I’m sticking with my Steam Deck over MSI’s new Claw.

This isn’t a review of the MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus, the first gaming handheld featuring Intel’s new Arc G3 Extreme chip. While my colleague will dive deeper into the Claw later, I wanted to share my initial impressions as a dedicated Steam Deck OLED player. Sean referred to the Claw as the “next-gen handheld,” so I was curious: Is it a worthy upgrade for Steam Deck fans like myself? Can it justify its hefty $1,799 price tag?

The Claw has a tough act to follow. The $789 Steam Deck OLED is my go-to handheld, possibly my favorite gadget since the original Nintendo Switch. It’s comfortable, boasts a stunning display, and has a battery life that easily supports my gaming sessions. It allows me to enjoy most of my Steam library on the go. However, the Deck struggles with some high-end AAA titles, often delivering subpar graphics and frame rates. While I can overlook these issues for many games, I occasionally turn to my PS5 for those that just don’t perform well on the Deck.

I tested several demanding games on the Claw, all while on battery, to see how they stack up against the Steam Deck OLED. I played this year’s impressive 007 First Light, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (which I want to revisit before the Remake trilogy wraps up next year), and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Right off the bat, the improvements were noticeable without any adjustments on my part: all three games looked significantly better than on my Steam Deck. In FFVII, Cloud’s spiky blonde hair had fewer blurry edges, and I could see more detail in his face when he turned. During a chaotic firefight in First Light, I had a much clearer view of enemy positions.

Frame rates were also markedly improved. Both the Claw and the Deck defaulted to 30fps in FFVII, but after tweaking the settings, the Claw maintained a smooth 70–100fps, even during the boss fight against the Scorpion Sentinel, while the Deck struggled to consistently hit 60fps. In First Light’s crowded chess match at the Grand Carpathian Hotel, I saw frame rates between 80–90fps on the Claw, while the Deck hovered around 35fps. Even when I maxed out the settings on the Claw, I still achieved around 60–70fps. The default settings for 007 First Light on both devices were 1280 x 800 at low quality, so the visual differences weren’t drastic without some adjustments, but the gameplay felt smoother.

Expedition 33 didn’t show as much improvement. Right from the start, it looked sharper on the Claw compared to the Deck, which often appeared fuzzy. The Claw maintained around 30–40fps in the game’s opening area, but enabling Intel’s XeSS upscaler and frame generation boosted it to a smoother 70–90fps.

However, I did encounter some distracting graphical glitches, where characters and objects exhibited odd glowing or black artifacts during close-up shots in battles and cutscenes.

Each game consumed more power on the Claw. For instance, First Light drained about 35W on the Claw compared to 22–23W on the Deck. But with the Claw’s larger 80Whr battery versus the Deck’s 50Whr, both devices would theoretically offer around two hours of battery life, despite the Claw’s enhanced graphics and frame rates.

I also tested a lighter game, Balatro, to see how Intel’s chip compared to the Steam Deck’s. Both devices used minimal power during Balatro, with battery drains of around 14W and 9W, respectively. When I lowered each chip’s TDP to maintain 60fps, both the Claw and the Deck OLED lasted just over six hours, so there’s no significant upgrade in efficiency.

Overall, gaming on the Claw feels fantastic. However, the Windows experience on the Claw is frustrating compared to the simplicity of SteamOS on the Deck. Setting up the Claw took an hour and a half, filled with various Windows setup screens, downloads, and updates before I could even start installing Steam. While poor Wi-Fi might have contributed, the process felt unnecessarily convoluted, bouncing between Windows, Xbox Mode, MSI’s software, and Steam.

I also question whether the Claw’s hardware justifies the premium over the Steam Deck OLED. While it offers some advantages, like a larger 8-inch screen, drift-resistant Hall effect analog sticks, and textured grips, it has an IPS LCD display that lacks the vibrancy of the Deck’s OLED. It’s also heavier (785g vs. 640g) and lacks the Deck’s built-in touchpads, which I find useful for extra inputs. The Menu and View buttons on the Claw felt too far for my thumbs, making it a hassle to pause games. Plus, the RGB lights around the joysticks aren’t my style, though they can be turned off.

So, to answer my initial questions: Is the Claw an upgrade from my Deck OLED? After a few hours of testing, I’m not convinced. While it offers more power, the Deck is more comfortable for me. Is the Claw a better choice for someone deciding between it and a Deck OLED? That’s a tougher call; Windows handhelds can access multiplayer games like Fortnite that don’t support Linux due to anti-cheat software. That flexibility and improved performance might sway those willing to spend $1,700 on a handheld.

If you’re on the fence, it might be best to wait for a more in-depth analysis. Personally, I’m sticking with my Deck, and I wouldn’t rush to get the Claw, especially with the software issues that still need addressing. The extra cost just doesn’t seem worth it compared to Valve’s offering.