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MSI’s Claw A1M Handheld Will Go On Sale March 8th Starting At $699

MSI’s Intel Powered Claw A1M PC gaming handheld will soon be hitting the shelves giving us a taste of what Intel has to offer in the handheld space, and honestly it doesn’t look brilliant especially for it’s price.

MSI Claw Releases March 8th US

The MSI Claw is set to release in the US on March 8th starting with its Core Ultra 7 155H 512GB model and followed by the Core Ultra 7 1TB model and the Core Ultra 5 135H model which launch on the 15th. Three variants of the console are available now for pre-order at Newegg in the US.

On the other hand in the UK, the console appears to be exclusive to Curry’s and as of writing only the 1TB Ultra 7 155H model and 512GB Ultra 5 135H models are available for pre-order for a later launch on the 20th of March. Looking on MSI’s website it doesn’t appear that the UK will be getting the 512GB model of the Ultra 7.

MSI Claw A1M: Core Ultra 7 155H, 1TB SSD: £/$799 [Currys.co.uk] [Newegg]
MSI Claw A1M: Core Ultra 7 155H, 512GB SSD: £/$749 [Newegg]
MSI Claw A1M: Core Ultra 5 135H, 512GB SSD: £/$699 [Currys.co.uk] [Newegg]

Can an Intel Based Handheld Compete?

Now this handheld is great for giving Intel a bit of a push into the handheld market especially from a big name as MSI, it is equipped with either the 16 Core (6P/8E) Intel Core Ultra 7 155H or the 14 Core (4P/8E) Core Ultra 5 135H alongside 16GB of DDR5 and up to a 1TB SSD. Its screen is a 7″ FHD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and aside from the CPU and its larger 53 WH battery, it’s mostly identical to the ROG Ally, but it comes with a higher price tag. The MSI Claw Ultra 7 155H model with 512GB of storage comes in at $749, which is more expensive than the comparable 512GB ROG Ally Ryzen Z1E model at $699, is this justified?

If we look back at some early performance tests, the Claw really struggled against the AMD powered Ally, of course these are early results so we could see differently later down the line especially when you consider the improvements of Intel Arc over time. Even considering that though, it’s hard to see this being a better option over the ROG Ally or the Lenovo Legion GO which is also cheaper even when offering a bigger screen and 1TB of storage. You do get a nice little accessories bundle with the console though including a travel case, docking station, keychain and lanyard.

Features

Up to Intel^® Core™ Ultra 7 processor 155H
Windows 11 Home
Ergonomic design for an optimal gaming experience.
7″ FHD (1920 x 1080), 120 Hz Refresh Rate, Touch Screen, 100% sRGB (Typical), 500nits (Typical), IPS-Level panel.
Hall Effect triggers and joysticks built to last with microscopic precision.
Best-in-class 53Whr battery capacity.
Revolutionary Cooler Boost HyperFlow technology redirects airflow to cool internal components.
Exclusive Macro Keys cast your ult with just one click.
Swift transfers and extensive connectivity with Thunderbolt™ 4.
MSI Center M provides dedicated interface designed for handheld devices with easy-to-use settings.
MSI AI Engine adjusts various system settings automatically that best fit your needs.