Is The Msi Claw Worth It As A Handheld Pc Competitor To The Steam Deck

The handheld gaming market has evolved rapidly since Valve introduced the Steam Deck. What began as a niche experiment is now a competitive arena, with major manufacturers like ASUS, Lenovo, and now MSI entering the ring. The MSI Claw stands out as one of the first full Windows 11 handhelds backed by Intel’s new Lunar Lake processors and NVIDIA RTX graphics—on paper, at least. But how does it truly stack up against the established favorite, the Steam Deck? For gamers weighing portability, performance, and ecosystem compatibility, the answer isn’t straightforward.

Unlike the Steam Deck, which runs on a custom Linux-based OS optimized for games through Proton, the MSI Claw runs full Windows 11. This opens the door to broader software access, including non-gaming applications and native support for titles that don’t play well with Proton. However, this advantage comes with trade-offs in battery life, thermal management, and overall polish. To determine whether the MSI Claw is worth the investment, we need to examine its design, performance, software experience, and long-term usability compared to Valve’s offering.

Design and Build: Form Meets Function

The MSI Claw adopts a sleek, minimalist aesthetic with a matte black finish and ergonomic contours designed for extended handheld sessions. At approximately 680 grams, it's slightly heavier than the Steam Deck OLED (640g), but the weight distribution feels balanced. The triggers and bumpers are responsive, and the analog sticks—featuring Hall effect sensors—offer precise input without stick drift over time, a common complaint with resistive sensors used in earlier handhelds.

One of the Claw’s standout features is its 7-inch 1080p touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate. In contrast, the Steam Deck maxes out at 90Hz on a 1280x800 LCD panel. The higher resolution and smoother refresh rate make UI navigation and fast-paced games feel significantly more fluid. However, the increased pixel density demands more from the GPU, impacting battery life under load.

Tip: Use a matte screen protector to reduce glare during outdoor or bright-room gameplay without sacrificing touch sensitivity.

Performance: Raw Power vs Real-World Efficiency

The MSI Claw is powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H processor, built on a 4nm process and featuring integrated Arc graphics alongside an optional discrete NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU in select configurations. This gives it a theoretical edge over the Steam Deck’s AMD APU, particularly in CPU-heavy tasks and DirectX 12 titles. Benchmarks show the Claw can run AAA games like Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 at medium settings with DLSS enabled, achieving stable 30–40 FPS.

In contrast, the Steam Deck relies on lower power draw and game-specific optimizations. While it struggles with the same titles at higher settings, its efficiency allows for longer play sessions—up to 4 hours in demanding games versus the Claw’s 1.5 to 2.5 hours under similar loads. For less intensive indie or older titles, the Claw can stretch to 4+ hours, especially when undervolted and capped at 30 FPS.

Battery life remains the Achilles’ heel of high-performance handheld PCs. The Claw packs a 53Wh battery—slightly smaller than the Steam Deck OLED’s 50.4Wh—but consumes energy faster due to the higher-resolution display and x86 architecture overhead. Thermal throttling is minimal thanks to dual fans and vapor chamber cooling, but the device does get warm around the shoulders during sustained loads.

“Windows handhelds offer desktop-level flexibility, but they’re still chasing the balance between performance and endurance.” — Mark Serrels, Senior Editor, CNET

Software Experience: Freedom With a Cost

Running full Windows 11 means the MSI Claw supports every PC game, application, and peripheral without compatibility layers. You can install Epic Games, GOG, Ubisoft Connect, or even run creative tools like Adobe Photoshop or DaVinci Resolve on the go. This versatility makes it more than just a gaming device—it’s a portable productivity machine.

However, this freedom introduces complexity. Unlike the Steam Deck’s unified interface, navigating Windows in handheld mode requires frequent touchscreen interaction or Bluetooth peripherals. While MSI includes a controller layout editor and quick-access overlay (similar to SteamOS’s Quick Menu), the experience feels less cohesive. Auto-sleep behavior, background updates, and driver conflicts can disrupt gameplay unless carefully managed.

Additionally, Windows lacks native game-time tracking, remote downloads, or suspend/resume states as seamless as SteamOS. Users must rely on third-party tools or manual optimization to replicate the Steam Deck’s plug-and-play simplicity.

Comparison Table: MSI Claw vs Steam Deck OLED

Feature	MSI Claw	Steam Deck OLED
OS	Windows 11 Home	SteamOS 3.5 (Linux)
Display	7\" FHD (1920x1200), 120Hz LCD	7.4\" OLED (1280x800), 90Hz
Processor	Intel Core Ultra 7 155H	AMD Custom Van Gogh APU
Graphics	Intel Arc + NVIDIA RTX 4050 (discrete option)	AMD RDNA 2 (integrated)
RAM	16GB LPDDR5X	16GB LPDDR5
Storage	512GB / 1TB NVMe SSD (user-upgradeable)	512GB / 1TB NVMe SSD (user-replaceable)
Battery Life (Gaming)	1.5–4 hours	2–5 hours
Weight	680g	640g
Ports	USB-C 4 (40Gbps), USB-A, microSD	USB-C 3.2, microSD
Price (Starting)	$649	$549

Real-World Usage: A Day in the Life

Consider Sarah, a freelance designer and avid gamer who travels frequently. She bought the MSI Claw hoping to replace both her aging laptop and console. On a train ride, she edits photos using Lightroom, then switches to playing Hades via Xbox Game Pass. Later, she joins a friend in Destiny 2 using Discord and a Bluetooth keyboard for voice chat.

The Claw handles these transitions smoothly, but she notices the fan kicks in after 45 minutes of gameplay. Battery drops from 100% to 40% in two hours. When she tries to suspend the device mid-game, Windows occasionally fails to resume properly—a quirk absent on her old Steam Deck. Still, the ability to run specialized software and access her entire Steam library without compatibility tweaks proves invaluable.

For users like Sarah, the Claw works best as a hybrid device: part gaming console, part mobile workstation. But for those seeking a dedicated, hassle-free gaming experience, the Steam Deck remains more intuitive.

Step-by-Step: Optimizing the MSI Claw for Longer Play

To maximize the MSI Claw’s potential, follow this optimization routine:

1. Undervolt the CPU/GPU: Use MSI Center or ThrottleStop to reduce voltage without sacrificing stability, lowering heat and power draw.
2. Cap frame rates: Set internal limits to 30 or 40 FPS using NVIDIA Control Panel or GeForce Experience for better battery efficiency.
3. Adjust display brightness: Lower to 60–70% in indoor environments; use adaptive brightness if enabled.
4. Disable background apps: Turn off startup programs via Task Manager and disable unnecessary services.
5. Use Game Mode: Enable Windows Game Mode and prioritize performance in Power Settings.
6. Install a lightweight launcher: Replace default Start menu with something like Start11 or Open-Shell for faster navigation.

Tip: Create multiple power profiles—one for gaming, one for productivity—to switch based on usage.

Who Should Buy the MSI Claw?

The MSI Claw makes the most sense for specific user profiles:

• Power users who want a single device for gaming, work, and media.
• AAA gamers prioritizing higher frame rates and visual fidelity over battery life.
• Peripheral enthusiasts planning to connect external monitors, keyboards, or VR headsets via USB-C.
• Backward compatibility seekers relying on older DRM-protected games that fail under Proton.

Conversely, casual players, students, or commuters who value simplicity and longevity should lean toward the Steam Deck. Its curated OS, superior sleep functionality, and proven durability make it a more reliable companion for everyday use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the MSI Claw run all Steam games natively?

Yes, because it runs full Windows 11, the MSI Claw supports all Steam games without compatibility layers. However, performance depends on the title’s optimization and hardware demands. Some anti-cheat systems may require additional configuration.

Is the Steam Deck better for emulation?

For retro gaming, yes. The Steam Deck’s community-developed tools like EmuDeck make setting up emulators effortless. While the Claw can emulate PS2, GameCube, or Switch titles at higher resolutions due to its stronger CPU/GPU, the setup process is manual and less streamlined.

Does the MSI Claw support cloud gaming?

Absolutely. It fully supports Xbox Cloud Gaming, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and Amazon Luna. With its high-refresh display and low-latency controls, it delivers one of the best cloud gaming experiences among handhelds.

Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?

The MSI Claw isn’t just competing with the Steam Deck—it’s redefining what a handheld PC can be. It brings desktop-grade performance, expansive software support, and modern connectivity into a portable form factor. For users who demand more than just gaming from their handheld, it’s a compelling leap forward.

But “worth it” depends on your priorities. If you value seamless integration, long battery life, and a polished interface, the Steam Deck remains the gold standard. If you’re willing to trade some convenience for raw capability, future-proof specs, and full Windows flexibility, the MSI Claw justifies its premium price.

Ultimately, the Claw represents a bold step toward convergence: a world where your handheld isn’t limited by operating system constraints or app stores. It may not yet be the perfect daily driver, but it signals where the future of mobile gaming is headed.

🚀 Ready to take your gaming on the move? Share your thoughts on the MSI Claw vs Steam Deck debate—have you made the switch, or are you waiting for the next generation?