Sneak Peek, Big Heat: MSI Teases Blazing-Fast Handheld PC for CES 2024

In 2023, Asus introduced the ROG Ally handheld console, equipped with a specialized APU named “Ryzen Z1 Extreme,” co-developed with AMD. It boasts a well-balanced configuration, significantly lower than gamers’ expectations. This release has created a whirlwind in the mobile gaming handheld device market, invigorating a niche previously dominated by only a few small manufacturers. This surge in interest has gradually drawn the attention of other PC makers.

MSI teased its first PC handheld console on social media, proclaiming “A whole new breed of MSI dragon is coming.” The preview video showcased the positioning of two joysticks and the device’s rear cooling design, along with the iconic MSI Dragon shield logo. Although just a brief video, the details revealed have tantalizingly whetted gamers’ appetites, with the new device set to debut at CES 2024.

In its design, the MSI handheld console seems to draw inspiration from the ROG Ally handheld and the Steam Deck OLED. It features dazzling RGB light rings on the shoulder buttons, exuding a distinct esports style. MSI also emphasized the intricacies of its cooling system, with a back panel covered in a mesh grille and adorned with the words “True Gaming,” seemingly underscoring the new handheld’s potent cooling capabilities. Given MSI’s existing lineup of gaming laptops, venturing into this new market segment is a natural progression, especially as the ROG Ally handheld has illuminated fresh opportunities for many manufacturers.

Intriguingly, Intel responded to MSI’s handheld console teaser with three thoughtful emojis, hinting that the new device might be powered by Meteor Lake, diverging from the AMD chips commonly used in similar devices of late.