TLDR Review: MSI Claw
Verdict
The MSI Claw is genuinely a powerhouse handheld that demolishes the competition with its raw performance, premium build quality, and impressive versatility as both a portable gaming machine and desktop PC. However, the critically short battery life (approximately 1 hour at maximum settings) and troubling reports of units failing shortly after purchase are serious concerns we think deserve careful consideration. If you're a hardcore gamer comfortable with frequent charging and willing to invest in the optional 100W charger and dock, this device is exceptional; otherwise, you may want to consider alternatives with better battery endurance and proven reliability.
- Top pro:
- Best-in-class handheld gaming performance, outperforming Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Legion Go—runs AAA games at 30-40 FPS on medium settings with 1920x1200 resolution
- Top con:
- Battery life is critically short—approximately 1 hour at maximum settings, 1.5 hours at AI settings
Pros
- •Best-in-class handheld gaming performance, outperforming Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Legion Go—runs AAA games at 30-40 FPS on medium settings with 1920x1200 resolution
- •Hall Effect joysticks and triggers rank among the best available on handheld gaming devices
- •Premium build quality with exceptional materials and robust construction
- •Two Thunderbolt ports enable external GPU connections and future-proofing
- •Excellent for streaming games from PC via Moonlight with smooth performance
- •Supports multiple gaming launchers (Steam, Xbox, Epic, EA, Ubisoft, and more)
- •Functions as a desktop PC when connected to a monitor with full Windows 11 functionality
- •Bright FHD 120Hz display delivers exceptional visual quality for handheld gaming
- •Lightweight and ergonomically designed for comfortable extended gaming sessions
- •Works effectively with Bazzite for Linux users seeking alternative OS support
Cons
- •Battery life is critically short—approximately 1 hour at maximum settings, 1.5 hours at AI settings
- •Comes with a 45W charger but significantly benefits from investing in a more expensive 100W charger and dock
- •Some units experience complete failure within the first hour of use with ineffective customer support response
- •May require BIOS and firmware updates to resolve RGB flashing issues upon initial setup
- •Lacks a comprehensive user guide; features like the fingerprint scanner on the power button require external research to discover
- •Windows operating system means occasional update interruptions can disrupt gaming sessions
- •Rendering performance is noticeably slow on demanding titles like Warzone
- •Requires a high-end PC capable of running games at 120Hz and 1080p for optimal streaming performance
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How we researched this
About this review: it summarizes the professional reviews and customer ratings ShopSavvy collected for this product, alongside prices from ShopSavvy's price data.
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