Portable gaming PCs would possibly simply be probably the most aggressive area of interest within the business proper now. Case in level, MSI has launched its first handheld PC gaming machine right here at CES 2024: the Claw. (Try to say that with out a Toy Story flashback, I dare you.) As it occurs, PCWorld’s Adam Patrick Murray introduced two examples of that competitors with him to the present ground, the Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally. You know what comes subsequent, and you’ll watch them throw down within the newest PCWorld YouTube video.

All three of those machines are working from the same template, with the identical fundamental dimensions and format. The greatest bodily distinction is the touchpads, which each of the opposite units skip, and double the quantity of rear-mounted modifier buttons. But the Claw has corridor impact thumbsticks and rear triggers, which ought to be immune to stay drift, a giant benefit over its rivals. It additionally will get somewhat additional RGB flavoring on the ABXY buttons, along with the identical illuminated sticks because the Ally. The Claw additionally has a notably bigger battery than each, and Adam says it has a deeper, higher grip than the Ally, although not as deep because the Steam Deck.

Both the ROG Ally and the MSI Claw have higher screens with 1080p decision, versus the Steam Deck’s 1280×800 display screen (sure, even the brand new OLED model). The non-final model of the Claw appears to have the very best of the bunch, with extra brightness and distinction. All are kind of the identical dimension at round 7 inches. Note that one system Adam doesn’t have readily available beats all of them: the Lenovo Legion Go, with its 8.8-inch QHD display screen.

Brad Chacos/Foundry

All three units have a variety of customized software program letting customers browse and launch video games and customise controls. But once more the Steam Deck is the largest outlier with its Linux-based interface made by Valve. While SteamOS has been wonderful at operating Windows-based video games via its Proton compatibility layer, each the ROG Ally and the Claw run Windows natively with customized software program merely skinning the interface.

Of course, the largest change for the Claw is that it’s based mostly on Intel {hardware}, operating both a Core Ultra 5 or Core Ultra 7 processor with built-in Arc graphics. That ought to give it extra energy than each the Steam Deck and the Ally, no less than on paper…although whether or not Intel’s built-in graphics sport has grown to match AMD’s has but to be seen. Intel guts additionally offers the Claw entry to Thunderbolt 4 on its USB-C port, which doubtlessly means higher choices for exterior graphics and shows.

We’ll have to attend for the retail launch of the Claw to offer it a full head-to-head combat towards the prevailing transportable gaming PCs, full with battery assessments and benchmarks. Be certain to subscribe to PCWorld on YouTube for much more seems on the newest and best in tech from CES.