The dragon logo on the back of the new PC handheld. (Image: MSI)
Update January 5th, 2024 2:00 p.m.: As soon as we typed and published the news about the teaser, a leak revealed 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. Over 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 available. However, it is possible that there could also be variants with less RAM.
The buttons and joysticks are very reminiscent of the Xbox controller.
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Original message: PC gaming away from your desk: What used to require a bulky gaming laptop has now become much more comfortable thanks to Steam Deck and Co. And since the two well-known hardware manufacturers Asus and Lenovo entered the market last year, there has also been a selection there.
Now MSI wants a piece of the cake and is publishing a video about its first 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 type of MSI Dragon is coming. Hold on tight and be ready.
. The video appears to show a PC handheld – the company’s first.
By brightening the frame in which the device is visible, some details and the shape of the handheld appear. (Image: MSI)
The appearance: The video doesn’t reveal much, but we can extract initial details. The handheld will use an asymmetrical joystick layout, as seen in the Asus Rog Ally or Lenovo Legion Go.
Because it is a PC gaming product, the RGB lighting is of course a must: the sticks have glowing rings.
The MSI dragon emblem is prominently featured 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 attracted particular attention.
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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.
Aside from the CPU choice, it is not yet known how MSI plans to differentiate itself from its competitors.
The Asus Rog Ally, for example, scores points with its particularly quiet operation and low weight. The Lenovo Legion Go has removable controllers and a large 9-inch display. The Steam Deck OLED is cheap, easy to use and has a fantastic screen.
We’re definitely looking forward to CES 2024 – then we’ll find out more about the first MSI PC handheld.
What are your expectations for the PC handheld from MSI? What features and functions do you want for this? And what do you think about the fact that it might be equipped with an Intel CPU? Write it to us in the comments!
