Device hub · Handheld gaming · Desk research

MSI Claw A1M

A1M is the 7-inch 1080p/120Hz Intel Claw: Ultra 7 155H (or Ultra 5 135H), 16GB LPDDR5-6400, 53Wh, single TB4, 675g.

Disclosure: Affiliate programs are not enrolled yet. See Affiliate disclosure. This page is manufacturer desk research, not a hands-on test — see Methodology.

In short

A1M is the 7-inch 1080p/120Hz Intel Claw: Ultra 7 155H (or Ultra 5 135H), 16GB LPDDR5-6400, 53Wh, single TB4, 675g. Buy it for that first-gen sheet. Skip it if you want Claw 8 AI+’s 8-inch 1200p / 32GB / 80Wh / dual TB4.

Who it is for

  • Windows buyers looking up the original 7-inch Claw A1M leftover / used sheet.
  • People comparing Meteor Lake-class Ultra 7 155H / Arc (8 Xe-cores on US SKU rows) against Claw 8 AI+ Lunar Lake.
  • Shoppers who want Hall-effect controls and Killer Wi-Fi 7 on a 53Wh 7-inch chassis.

Who should skip it

  • Anyone who wants Claw 8 AI+ (8-inch 1200p, 32GB, 80Wh, dual TB4) or Claw 7 AI+ (Lunar Lake 32GB / 54.5Wh / dual TB4).
  • SteamOS-first buyers. A1M ships Windows 11 Home.
  • People who need a published TDP or gameplay-hour range.
  • Buyers who assume every A1M is 32GB. US SKU rows we opened are 16GB; the family table’s “Max 32GB” is a ceiling, not the sold US config.

Key differentiators

  • First MSI Claw: 7-inch 1080p 120Hz IPS-level touch, 675g, black.
  • US SKUs: Ultra 7 155H (1.4–4.8GHz) or Ultra 5 135H (1.2–4.6GHz); Arc Graphics 8 Xe-cores on those US rows.
  • 53Wh + single Thunderbolt 4 + Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750.
  • Hall-effect sticks/triggers, M1/M2, fingerprint — no trackpads.

Caveats

  • This hub locks US 16GB SKUs. Family “Max 32GB” is not a promise that a 32GB US A1M exists.
  • Ultra 7 vs Ultra 5 share the page — do not mix clocks.
  • 500 nits comes from the CES 2024 MSI USA post, not the short A1MX comparison table.
  • GadgetShowdown has not lab-tested A1M.

Handheld-category specs

Same rows on every handheld page (Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion Go, Switch).

MSI Claw A1M — key specs
AttributeValueSource / note
SoC / APUUS SKUs: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (1.4–4.8GHz) or Core Ultra 5 135H (1.2–4.6GHz). Family table: up to Ultra 7 with Intel AI Boost (NPU).MSI US Claw A1M Specification SKU table; MSI A1MX SpecificationThis hub’s Extreme-style sentences are Ultra 7 155H unless a sentence says Ultra 5.
GPUIntel Arc Graphics. US SKU rows print Arc Graphics 8 Xe-cores.MSI US Claw A1M Specification; MSI A1MX Specification
TDP / APU power (OEM)Not publishedMSI Claw A1MX Specification
RAM16GB LPDDR5-6400 on US SKU rows. Family table also prints LPDDR5-6400 Max 32GB — treat Max as a ceiling.MSI US Claw A1M Specification; MSI A1MX Specification
Storage512GB or 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 2230 (US SKU rows). Family table: 1× M.2 2230 slot.MSI US Claw A1M Specification; MSI A1MX Specification
Expandable storagemicroSD card reader plus the replaceable 2230 SSDMSI Claw A1MX Specification
Display size7-inchMSI Claw A1MX Specification
Display typeIPS-level touchscreenMSI Claw A1MX Specification
Display resolution1920 × 1080 (FHD, 16:9)MSI Claw A1MX Specification
Refresh rate120HzMSI Claw A1MX Specification
Peak brightness (OEM)500 nits typical (MSI USA CES 2024 news post). Not printed on the short A1MX comparison table.MSI USA CES 2024 Claw unveil postManufacturer nits claim, not a measured outdoor reading.
HDR / color (OEM)100% sRGB typical on US SKU rows and the CES 2024 post. HDR10 is not named.MSI US Claw A1M Specification; MSI USA CES 2024 post
ControlsRGB ABXY; D-pad; RGB Hall-effect analog sticks; Hall-effect analog triggers; bumpers; View; Menu; MSI Center M; Quick Settings; M1/M2 macrosMSI Claw A1MX Specification
TrackpadsNoneMSI Claw A1MX Specification (no trackpad row)
Gyro / motion6-axis IMU (CES 2024 post lists 6-axis IMU + vibration motor)MSI USA CES 2024 Claw unveil post
HapticsHD hapticsMSI Claw A1MX Specification
Rear / grip buttonsMacro buttons M1/M2MSI Claw A1MX Specification
Battery capacity6-cell 53Wh Li-ion / Li-polymerMSI Claw A1MX Specification; MSI US SKU table
Battery life (OEM)Hours-of-gameplay not published on the Specification table (accessed 2026-09-19)MSI Claw A1MX Specification
Charging (OEM)65W USB-C PD adapterMSI Claw A1MX Specification
Operating systemWindows 11 HomeMSI Claw A1MX Specification
Store / ecosystemWindows 11 storefronts + MSI Center M. Not SteamOS.MSI Claw A1MX Specification
Weight675 g with batteryMSI Claw A1MX Specification
Dimensions294 × 117 × 21.2 mm (US table also prints 11.57 × 4.61 × 0.83 in)MSI Claw A1MX Specification; MSI US SKU table
Chassis / formIntegrated handheld, blackMSI Claw A1MX Specification
FinishesBlackMSI Claw A1MX Specification
CoolingInternal cooling; no named TDP/thermal row on the Specification table (accessed 2026-09-19)MSI Claw A1MX Specification
Ports1× Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort / Power Delivery 3.0); microSD; 3.5mm combo jack. CES post: fingerprint in the power button.MSI Claw A1MX Specification; MSI USA CES 2024 post
Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth)Intel Killer BE Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 (US rows: Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750)MSI Claw A1MX Specification; MSI US SKU table
Speakers / audio2× 2W speakers; array microphone; combo jack. CES post: Hi-Res audio ready.MSI Claw A1MX Specification; MSI USA CES 2024 post
Dock / TV outputDisplayPort over the single Thunderbolt 4 portMSI Claw A1MX Specification
US MSRP (launch)Not publishedMSI Claw A1MX SpecificationDo not invent a launch price from a retailer.
Price bandWindows handheld (US list unpublished on spec sheet)Derived from missing US list on spec table
AnnouncedCES 2024 (MSI USA unveil post)MSI USA CES 2024 Claw unveil post
AvailabilityOriginal A1M generation. Claw 8 AI+ is the later 8-inch family.MSI Specification pages, accessed 2026-09-19

MSI Claw A1M extras

Unique to this line or SKU. Other handhelds keep the first table aligned and swap this extras list.

MSI Claw A1M extras
AttributeValueSource / note
Ultra 5 135H SKUUS table includes Claw A1M-052US: Ultra 5 135H, 1.2–4.6GHz, 16GB, 512GB. Do not use 155H clocks on that config.MSI US Claw A1M Specification
FingerprintFingerprint security; CES post places the sensor in the power buttonMSI Claw A1MX Specification; MSI USA CES 2024 post
Intel XeSSMarketed on MSI store / unveil copy. Treat as OEM feature language, not a frame-rate warranty.MSI store / CES 2024 copy
Not Claw 8 AI+Claw 8 AI+ is `/handhelds/msi-claw-8-ai-plus/` — 8-inch 1200p, 32GB LPDDR5x-8533, 80Wh, dual TB4.MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VMX Specification
Not Claw 7 AI+Claw 7 AI+ A2VM is `/handhelds/msi-claw-7-ai-plus/` — Lunar Lake Ultra 7 Series 2, 32GB LPDDR5x-8533, 54.5Wh, dual TB4. A1M is Meteor Lake 16GB / 53Wh / single TB4.MSI Claw 7 AI+ A2VMX Specification

Overview

MSI Claw A1M is the original 7-inch Claw. Official rows: up to Ultra 7 (US: 155H or 135H), Arc Graphics, 16GB LPDDR5-6400 on US SKUs, 7-inch 1080p 120Hz, 53Wh, single Thunderbolt 4, 675g, Windows 11 Home.

We have not bench-tested this unit.

Claw 8 AI+ stays on /handhelds/msi-claw-8-ai-plus/.

Display

7-inch FHD 16:9, 120Hz, IPS-level touch. US rows / CES: 100% sRGB typical; CES: 500 nits typical.

SoC, RAM, and storage

MSI’s wordsClaw A1M (US lock)
CPUUltra 7 155H 1.4–4.8GHz (or Ultra 5 135H 1.2–4.6GHz)
GPUArc Graphics, 8 Xe-cores on US rows
RAM16GB LPDDR5-6400
Storage512GB or 1TB 2230 + microSD
TDPNot published

Controls

Hall-effect sticks and triggers, RGB ABXY, D-pad, bumpers, MSI Center M, M1/M2, HD haptics, 6-axis IMU, fingerprint in the power button (CES). No trackpads.

Battery and charging

53Wh 6-cell. 65W PD. No gameplay-hour row.

OS and dock

Windows 11 Home. DisplayPort over the single Thunderbolt 4 port.

How this page compares on a desk (not a vs-page)

Desk fact (OEM)A1MClaw 7 AI+Claw 8 AI+2023 Ally
Panel7” 1080p 120Hz7” 1080p 120Hz8” 1200p VRR7” 1080p 120Hz
RAM16GB LPDDR5-6400 (US)32GB LPDDR5x-853332GB LPDDR5x-853316GB LPDDR5-6400
Battery53Wh54.5Wh80Wh40Wh
Ports1× TB42× TB42× TB4XG Mobile + USB-C
WirelessKiller Wi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 6EWi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 6E

Price, SKUs, and what not to invent

US list is not published on the Specification table. Do not invent one.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Is this Claw 8 AI+?

No. Claw 8 AI+ is `/handhelds/msi-claw-8-ai-plus/`.

16GB or 32GB?

US SKU rows we opened are 16GB LPDDR5-6400. The family table’s Max 32GB is a ceiling. Do not write 32GB as the sold US A1M without a SKU that prints it.

Ultra 7 or Ultra 5?

Both exist on the US table. This hub’s default sentences are Ultra 7 155H.

What TDP does MSI publish?

None. Keep the key as Not published.

Official product page: MSI Claw A1M. Tech specs: MSI Claw A1M specs.