Following the leaks, here’s the official announcement of a new competitor to the Steam Deck that has a case for bringing down Valve’s portable console/PC hybrid.
The success of the Nintendo Switch has caused a stir, and machines that blur the line between PC and portable console have been flourishing for some time. The best-known representative of these often impressive hybrids is the Steam Deck. A product that was a hit and emulated like the Lenovo LEGION Go or the ASUS Rog Ally. Technological toys that are clearly more advanced than a Switch, but also more expensive than the latest version from Nintendo. If you don’t know what to choose, we’re making your life even more complicated with another new official device.
The MSI claw to bury the Steam deck?
It was only a matter of hours, but the MSI Claw is a reality. It’s still a portable PC console like the Steam Deck, but with more advanced features for a more powerful device. As hinted a few days ago, the MSI Claw will rely on Intel hardware for a faster processor and graphics card than the Steam Deck and will integrate XeSS upscaling technology. RAM will also skyrocket, as depending on the model it can be up to 32GB of LPDDR5, twice as much as other devices on the market.
A racing monster with something under the hood? If you read the characteristics and those of the competitors, yes, but there is a catch. The 53Wh battery only promises 2 hours of playtime, which may be too short for some. This is also below the minimum suggested by the Steam Deck.
On the other hand, the MSI Claw is said to be able to better manage its cooling and thus the risk of overheating as well as performance using the MSI Cooler Boost Hyperflow technology. The manufacturer also praises the advantages of ergonomic handles, RGB buttons or even “Hall effect” joysticks for better precision and durability. This means the embroidery drift is over!
Features of MSI Claw
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 to Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (16 cores, 22 threads up to 4.8 GHz)
- GPU: Intel Arc Graphics (8 Xe cores at 2.25 GHz)
- Operating system: Windows 11 Family or Pro
- Screen: 7″ IPS LCD FHD 1080p, 120Hz, 500 nits, touch
- Memory: 16GB LPDDR5 up to 32GB
- Storage: 512GB up to 1TB
- Battery: 53 Wh for 2 hours of playtime
- Connectivity: Micro SD card reader, fingerprint reader, jack, 1 USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 1 M.2 2230 PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe SSD slot
- Audio: 2W x2, Hi-Res certification
- Black color
- Dimensions: 29.4 (width) x 11.7 cm (height) x 2.12 cm (thickness)
- Weight: 675g
- Price: $699 to $799
- Release: 2024 still to be confirmed
