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MSI Claw A1M is one hell of a gaming PC with best-in-class power, cooling, more
Handheld or portable gaming is seeing a huge boon in innovation thanks to ultra-portable PCs from various manufacturers. I won’t bother naming them all here, but the market has grown quite competitive. That’s why MSI and Intel have teamed up to produce and optimize the MSI Claw A1M. The Claw is effectively a portable PC powered by an Intel Core Ultra processor, Intel Arc graphics, and Windows 11 Home. But what’s more exciting is that it’s equipped with many premium upgrades to improve gaming experiences vastly. For example, the ergonomically tailored hand grips feel more comfortable, especially during long sessions, and the 53-watt-hour battery supports longer playing times. High-performance Hall Effect joysticks offer unmatched precision and control with MSI Mystic Light for customizable RGB. Meanwhile, the intelligently designed cooling system called Cooler Boost HyperFlow optimizes airflow to keep it running at full speed without affecting performance.
If that were everything, I’d be happy with it, but there’s so much more. The 120Hz 7-inch display supports VRR or variable refresh rate to keep onscreen action smooth and responsive. Two 2-watt high-resolution speakers provide immersive, crystal-clear audio. It’s WiFi 7-ready, with a Thunderbolt 4 port for high-speed charging, and like alternatives on the market, it can be docked and used like a traditional desktop PC. Above all, MSI, Intel, and Microsoft are committed to providing best-in-class support through regular updates while collecting end-user feedback, with quick reactions when necessary. This means that the Claw A1M is a labor of love, and they’re genuinely looking to work with the community to optimize the experience.
As for the rest of the design, let’s take a look.
Designed with elements of Anthropometry: The science of comfort
MSI
Anthropometry is defined as the scientific study of the proportions of the human body. It’s used to study the interaction of objects, devices, or machinery on the body, usually to prevent occupational injuries. In the MSI Claw’s case, it’s used to create a more ergonomic and comfortable system overall with a decidedly thoughtful form factor. Thanks to what MSI claims is “thousands [of bits] of sample data collected globally,” it has been able to tailor the Claw to fit the natural contours of the average grip. Not only does that make it better and more comfortable to hold, but it also offers intuitive, precise controls, which, as you know, is essential for reaction times in a game.
It looks fantastic, too, with the joysticks’ offset placement on either side, the rewarding directional pad that offers excellent feedback during use, and the colorful yet satisfying functional buttons everywhere else. Around the edges of the joysticks are RGB halos powered by MSI’s Mystic Light for true customization, but the lighting also extends to the ABXY buttons on the face. Together, they create a neon halo of dancing lights that seem to bob, weave, and breathe to what’s happening onscreen. It’s a marvel to see in action, and despite being mostly for aesthetics, I’m in the camp firmly for such upgrades. Let’s go.
For those who’ve used PCs like this before, you already know the software plays a huge role in the overall experience related to performance and usability. Specifically, giving you the option to launch all of your games, apps, and other key experiences. The MSI Claw runs Windows 11 Home, which already offers a full desktop-like experience but is also equipped with MSI’s optimized software. An example is the MSI App Player, which allows you virtually full access to your library of games across both Windows titles and Android mobile games. MSI Center M offers a dedicated interface for quick settings, so you can easily change screen brightness, volume, and settings. It also has a real-time hardware monitor you can enable.
And if you want to customize what’s available in the quick menu or add new toggles, you can do that, as well, through a built-in editor. You also have the option to swap between a dedicated gaming mode — with full use of the built-in gamepad — or a desktop mode for desktop operations.
MSI truly has thought of everything here.
MSI Claw features and specifications
MSI
Hardware determines most of the performance you’ll see, and MSI has not skimped out on excellent internals. Here are some of the highlights:
Intel Core Ultra processor up to Intel Core Ultra 8 155H
Intel XeSS XE Super Sampling
Intel Arc Graphics with Intel optimizations
Massive 53-watt-hour battery
7-inch FHD (1920 by 1080) touchscreen with 120Hz refresh rate
Up to 1TB solid-state drive with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM
Two heat pipes to increase cooling with 50% larger air-vent sizes
Windows 11 Home and MSI apps with quick settings
Support for Xbox Game Pass
MicroSD card reader for storage expansion
Versatile IO ports with Thunderbolt 4 and fast-charging
Ergonomic, thoughtful design optimized for comfort with improved grips
Hall Effect joystick sensors with Mystic Light RGB for the sticks and ABXY buttons
Best-in-class support from MSI, Intel, and Microsoft that factors in community feedback
MSI Claw A1M: Next-generation handheld gaming
You’ve seen the power, or at least see what’s tucked inside the Claw A1M and the software enhancements. Now, it’s time to give the Claw a try. Go on, you deserve it.
If you want to read a little more about the MSI Claw A1M and the different models available, visit MSI’s main product page. As of now, there are three models, one of which is exclusive to Best Buy Canada (A1M-047CA for $1,100). But they all deliver the same core features. The biggest difference is the built-in storage, with 512GB or 1TB options. Also, the base model for $900 is rocking an Intel Core Ultra 5-135H versus the Ultra 7-155H in the high-end model. Either way, you’re getting one hell of a handheld gaming PC with the MSI Claw A1M.
Get a free $10 Best Buy gift card when you preorder Madden NFL 25
Madden NFL 25, the upcoming entry in the popular football video game franchise, will soon be revealed. If you're an avid fan of the series, or if you want to see what all the hype is about, you may want to send in your preorder for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, or Xbox One version of the game. If you choose to do so through Best Buy, you'll receive a $10 gift card. It may not look like much, but if you're going to buy the game anyway, you might as well enjoy any form of savings that you can get with it.
Why you should buy Madden NFL 25 Electronic Arts is set to reveal Madden NFL 25 on June 11, and while that's still a few weeks away, football fans are already excited for it. There's not much information on the video game yet, aside from the fact that FieldSENSE technology is returning alongside a re-engineered physics system. We can expect even more control during gameplay, as well as improved realism so it will feel like you're actually in the middle of the action. It should also be safe to think that there will be updates to Madden NFL 25's game modes, for more changes to look forward to.
The Sims 3 cheats: all cheat codes for PC, Mac, PlayStation and Xbox
Part of the fun of The Sims 3 is being able to, well, simulate real life. Sure, it isn't the most realistic simulation, but being able to control a person's life from their job to how they decorate their home is appealing to a huge swath of players. Because the fun comes from being able to customize and tweak things just how you want, it doesn't really feel like breaking the rules to use some cheats to make your game even more customizable, right? After all, you're just trying to give you Sim their best life ... or worst, depending on what mood you're in. However you decide to use all these Sims 3 cheats, we won't judge. How to cheat in Sims 3 The basic cheats we will go over first need to be typed into the cheat console by hitting Ctrl + Shift + C (Command + Shift + C on Mac).
To reach the cheat console on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or another console, you’ll need to press all shoulder and trigger buttons simultaneously.
Best Buy Memorial Day sale: Save $50 on the Xbox Series X
We don’t see many Xbox Series X deals, so it’s great to see $50 off the Microsoft Xbox Series X at Best Buy at the moment. It normally costs $500, but right now you can buy it for $450, a small but useful price cut for anyone considering buying a new console. Pair it up with one of the best Xbox Game Pass deals and you can’t go wrong. If you’re keen to find out more about the console, keep reading and we’ll explain all.
Why you should buy the Microsoft Xbox Series X Considered to be one of the best gaming consoles for Microsoft fans, the Microsoft Xbox Series X may have divisive looks but it’s supremely powerful with a wealth of games. The console provides 12 teraflops of power with support for DirectX ray tracing, 4K gaming, and even has a custom 1TB SSD for storage so it doesn’t skip a beat anywhere. It has lightning-fast load times with gameplay of up to 120 FPS ensuring everything looks fantastic. Arguably its best feature though is Quick Resume. That means you can easily leave where you left things even after turning the console off. It’s hugely useful and it’s quick too so your console is always ready for you to return.
