Interview | "We have an open attitude for all kinds of collaboration" MSI's Bruce Lin and Green Lin talk about the MSI Claw and the future of handhelds

At MSI's 20th anniversary event held at Mumbai on June 21, 2024, we got a chance to sit down with MSI's regional marketing managers Bruce Lin and Green for a quick chat about its future plans and primarily, the MSI Claw. We talked about potential Windows-on-Arm laptops being launched in the future and why MSI decided to stick with Intel for its handheld when everyone else picked AMD.

Notebookcheck: Does MSI plan to launch an Arm-based laptop this year?

Bruce: Yeah, I feel like everyone is asking about this question. So, for MSI, we do consider a lot regarding the proper uses scenario and preferences. So what we observed is that for an Arm-based system, it'll still take some time to build up for all the software. On the performance side, we think it's actually a tricky question. The NPU can reach from 40 to 100 TOPS. However, for graphics cards, it can easily run above 100 to 1000 TOPS.  So the heavy AI trending software will heavily rely on GPU. In this case, we want to ensure that all of the users, content creators and gamers get a mature ecosystem. That is why we're sticking with Intel. We will keep observing the market and the whole ecosystem and think of the next step.

Notebookcheck: What prompted MSI to pick Intel for the MSI Claw when the rest of the competition picked AMD and what is MSI doing for early adopters of the Claw to make up the lackluster performance and reviews?

Bruce: We worked closely with both of Intel and AMD. So one of the strengths on Intel is that since we work with them closely and definitely, we are not only consider the Claw as a handheld device but also a portable Mini PC. The claw we used as an Intel Core Ultra processor with shared chipset assets with laptops. It's Windows-based and it also supports Thunderbolt 4, which means you can easily connect with any docking station. Due to our close relationship, we interact with Intel closely and deliver performance updates. Since the initial launch, there has been a remarkable performance increase in the past two or three months: up to 150-200% better in the top 100 ranking game titles. It's actually running better compared to the other handhelds

Green: Of course, performance is very important. Intel is also working very hard on this updating drivers. We're also updating out BIOS as well to just to make sure things go smoothly on both sides. We're also improving the user experience based on user feedback. The overall experience, like how you hold it, is quite important. So, we're just trying to build the most comfortable device. Even if you play hours, you don't feel tired or hot because of the cooling. 

Notebookcheck: What prompted MSI to refresh the Claw so quickly? You launched a Meteor Lake model earlier this year and then four months later you showed off a Lunar Lake model at Computex.

Bruce: Its official launch is still some time away. The first model we announced came with an 7-inch screen and the new model has a 8-inch screen. People will have different demands for performance and affordability. We want to offer users multiple options to pick and choose from.

Notebookcheck: Is MSI open to partnering with AMD for future handhelds?

Bruce: We have an open attitude for all kinds of collaboration. For now, we're sticking with Intel because of our close relationship. That is why we have a high confidence in the new generation. Competition is good for the users because you can compare both models directly and that is a good thing for the industry overall.

Notebookcheck: Does MSI have a microLED laptop coming anytime soon

Green: We're not planning it for this year, but we'll see.

Editor's note

MSI's decision to stay away from the Windows-on-Arm hype train is interesting. Now that the Snapdragon X Elite turned out to be a damp squib, it makes more sense. Qualcomm's new offerings clearly need more time in the oven and MSI is right to wait until the platform matures a little more. Perhaps it learned a lesson or two from the Claw's less-than-ideal showing. An AMD-powered MSI handheld is something I look forward to as it is the closest apples-to-apples comparison one can make between low-power chips from Team Blue and Team Red.