 at AmazonView Deal
MSI Claw (Ultra 7-155H)|$749$471.18 at AmazonSave $277.82-I’d never dream of recommending this handheld at full price, but with over $270 off, it’s starting to look like a Steam Deck rival. It previously only managed to fall to the $550 mark, so it’s nice to see its price on a downward trajectory.Buy it if:✅ You’d like a Windows handheld✅ Performance isn’t a priority✅ You want excellent soundDon’t buy it if:❌ You’d rather just pick up Steam Deck❌ You’d pay for for beefier specsPrice check:Best Buy $699.99|Walmart $569UK:£699£498 at AmazonView Deal
MSI Claw (Ultra 7-155H)|$749$471.18 at AmazonSave $277.82-I’d never dream of recommending this handheld at full price, but with over $270 off, it’s starting to look like a Steam Deck rival. It previously only managed to fall to the $550 mark, so it’s nice to see its price on a downward trajectory.Buy it if:✅ You’d like a Windows handheld✅ Performance isn’t a priority✅ You want excellent soundDon’t buy it if:❌ You’d rather just pick up Steam Deck❌ You’d pay for for beefier specsPrice check:Best Buy $699.99|Walmart $569UK:£699£498 at Amazon
MSI Claw (Ultra 7-155H)|$749$471.18 at AmazonSave $277.82-I’d never dream of recommending this handheld at full price, but with over $270 off, it’s starting to look like a Steam Deck rival. It previously only managed to fall to the $550 mark, so it’s nice to see its price on a downward trajectory.Buy it if:✅ You’d like a Windows handheld✅ Performance isn’t a priority✅ You want excellent soundDon’t buy it if:❌ You’d rather just pick up Steam Deck❌ You’d pay for for beefier specsPrice check:Best Buy $699.99|Walmart $569UK:£699£498 at Amazon
MSI Claw (Ultra 7-155H)|$749$471.18 at AmazonSave $277.82-I’d never dream of recommending this handheld at full price, but with over $270 off, it’s starting to look like a Steam Deck rival. It previously only managed to fall to the $550 mark, so it’s nice to see its price on a downward trajectory.
Buy it if:
✅ You’d like a Windows handheld✅ Performance isn’t a priority✅ You want excellent sound
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You’d rather just pick up Steam Deck❌ You’d pay for for beefier specs
Price check:Best Buy $699.99|Walmart $569
UK:£699£498 at Amazon
View Deal
View Deal
View Deal
Should you buy the MSI Claw?
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
I could just say buy anAsus ROG Allyor theSteam Deck OLEDinstead of the MSI Claw and call it a day. However, that’s not exactly my style, and I do think the laptop maker’s handheld is better than the internet at large would lead you to believe. That’s not to say I don’t have major beef with its choice of Intel chipset and the performance it provides, but that aside, it’s not far off being a proper rival.
Since we’re talking about portable PCs, the ability to boost fps in modern games is crucial. This is what ultimately causes the Claw to trip up on the track, as its Intel Core Ultra 7-155H simply falls short to the mightyAMDRyzen Z1 Extreme. That said, I’m actually managing to pull off far better frame rates than what was possible at launch, meaning the gap is narrower than before.
I also tried out Hitman 3 at the same resolution on both handhelds and wasn’t remotely surprised to find the Ally come out top again. This time, we’re looking at 62fps vs 48fps on the Claw, which is an absoluteyikesin my book. If I’ve learned anything about Intel Arc graphics over its short lifespan, it’s that performance is unpredictable, and the same applies to the blue team’s handheld chip.
Those stats are pretty damning, but the Claw gets a lot of things right outside of frame rate performance figures. Sure, it does look almost like anAsus ROG Ally X- ironic due to it arriving first and not boasting anywhere near the same battery life. However, sometimes sticking to a tried and tested design is the best option, and I honestly think this handheld feels more solid and comfortable than the chunkyLenovo Legion Go.
MSI Center also holds up as a handheld management app compared to LegionSpace and early versions of Armoury Crate. Don’t get me wrong, it feels just as cobbled together as most Windows 11 middlemen and doesn’t remotely hold up to SteamOS. But, it gets the job done with relatively clear labels and minimal bugs, so kudos, MSI.
(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
On the sound and vision side of things, the Claw impresses just as much as the ROG Ally. I’m fairly convinced both are using the same 120Hz display, and now that I’ve experienced what theZotac Zonecan bring to the table using an AMOLED screen, my eyes have been somewhat spoiled. What MSI’s portable does have on its side, however, is a punchy set of virtual surround speakers that do a good job of masking fan noise.
My TLDR is effectively this - I would recommend keeping a close eye on the MSI Claw Black Friday deals. I don’t think $470 is a good enough price cut to properly challengeValveand Asus, but that could all change if it gets a bit cheaper. Basically, if you can grab it for the same price as the ROG Ally Z1, it’ll be a winner.
Another $70 off the MSI Claw could serve as its redemption arc, and I’d honestly love to see the handheld become a price-friendly hero.
Looking for more discounts? Check outBlack Friday Nintendo Switch dealsfor more handheld offers. Alternatively, head over toBlack Friday TV dealsandBlack Friday monitor dealsfor screen savings.
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More about handheldsThis handheld is the same size as an NES controller, but I use it to play 30 years worth of retro classicsWill the next Lenovo Legion Go actually be a Steam Deck? It certainly smells that way to me
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5
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