MSI Claw Review: Don’t Buy This Gaming Handheld Leave a comment

On the earth of Transformers toys, there’s an idea generally known as “redecos.” That is when the producer takes the mildew for one figure however makes use of a different color plastic or paint and calls it a brand new determine. As I used to be testing the MSI Claw, a gaming handheld from a PC producer, all I might consider was that it felt like a redeco of the Asus ROG Ally.

That is not nice as a result of I rated the Ally fairly poorly (although Asus’ new ROG Ally X fared a bit higher). So we’re left with what appears like a reskin of a poor product, however different components make the Claw even worse. Our evaluate unit took a while to reach at our doorstep, but in June—mere months after the launch of the Claw—MSI introduced two new successors anticipated to reach this fall. Bizarrely, regardless of the poor reception at launch and the frenzy of sequels coming quickly, the Claw stays on the market. So this is a PSA: Do not buy it.

Outdated {Hardware}

The place the MSI Claw differs from the unique ROG Ally is minimal. It makes use of an Intel processor as an alternative of AMD on the Ally, has a 53-watt-hour battery as an alternative of 40 Wh, and the ability button with a built-in fingerprint sensor is on the left as an alternative of the precise. Sure, there are a few different minor {hardware} variations, however the similarities are a lot extra distinguished. The button format is almost equivalent, proper right down to the 2 rear, customizable paddles. It has the identical 7-inch 1,080p, 120-Hz display, the identical 16 GB of LPDDR5 reminiscence, and the identical 512 GB solid-state drive.

You will get a barely upgraded mannequin with a 1-terabyte SSD and an Intel Core Extremely 7 processor (which is the mannequin I examined), however with the latest launch of the ROG Ally X, you in all probability shouldn’t. The Claw’s substitute, the MSI Claw 8 AI+, has higher specs and it is not far off.

Frankly, I might finish the evaluate right here. {Hardware} iterations may transfer quick, but it surely’s uncommon to see an organization announce a product’s successor three months after the unique drops. There’s no good purpose to purchase the MSI Claw somewhat than wait till the follow-up. However we must always nonetheless speak about how this one performs as a baseline. And, properly, the bar is already set fairly low.

Sq. One

At this level, once I open up a brand new Home windows-based gaming handheld, I do know to count on a prolonged interval of wrestling with the interface to get even basic items working. I don’t like grading on a curve—the form of person interface points that get a move on units like this could be inexcusable on, say, the Nintendo Swap and even the Steam Deck—however even with my expectations adjusted, I used to be always annoyed.

{Photograph}: Eric Ravenscraft