MSI Claw A1M in 2026: Is the First-Generation Claw Still Worth Buying?
The MSI Claw A1M launched to bad reviews in 2024. Two years of Intel Arc driver updates later, here's whether it's worth buying at today's discounted price.
The MSI Claw A1M got a rough reception in 2024. MSI promised it would be 20 to 25 percent faster than the AMD-powered handhelds it was up against. It wasn’t. Reviewers found the Intel Arc graphics underperforming, battery life short, and the $749 price hard to justify next to an ROG Ally that cost less and ran better.
Two years on, three things have changed. Intel has shipped a long run of Arc driver updates. The Claw 8 AI+ has replaced the A1M at the top of MSI’s lineup. And the A1M itself has fallen well below its launch price.
That reframes the question. Nobody is asking whether the A1M was worth $749 in 2024 — it wasn’t. The question is whether it’s worth buying now, at a discount, on drivers that didn’t exist when the original reviews were written. That’s what this piece answers.
MSI Claw A1M Specs at a Glance
| Component | MSI Claw A1M |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 5 135H or Core Ultra 7 155H (Meteor Lake) |
| Graphics | Intel Arc, 8 Xe-cores |
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5-6400, dual-channel |
| Storage | 512 GB or 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0, M.2 2230 (user-replaceable) |
| Display | 7-inch 1920×1080 IPS-level touch, 120 Hz, 100% sRGB |
| Battery | 53 Wh |
| OS | Windows 11 Home (Pro on one Core Ultra 7 SKU) |
| Ports | Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C, microSD UHS-II, 3.5 mm |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Weight | About 675 g |
| Launch price | $699.99 / $749.99 / $799.99 (March 2024) |
Two specs stand out even now. Thunderbolt 4 is something no AMD-based rival offers, which means a genuine eGPU option. And Wi-Fi 7 on a 2024 handheld has aged unusually well.
What Changed Since Launch: The Intel Arc Driver Question
The single biggest complaint about the A1M was that Intel’s Arc graphics drivers were immature. Games that ran fine on AMD handhelds stuttered, crashed, or simply refused to launch. Intel kept shipping driver updates through 2024, 2025, and into 2026.
The honest position is that this has improved, and that most published reviews of the A1M are testing a version of the device that no longer exists in software terms. But “improved” is doing a lot of work in that sentence, and nobody has quantified it properly.
Battery Life in Real Use
The 53 Wh pack was the A1M’s other weak point at launch, and no driver update fixes physics. Expect roughly a couple of hours in demanding titles, considerably longer on low-TDP or 2D games.
MSI Claw A1M vs the Alternatives in 2026
| Component | Claw A1M | Claw 8 AI+ | Steam Deck OLED | ROG Ally X |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | Core Ultra 155H | Core Ultra 258V | AMD custom | AMD Z1 Extreme |
| Display | 7″ 1080p 120 Hz | 8″ 1080p 120 Hz | 7.4″ OLED 90 Hz | 7″ 1080p 120 Hz |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | 16 GB | 24 GB |
| Battery | 53 Wh | 80 Wh | 50 Wh | 80 Wh |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | SteamOS | Windows 11 |
| Thunderbolt 4 | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Best for | Discount buyers | Current flagship | Ease of use | Battery + Windows |
The comparison that actually matters is the A1M against its own successor. The Claw 8 AI+ has a larger screen, double the RAM, and a substantially bigger battery. If you can afford it, it is the better device without argument. The A1M only makes sense on price.
For a full head-to-head on the current generation, see our comparison of the Claw 8 EX AI+ against the ROG Xbox Ally X.
Who Should Buy the Claw A1M
Worth considering if you:
- Find it discounted well below the current-generation handhelds
- Want Thunderbolt 4 for an external GPU, which rules out every AMD rival
- Already own a large Windows game library and don’t want SteamOS compatibility layers
- Play mostly older or less demanding titles where the Arc driver gap barely shows
- Are comfortable installing driver updates yourself
Look elsewhere if you:
- Want the longest battery life — the 53 Wh pack is the smallest here
- Want something that works without tinkering, in which case the Steam Deck OLED is the answer
- Play new AAA releases at high settings, where the Intel Arc deficit is most visible
- Can stretch to the Claw 8 AI+, which fixes nearly every A1M complaint
Buying One in 2026: What to Check
The A1M is at end of life, so stock is a mix of remaining new units and a growing used market. Prices are also unusually volatile because of the ongoing memory shortage affecting the whole handheld category.
- Confirm which SKU you’re getting. The Core Ultra 5 135H and Core Ultra 7 155H models look identical in listings but differ meaningfully in performance.
- Check the storage size. 512 GB fills fast on Windows; the M.2 2230 drive is replaceable if you’re willing to open it.
- Update Intel Arc drivers before you judge it. A unit sitting in a warehouse since 2024 will ship on launch-era software.
- On used units, check the analogue sticks and the fan. Both are the common wear points.
- Compare against current Claw 8 AI+ pricing on the day you buy. If the gap is small, buy the newer one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MSI Claw A1M still worth buying in 2026?
At a steep discount, yes, for the right buyer. At anything near its original price, no — the Claw 8 AI+ and current AMD handhelds are better devices.
Have Intel Arc drivers fixed the Claw’s performance problems?
They have improved things substantially since launch, but the A1M still trails comparable AMD handhelds in demanding titles.
How long does the MSI Claw A1M battery last?
Roughly two hours in demanding games from the 53 Wh pack, longer at lower TDP settings on lighter titles.
Can you upgrade the MSI Claw A1M?
Storage yes — it uses a standard M.2 2230 NVMe drive. RAM is soldered LPDDR5 and cannot be changed.
Does the Claw A1M support an external GPU?
Yes. Thunderbolt 4 makes it one of the few handhelds with a proper eGPU path, which the AMD-based competitors lack.
Claw A1M or Steam Deck OLED?
Steam Deck OLED for a better screen and a far easier experience. Claw A1M if you need full Windows or Thunderbolt.
The Verdict
The Claw A1M was a bad deal at $749 and a reasonable one at a discount. That’s the whole story.
What it gets right — build quality, controls, the 120 Hz panel, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7 — hasn’t aged. What it gets wrong — battery capacity and a graphics platform that shipped before its drivers were ready — is partly fixed and partly permanent.
If you find one cheap and you know what you’re buying, it holds up better than its 2024 reviews suggest. If you’re paying anything close to current-generation money, buy a current-generation handheld.
