The GPD Win Max 2021 ($669–$1250) and the MSI Claw A1M ($699–$799) are both Windows-based high-end handhelds, but they differ in era, form, and emulation reach. The Win Max 2021's clamshell design suits buyers who want a laptop-like experience, and its AMD Ryzen 7 4800U handles emulation up to Wii U. The Claw A1M arrives three years later with Intel Core Ultra silicon and a conventional horizontal form, pushing the ceiling to PlayStation 3.
| GPD Win Max 2021 | MSI Claw A1M | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $669–$1250 | $699–$799 |
| Brand | GamePad Digital | MSI |
| Released | 2021 / 09 | 2024 / 03 |
| Type | Clamshell | Horizontal |
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
| Performance | ||
| Chip (SoC) | AMD Ryzen 7 4800 U, Intel Core i7-1195G7 (Comparison) | Intel Core Ultra 5 135H, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
| CPU | AMD Zen 2, Intel Tiger Lake-U | Intel Meteor Lake 4x P Cores, 8x E Cores, 2x Low Power E Cores 6x P Cores, 8x E Cores, 2x Low Power E Cores |
| GPU | AMD Radeon RX Vega 8, Intel Iris Xe 96EU (i7-1195G7) | Intel Arc |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR4 (8532 MT/s) | 16 GB LPDDR5 (6400 MT/s) |
| Storage | Internal 1 TB / 2 TB PCIE4 NVMe M.2 SSD & External MicroSD | Internal 512 GB / 1 TB (NVMe?), External MicroSD |
| Cooling | Dual fans Dual heat pipes Intake underneath, Exhaust on top edge | Heatpipes Dual Fans Ventilation cutouts |
| Power tier | High-end | High-end |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 8.0 inch | 7.0 inch |
| Screen type | H-IPS Touchscreen | IPS Touchscreen |
| Resolution | 1280 x 800 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Pixel density | 188.68 PPI | 319.26 PPI |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 16:9 |
| Body & battery | ||
| Battery | 3x 5000 mAh (57 Wh) | 53 Wh |
| Weight | 790 grams | 675 grams |
| Dimensions | 207 mm x 145 mm x 26 mm | 294 mm x 117 mm x 21.2 mm |
| Shell | Metal (Magnesium Aluminum Alloy) | Plastic |
| Colors | Black | Black |
| Ports & connectivity | ||
| Wireless | Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 6, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C x2, USB-A x2, Ethernet | WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Video out | HDMI | USB-C video out Top facing |
| Charging port | USB-C x2 | USB-C Top facing |
| Audio out | 3.5mm Headphone | 3.5mm Headphone Top facing |
| Speakers | Dual Stereo Rear facing | Dual Stereo Front facing |
| GPD Win Max 2021 | MSI Claw A1M | |
|---|---|---|
| Game Boy / Color | A | A |
| NES | A | A |
| Genesis / Mega Drive | A | A |
| Game Boy Advance | A | A |
| SNES | A | A |
| PlayStation 1 | A | A |
| Nintendo DS | A | A |
| Nintendo 64 | A | A |
| Dreamcast | A | A |
| PSP | A | A |
| Sega Saturn | A | A |
| GameCube | A | A |
| Nintendo 3DS | A | A |
| Nintendo Wii | A | A |
| PlayStation 2 | A | A |
| Switch | B- | A- |
| Wii U | B | A |
| PlayStation 3 | C- | B |
Bottom line: The GPD Win Max 2021 is the cheaper option at $669–$1250; the MSI Claw A1M is more powerful and emulates more demanding systems.
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