HardwareHandheldsMSI Claw struggles against Asus ROG Ally in early benchmarks, but don’t write the handheld off just yetWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareHandheldsMSI Claw struggles against Asus ROG Ally in early benchmarks, but don’t write the handheld off just yetWhen 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: MSI)
The MSI Claw hasn’t officially released yet, but enthusiasts and media outlets are already putting the handheld PC to the test. Naturally, the early benchmarks pit the portable against its uncanny rival, theAsusROG Ally, and while performance falls short, I reckon it’s worth waiting for the dust to settle.
Swipe to scroll horizontallyMSI Claw vs. Asus ROG AllyGameMSI ClawAsus ROG AllySettingsCyberpunk 207744.8fps59.8fps900p, low preset, FSR and XeSS onShadow of the Tomb Raider49fps53fps720p, high presetRed Dead Redemption 249.2fps60.2fps900p, low preset, FSR 2.1 onResident Evil21-53fps51-68fps900p, low preset,
Swipe to scroll horizontally
MSI Claw vs. Asus ROG AllyGameMSI ClawAsus ROG AllySettingsCyberpunk 207744.8fps59.8fps900p, low preset, FSR and XeSS onShadow of the Tomb Raider49fps53fps720p, high presetRed Dead Redemption 249.2fps60.2fps900p, low preset, FSR 2.1 onResident Evil21-53fps51-68fps900p, low preset,
The results above are based on the MSI Claw and ROG Ally running at max TDP. That should mean that the Claw is running at 40W while the Ally is set to 30W, which sort of adds salt into the performance wound. Additional tests also include results for TDP levels all the way down to 15W in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and the Claw actually fares worse with an average of 24fps vs 42fps at 720p high settings.
So, what should the takeaway be from these early MSI Claw results? Well, I wouldn’t blame you for thinking it lacks the oomph required to take on the ROG Ally and Legion GO. There’s also a chance these figures will match up pretty closely to my own when I eventually get my claws on the new handheld, but I’m also wary that Intel Arc chipsets can get better over time.
With any luck, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H chip within the MSI will improve both as we approach the handheld’s official release date and thereafter. That’s not to say I think it’ll magically gain the ability to outflank mighty chipsets like the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, but I’d like to see the scene get a little bit more competitive when it comes to processor choices.
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Today’s best handheld gaming PC dealsASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck 64GB$478ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck 256GB$489.99ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck 512GB$499.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best handheld gaming PC dealsASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck 64GB$478ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck 256GB$489.99ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck 512GB$499.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best handheld gaming PC deals
ASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck 64GB$478ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck 256GB$489.99ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck 512GB$499.99ViewSee all prices
ASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all prices
ASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all prices
ASUS ROG Ally
ASUS ROG Ally
$550$490View
$550$490
$490
See all prices
Lenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all prices
Lenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all prices
Lenovo Legion Go
Lenovo Legion Go
$699.99$549View
$699.99$549
$549
See all prices
Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB
Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB
$717View
$717
$717
See all prices
Valve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck OLED 1TB
Valve Steam Deck OLED 1TB
$739.99View
$739.99
$739.99
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Valve Steam Deck 64GB$478ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck 64GB$478ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck 64GB
Valve Steam Deck 64GB
$478View
$478
$478
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Valve Steam Deck 256GB$489.99ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck 256GB$489.99ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck 256GB
Valve Steam Deck 256GB
$489.99View
$489.99
$489.99
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Valve Steam Deck 512GB$499.99ViewSee all prices
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Valve Steam Deck 512GB
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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LatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastySee more latest►
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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2
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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1
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”