The MSI Claw A1M, a new entrant in the handheld gaming PC market, has been making waves with its confirmed pricing structure. However, amidst the buzz, there’s a notable omission in its lineup – the absence of a 32GB RAM model, which was widely speculated during its CES debut.
MSI has taken a bold step by opting for Intel’s APU over the AMD choice made by its competitors. This decision was likely aimed at creating a unique selling point in a crowded market. The MSI Claw A1M offers intriguing features, but the lack of a 32GB RAM option, heavily rumored prior to CES, raises questions about potential future models.
The MSI Claw lineup includes three models, each catering to different performance needs and budgets. The entry-level A1M-052US model, priced at $699.99, comes equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 5 135H processor, 512GB SSD storage, 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, a 53WHr battery, and Intel Arc 5 graphics.
For those seeking more processing power, the A1M-051US model offers an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor while maintaining the same specifications as the entry-level version, priced at $749.99. The top-tier A1M-050US model, meanwhile, retains the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H but boosts the SSD storage to 1TB.
The absence of the 32GB RAM model, a key feature in the initial leaks, has sparked discussions about the necessity of such high RAM capacity in gaming handhelds.
With competitors like the ROG Ally, Legion Go, and Steam Deck offering 16GB RAM and delivering robust performance, the question arises whether a higher RAM would significantly enhance the gaming experience on a handheld device.
While the official benchmarks are yet to be released, our hands-on preview at CES suggested that the MSI Claw could be a strong contender against the likes of the ROG Ally. However, surpassing the popularity of the Steam Deck OLED might prove challenging.
As the market awaits the MSI Claw A1M’s official benchmarks to gauge its true performance, the absence of a 32GB RAM variant remains a talking point. Will this omission impact its position in the competitive handheld gaming market? Only time and user experience will tell.
