MSI Claw A1M Review: A Lackluster Entry in the Handheld Gaming Arena

While it may appear that technology is always advancing linearly, it often follows a cyclical pattern. Flip phones, instant cameras, and turntables have experienced resurgence. Now, the spotlight is on the gaming handheld. Although Nintendo has consistently offered a handheld option, Windows-based portable gaming devices have gained momentum over the last few years, prompting major manufacturers to quickly introduce their offerings.

MSI stands among those manufacturers. The Taiwanese company launched the MSI Claw A1M, its handheld gaming PC powered by Intel, amidst a sea of AMD-powered handheld gaming PCs at CES 2024. It officially debuted in India in March, shortly after its global launch, but there were concerns about its initial availability. The Claw is now offered in India in three models: a base version with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor and 512GB SSD, a mid-range variant with a Core Ultra 7 chip and identical storage, and a premium model featuring a Core Ultra 7 processor with 1TB SSD.

The base model of the MSI Claw A1M was initially listed at Rs. 88,990 in India, while the Core Ultra 7 versions were set at Rs. 96,990 and Rs. 99,990 for the 512GB and 1TB variants, respectively. MSI has since revised the pricing, significantly reducing the base model to Rs. 59,990, with the two Core Ultra 7 versions now priced at Rs. 66,990 and Rs. 69,990.

However, is the Meteor Lake-driven MSI Claw A1M a formidable rival to offerings from Asus and Lenovo, which utilize the AMD Ryzen Z1 series of processors tailored for gaming handhelds? My extended testing of the MSI Claw A1M indicated that while there are aspects that stand out, numerous elements fall short. As a Windows-powered gaming handheld, the MSI Claw faces stiff competition from devices like the ROG Ally and the Legion Go, yet at times, it feels as though it’s battling its own shortcomings.

The MSI Claw is larger and more robust than the Nintendo Switch

MSI Claw A1M Design: A Suitable Form

• Dimensions — 294mm (width) x 117mm (depth) x 21.2mm (height)
• Weight — 675g
• Colour — Black

If you picked up the Claw and overlooked the MSI logos, you might mistakenly think it’s the Asus ROG Ally. The Claw A1M made its debut shortly after the Ally, and it seems MSI may have drawn some inspiration. I didn’t compare it directly with the original ROG Ally, but the Claw has a remarkably similar design to the ROG Ally X, particularly since the refreshed Asus handheld is now also available in black.

The MSI Claw closely resembles the ROG Ally

Despite its weight of 675g, the Claw A1M is comfortable to hold. Even during prolonged sessions, my hands didn’t tire. The sturdy feel is aided by the all-black plastic design, and the angular curves of the grips fit nicely in your hands. The ergonomic design and well-thought-out layout enable you to easily reach buttons, regardless of thumb length.

Nonetheless, the design lacks any distinctive flair that would set it apart. The ABXY buttons are not color-coded, leaving the RGB lighting to enhance the otherwise plain appearance of the Claw. The ABXY buttons and Hall-Effect analogue sticks provide a satisfying click, yet the D-pad and bumpers feel somewhat loose and lack assertive feedback. The quick action buttons surrounding the display for View, Menu, MSI Centre M software, and Quick Settings also feel unresponsive.

The MSI Claw has ventilation on its rear

MSI Claw A1M Display: Adequate Performance

• Size — 7-inch «IPS-level» touchscreen
• Resolution — Full-HD (1,920×1,080 pixels)
• Refresh Rate — 120Hz

The highlight of the Claw is its 7-inch touchscreen. While this size may be somewhat limited for certain Windows tasks, it’s perfectly suitable for gaming, especially for smaller indie games and platformers. The display achieves a peak brightness of 500 nits — sufficient for outdoor use but inadequate under direct sunlight. It’s advisable to lower the brightness in dimly lit environments to save battery.

The screen is sharp, with vibrant colors and responsive touch capabilities. I navigated Windows using the left analog stick as a cursor in Desktop Mode and employed the touchscreen for basic control. However, fingerprints accumulate quickly on the screen, necessitating the use of a protector to prevent scratches and smudges.

The Claw’s upper section features a microSD card slot, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack

MSI Claw A1M Software: More Windows PC Than Console

In terms of operating system, the MSI Claw A1M runs Windows 11 Home, encountering familiar challenges faced by Windows-based handhelds. Although Microsoft’s OS provides versatility, it isn’t tailored for smooth use on a 7-inch touchscreen. The recurring issues, glitches, and standard Windows annoyances make simply picking up the handheld to game a hassle. Routine Windows and Intel driver updates are often irritating and contribute to the feeling that the device requires constant updates to operate efficiently.

Some OS-related challenges appear to be magnified on the MSI Claw A1M. For example, the taskbar stubbornly sticking within a game’s window required a restart to resolve. Moreover, I frequently received notifications for an Intel driver update that I had already downloaded. While these concerns may seem trivial, they add up and hinder the gaming experience. A portable gaming device should be about ease of use, allowing you to play comfortably without fixing issues before you start. This is where SteamOS on the Steam Deck triumphs, providing an intuitive console-like experience over Windows-based handhelds.

The Windows OS and its perpetual updates can lead to frustration

Windows gaming handhelds typically incorporate proprietary software aimed at enhancing the user experience and bridging the gap to console-like usability. Asus employs the Armoury Crate SE software on the ROG Ally, while Lenovo provides the Legion Space interface for the Legion Go. These serve as a central hub to launch games across various services, modify device settings, check for firmware updates, remap buttons, and access captured content. Although these interfaces aren’t perfect alternatives to the native OS experience, they help alleviate some frustrations associated with Windows.

The Claw A1M includes a similar utility called MSI Centre M. Unfortunately, rather than enhancing the software experience, the interface often detracts from it. When it functions properly, it can be adequate, but my experience with MSI Centre M was marred by bugs and unreliability. The launcher exhibited sluggish behavior, and it frequently failed to register inputs from the left analog stick or buttons, forcing me to rely on the D-pad and touchscreen. Restarting the device resolved the issue temporarily, but it happened so often that I eventually stopped using the custom interface, resorting only to adjustments.

The MSI Centre M software encountered numerous issues

MSI’s Quick Settings overlay proved to be the biggest UI/UX shortcoming on the device. Often, it fails to appear when triggered, requiring multiple presses to show up. In an odd development, tapping an option in the overlay inadvertently interacts with the background window. Thus, if you try to bring up Quick Settings while in a game to track performance, you might unintentionally execute an in-game action.

Both MSI Centre M and the Quick Settings interface allow switching between two control modes—Desktop and Gamepad. The former is suitable for non-gaming Windows tasks, while the latter mimics an Xbox controller for gaming. While changing modes manually is possible, ideally, the device should automatically switch based on the task. The MSI Claw A1M claims to do this, but it consistently fails to switch to Gamepad mode when entering a game.

The Claw struggles to switch between the appropriate control mode

This causes input issues, and manually switching modes does not always resolve them. I often found myself using the touchscreen and on-screen keyboard to navigate in-game menus or resorting to restarting the device — ultimately, the latter became my preferred solution after frustration set in.

MSI Claw A1M Performance: Lacking Consistency

• Processor — Up to Intel Core Ultra 7
• RAM — 16GB LPDDR5-6400
• Storage — Up to 1TB NVMe SSD PCIe Gen4 + M.2 2230 SSD slot for added storage
• Graphics — Intel Arc graphics

Before diving into performance, it’s worth noting that the review unit powered by the Core Ultra 7 had been previously utilized and contained pre-installed software, which may affect performance compared to a retail version. Despite several updates, the performance of the Claw A1M remains erratic.

The chipset operates within a TDP range of 20-35W on battery and 20-40W when plugged in. These power limits can be manually adjusted, or users can select from five predefined power profiles, known by MSI as «User Scenarios»: Performance, Balanced, Super Battery, Manual, and AI Engine, which run within a TDP range of 20-35W while unplugged (which is how I primarily gamed). The Performance mode is designed for optimal framerate but drains the battery rapidly, making it suitable primarily for demanding modern games.

For example, playing Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut at High preset resulted in frame rates between 40-45fps, with averages dropping to low 30s in crowded areas or during intense action sequences. In Medium settings, frame rates improved to the 45-50fps range, with averages around 47fps. Playing on Low settings yielded minimal frame rate recovery, stabilizing around 50fps. These observations were made in the Performance user scenario with Intel’s XeSS upscaling enabled and the game running at 1080p resolution.

Switching to the Super Battery user scenario in a demanding game like Ghost of Tsushima significantly impacted performance. In this profile, even on Low graphics (still at 1080p), frame rates remained between 35-45fps, with noticeable drops in busier settings. Switching to High settings pushed performance to the 30fps range, with averages around 33fps, with some sections dipping into the 20s. Plugging in the charger made little difference in performance across all power profiles.

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut on the MSI Claw

While the MSI Claw A1M can handle AAA titles at decent framerates, performance is inconsistent, with regular stutters and lags. MSI’s updates have improved situations since the handheld’s debut, but problems remain. It performs notably better with less graphics-intensive or older games. For instance, Portal 2 consistently ran above 100fps, even with all graphical settings on High in Super Battery mode.

In the indie platformer Spiritfarer, performance hovered above 90fps, often exceeding 100fps in Performance mode. Conversely, in a slightly older and more demanding title like Dying Light, I saw frame rates in the 80-90fps range on High settings in Performance mode. While there were occasional dips, the performance never fell below 60fps. Even by switching to Super Battery mode, the game comfortably maintained 60-70fps with some settings downgraded to Medium or Low.

There are positives with the Claw; the audio quality is commendable, with the front-firing speakers providing clarity and volume without distortion. The haptic feedback is also well-implemented, enhancing immersion during gameplay.

The front-firing speakers deliver clear, loud sound, featuring Nahimic audio

MSI Claw A1M Battery: Insufficient Power

• Capacity — 53Whr
• Charger — 65W PD adapter

While fully charged and used unplugged, the Claw A1M would completely drain in under an hour while running Ghost of Tsushima on Performance mode. In Super Battery mode, it might last over an hour, but typically not reaching two hours. Running demanding games without being plugged in rapidly depletes battery life, making it challenging to even achieve an hour of use.

To maximize battery life, it’s best to focus on older or indie titles using the Super Battery profile at 20W TDP and graphical settings adjusted to Low or Medium. I managed to stretch battery life to two hours while playing titles like Portal 2 and Assassin’s Creed Chronicles. Since the Claw A1M’s introduction, Intel has also released driver updates that introduced an Endurance Gaming feature in its Arc Control application, which aims to strike a balance between frame rates and power use to minimize battery drain.

The MSI Claw handles older and indie titles effectively

MSI Claw A1M Verdict

The MSI Claw A1M clearly feels like an initial product that was hurriedly released to compete with the Asus ROG Ally. Moreover, MSI’s first-generation handheld faces performance inconsistencies and lacks endurance in battery life. With Intel’s new Lunar Lake processor just unveiled, the Claw A1M’s Meteor Lake already seems outdated.

Asus has introduced a refreshed version of the Ally, the ROG Ally X, with considerable enhancements. Meanwhile, the Lenovo Legion Go (Review) boasts additional features, including detachable controllers and a large 8.8-inch QHD+ display. Given such fierce competition, the MSI Claw A1M risks appearing like a diminished version. Furthermore, when compared to the original ROG Ally and the Steam Deck OLED, which are currently offered at lower price points than MSI’s device, the Claw seems hard to recommend.

It’s noteworthy that MSI has already announced next-generation Claw handhelds featuring Lunar Lake technology. In fact, MSI is planning Claw 2, Claw 3, and Claw 4. If the company is eager to move past its first-generation device, why should consumers remain interested?

Pros

• Quality display
• Effective Nahimic audio
• Responsive haptics
• Robust build quality

Cons

• Performance inconsistencies
• Unimpressive battery life
• Generic aesthetics
• Windows-related bottlenecks
• Flawed MSI Centre M functionality

Ratings (out of 10)

• Design: 6
• Display: 7
• Software: 4
• Performance: 6
• Battery life: 6
• Value for money: 5
• Overall: 6