MSI CLAW is now in stock in the EU, with a wider availability expected in March
The Intel Core Ultra gaming handheld is now in stock at the official MSI store in Germany.
The availability of the MSI CLAW gaming handheld varies by region. Retailers in the United Kingdom have listed different dates, ranging from March 20 to April. However, the official MSI store in Germany currently shows the CLAW as in stock and available for immediate order.
The CLAW introduces unique features to the high-end gaming handheld category. It stands out as the first handheld featuring an Intel Core Ultra processor with built-in Arc Graphics. Additionally, it supports WiFi and includes a native Thunderbolt 4 connector. It is also MSI’s first gaming handheld. In a market already dominated by AMD RDNA2 or RDNA3-powered consoles like ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and the Valve Steam Deck – with the latter standing out for its competitive pricing – the CLAW faces stiff competition.
MSI’s design features a 7-inch screen with a resolution of 1920×1080 at 120 Hz, matching the specifications of the ROG Ally. Notably, it boasts a larger battery size of 53 Wh and supports the same type of M.2 2230 PCIe Gen4 storage.
MSI Claw in stock, Source: MSI Germany Store
However, those anticipating the CLAW to offer more memory or a competitive price may be disappointed. The official pricing, as listed on MSI’s German store, sets the 512GB version (not even the highest model) at €849, which is €150 more than its competitors.
MSI CLAW Pricing
- MSI Claw A1M: Core Ultra 7 155H, 1 TB SSD, 16GB RAM : $799 / £799 / €949
- MSI Claw A1M: Core Ultra 7 155H, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM : $749 / TBC / €849
- MSI Claw A1M: Core Ultra 5 135H, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM : $699 / £699 / TBC
While the MSI has not officially lifted its review embargo, numerous devices have already been distributed to media and influencers. These outlets and individuals have been sharing details and teasing features for several weeks. In fact, the handheld is already available for purchase in Asia, some gamers have already shared full reviews .
At this stage, it appears that there is no necessity for an additional embargo. However, unless there is a day-1 price drop, the CLAW might face challenges due to its high cost and lower gaming performance when compared to competitors like the Ally and Legion Go.
| Handheld Gaming Consoles Specs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VideoCardz | MSI Claw | ASUS ROG Ally | Lenovo Legion Go | Valve Steam Deck OLED |
| Picture |  |  |  |  |
| Architecture | Intel Redwood Cove, Crestmont & Xe-LPG | AMD Zen4 & RDNA3 | AMD Zen4 & RDNA3 | AMD Zen2 & RDNA2 |
| APU | Core 7 Ultra 155H 16C/22T up to 4.8 GHz or Core 5 Ultra 135H 14C/18T up to 4.6 GHz | Ryzen Z1 Extreme 8C/16T up to 5.1 GHz or Ryzen Z1 6C/12T up to 4.9 GHz | Ryzen Z1 Extreme 8C/16T up to 5.1 GHz or Ryzen Z1 6C/12T up to 4.9 GHz | AMD Sephiroth (6nm) 4C/8T up to 3.5 GHz |
| SoC GPU | Arc Graphics 8 Xe-C @ 2.25 GHz [155H] 7 Xe-C @ 2.20 GHz [135H] | AMD iGPU 12CU @ 2.7 GHz [Z1E] 4CU @ 2.5 GHz [Z1] | AMD iGPU 12CU @ 2.7 GHz [Z1E] 4CU @ 2.5 GHz [Z1] | AMD iGPU 8CU @ 1.6 GHz |
| SoC TDP | 28W | 1-30W | 9-30W | 4-15W |
| External GPU | Thunderbolt 4 | ROG XG Mobile (up to RTX 4090) | USB4 | Not officially |
| Memory Capacity | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 | 16GB LPDDR5X-7500 | 16GB LPDDR5-6400 |
| Storage Capacity | 1TB/512GB | 512GB | 1TB/512GB | 512GB/1TB SSD |
| Storage Type | M.2 NVMe 2230 SSD PCIe 4×4 | M.2 NVMe 2230 SSD PCIe 4×4 | M.2 NVMe 2242 SSD PCIe 4×4 | M.2 NVMe 2230 SSD PCIe 3×4 |
| Display | 7″ 1920×1080, 120Hz, 500 nits, VRR | 7″ 1920×1080, 120Hz, 500 nits, 7ms, VRR | 8.8″ 2560×1600 IPS, 144Hz, 500 nits | 7.4″ 1200×800, 60 Hz |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.3 |
| Battery | 53 Wh, 6-Cell | 40 Wh, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion | 49.2 Wh, 900 mAh (controllers) | 50 Wh |
| Weight | 675 g | 608g / 1.34 lbs | 854g / 1.87 lbs | 640 g / 1.41 lbs |
| Dimensions (L×W×H) | 29.4 × 11.7 × 2.1 cm 11.6 × 4.6 × 0.8 in | 28.0 × 11.3 × 3.9 cm 11.0 × 4.5 × 1.5 in | 29.9 × 13.1 × 4.1 cm 11.8 × 5.2 × 1.6 in | 29.8 × 11.7 × 4.9 cm 11.7 × 4.6 × 1.9 in |
| Default OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Steam OS/Win 11 |
| Retail Price | $799/€949 [155HU+1TB] $749/€849 [155H+512GB] $699 [135H+512GB] | $699/€799 [Z1E] $599/€699 [Z1] | $749 [Z1E+1TB] $699/€799 [1E+512GB] | $649/€679 [1TB] $549/€569 [512GB] |
| Release Date | March 2024 | June 2023 [Z1E] September 2023 [Z1] | October 31, 2023 | November 2023 |
Source: MSI Germany