On the planet of Transformers toys, there’s an idea generally known as “redecos.” That is when the producer takes the mould for one figure however makes use of a different color plastic or paint and calls it a brand new determine. As I used to be testing the MSI Claw, a gaming handheld from a PC producer, all I may consider was that it felt like a redeco of the Asus ROG Ally.
That is not nice as a result of I rated the Ally fairly poorly (although Asus’ new ROG Ally X fared a bit better). So we’re left with what looks like a reskin of a poor product, however different components make the Claw even worse. Our evaluate unit took a while to reach at our doorstep, but in June—mere months after the launch of the Claw—MSI introduced two new successors anticipated to reach this fall. Bizarrely, regardless of the poor reception at launch and the push of sequels coming quickly, the Claw stays on the market. So here is a PSA: Do not buy it.
Outdated {Hardware}
The place the MSI Claw differs from the unique ROG Ally is minimal. It makes use of an Intel processor as a substitute of AMD on the Ally, has a 53-watt-hour battery as a substitute of 40 Wh, and the ability button with a built-in fingerprint sensor is on the left as a substitute of the fitting. Sure, there are a few different minor {hardware} variations, however the similarities are a lot extra distinguished. The button format is sort of equivalent, proper right down to the 2 rear, customizable paddles. It has the identical 7-inch 1,080p, 120-Hz screen, the identical 16 GB of LPDDR5 reminiscence, and the identical 512 GB solid-state drive.
{Photograph}: Eric Ravenscraft
You may get a barely upgraded mannequin with a 1-terabyte SSD and an Intel Core Extremely 7 processor (which is the mannequin I examined), however with the current launch of the ROG Ally X, you most likely shouldn’t. The Claw’s substitute, the MSI Claw 8 AI+, has higher specs and it isn’t far off.
Frankly, I may finish the evaluate right here. {Hardware} iterations may transfer quick, however it’s uncommon to see an organization announce a product’s successor three months after the unique drops. There’s no good motive to purchase the MSI Claw quite than wait till the follow-up. However we must always nonetheless speak about how this one performs as a baseline. And, effectively, the bar is already set fairly low.
Sq. One
At this level, once I open up a brand new Home windows-based gaming handheld, I do know to count on a prolonged interval of wrestling with the interface to get even staple items working. I don’t like grading on a curve—the type of consumer interface points that get a move on gadgets like this might be inexcusable on, say, the Nintendo Switch and even the Steam Deck—however even with my expectations adjusted, I used to be continuously annoyed.
{Photograph}: Eric Ravenscraft
