WEBVTT

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- We're spoiled for choice

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when it comes to, like,
gaming handheld PCs.

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We have our Steam Decks,

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or ROG Allys, or Legion Gos,

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and a host of smaller manufacturers.

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And then, there's MSI and its Claw.

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It's been dragged through the
mud over the past three months

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for subpar performance
at a price of about $800.

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But there's been several updates now

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that are supposed to help
the Claw crawl its way

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into users' good graces.

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And yet, there's absolutely
no reason to buy a Claw,

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at least not this version.

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Is it better than it was at launch?

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Yes, certainly.

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Is it better than most other
major handhelds out there?

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No, not at all.

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For being one of the
most-expensive of the bunch,

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it's easily the most uncomfortable,

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even with a modest performance boost.

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This thing doesn't feel
like an $750 or $800 device.

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While it looks way too much like an Ally,

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its ergonomics makes it hard
to hold on to for a long time.

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That's pretty ironic,
considering the name.

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But its joysticks and bumper
buttons are especially thin

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and cheap feeling, despite
the sticks being hall effect,

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which is supposed to
make them last longer.

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Since release, MSI also
unveiled a new Overboost mode

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that's supposed to push the power profiles

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and enhance framerates.

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With the option turned on,

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I was getting 20% better framerates

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in games like "Cyberpunk"
and "Forza Horizons".

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It also made games like
"Assassins Creed Valhalla"

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playable on high settings,

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where before it wasn't.

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But even then,

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it doesn't truly beat the
other cheaper gaming handhelds.

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A $650 ROG Ally with its AMD APU

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can still beat the Claw in my benchmarks

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on "Cyberpunk" and "Forza".

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You also need to remember that the Claw

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is using an Intel chip,

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meaning it doesn't have access
to AMD's AI upscaler FSR.

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Intel's own XeSS isn't
nearly as widely available,

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so if the point is to stress visuals

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without hurting battery
life nearly as much,

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you're still better off with an AMD CPU.

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There's supposed to be a new 8-inch model

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of the MSI Claw with Intel's
unreleased Lunar Lake chips

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that might make an $800
price tag worthwhile.

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There's also a new
7-inch model in the bank.

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So, sorry all those who bought a Claw,

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you're already close to being outmoded.

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If you want one of the
upcoming gaming handheld PCs,

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the best and most powerful, mind you,

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you'll need to spend
somewhere close to $800.

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That's a lot, I know,

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but that will be the
cost of the ROG Ally X,

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a sequel to Asus' original
handheld from last year.

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Or, if you're like me,

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you'll just stick with your
somewhat lower price Steam Deck.

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It does the job.

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(bright music)