At CES 2024 in early January, MSI unveiled its MSI Claw console, positioned as a direct competitor to the Asus Rog Ally and Steam Deck. The first original feature of this console is that it is powered by an Intel Core Ultra (Meteor Lake) processor with the latest Intel Arc integrated graphics, whereas its rivals run on AMD. MSI has already communicated via its US subsidiary the possibility of seeing 3 versions of the console on the market. At the time of our meeting with the MSI team at CES, discussions were still open regarding the choice of different configurations around the Core Ultra 7 155H and Core Ultra 5 135H to be pushed in Europe.
MSI CLAW: high-end positioning
However, in the last few hours, a leak from Spanish retailer PC Componentes has provided us with more information. First of all, pre-orders for the Core Ultra 7 155H versions are now open, with an estimated delivery date of April 1 or 2. For both versions, we’ve been informed of the local price (including 21% VAT). The model with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD is priced at 879 euros , while the model with 1 TB SSD is priced at 929 euros.
For the moment, there’s no information on the more affordable model, based on the Core Ultra 5 135H. For comparison, the Rog Ally with Z1 Extreme, 16GB and 512GB SSD is priced at €649.
