MSI confirms new 7-inch Claw gaming handheld with Intel Lunar Lake and other upgrades

It seems that the existing MSI Claw A1M (curr. $599 on Amazon) could be rather short-lived. Earlier this week, the company exhibited the Claw 8 AI+ 'A2VM', an 8-inch model powered by Intel's Lunar Lake architecture. Additionally, it revealed a Fallout Special Edition version of the existing Claw A1M, which it teased would have the 'biggest battery in the industry'.

However, an MSI executive has now outlined initial details about a true Claw A1M successor. For context, the company did not mention such a device in its Computex 2024 press materials. Instead, Cliff Chun, a System Product Management Director, disclosed that a Lunar Lake-based 7-inch Claw is also in development.

Moreover, the 7-inch Claw will gain other upgrades that MSI has showcased on the Claw 8 AI+, including updated bumpers and refined hall effect joysticks that have been described as having an improved sensitivity curve. Furthermore, the next 7-inch Claw has two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a repositioned SSD slot to simplify end-user upgrades. Unfortunately, MSI will continue to only leave enough room to include an M.2 2230 SSD. Incidentally, Chun provided more details about the forthcoming Claw 8 AI+, which we have covered separately. Likewise, he also hinted at future gaming handheld plans; it is unclear when MSI will formally announce the next 7-inch Claw.