At CES 2024, MSI introduced the Claw A1M, marking the brand’s entry into the handheld gaming market. This innovative device operates on Windows 11 and is driven by Intel’s Meteor Lake processor, which includes support for Intel’s XeSS AI upscaling technology tailored for gaming. The Claw A1M showcases a 7-inch 1080p display with a refresh rate of 120Hz, offering a competitive edge in visual performance. Additionally, it comes equipped with a robust 53WHr battery, surpassing the capacities of its main competitors—the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, which feature 40WHr and 50WHr batteries, respectively.
Details regarding the availability of the MSI Claw A1M remain unconfirmed. The starting price for this handheld is set at $699 (approximately Rs. 58,100) in the United States, and it will be offered in a single Black color option. It will go head-to-head with the Asus ROG Ally, which launched at the same price point, as well as the Steam Deck and the Steam Deck OLED that start at $399 (around Rs. 33,200) and $549 (approximately Rs. 45,600), respectively. There is currently no information about the device’s potential release in India.
Specifications of the MSI Claw A1M
The MSI Claw A1M features a 7-inch full-HD (1,920×1080 pixels) IPS touchscreen with a peak brightness of 500 nits and a 120Hz refresh rate, providing superior display quality compared to other handheld gaming systems on the market. It is powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 7 (Series 1) processor and comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home.
The MSI Claw A1M features front-facing speakers.
Equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, the device also includes a NVMe M.2 SSD and a MicroSD card slot to expand its storage capabilities. Connectivity options are diverse, featuring Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, a Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C) port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
For user interaction, the MSI handheld comes with bumpers, triggers, thumbsticks, ABXY buttons, a D-Pad, volume controls, and a power button that incorporates a fingerprint sensor for added security. It houses a 6-cell, 53WHr lithium polymer battery with support for 65W USB PD 3.0 charging. Additionally, it is designed with two 2W speakers that provide Hi-Res Audio quality. Its dimensions are 294x117x21.2mm, and the device weighs 675g.
