Amazon has given us a sneak peek into MSI’s newest gaming handheld, the Claw 8 AI+, which is priced at $899 and already making waves with its impressive specs showcased on VideoCardz. Notably, it’s set to be the first of its kind to incorporate Intel Lunar Lake CPUs. Additionally, MSI is gearing up to release an updated version of the Claw 7 AI+ with a slightly earlier release date.
Digging into the details, the new Claw 8 AI+ will come with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor. Another version is set to feature the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V. Gamers will appreciate the choice between two LPDDR5X-8553 memory configurations: 16GB and 32GB, ensuring smooth performance across the board.
Under the hood, the Ultra 7 285V processor runs at a base clock speed of 2.2 GHz, which can go up to 4.8 GHz. Both variants will boast a 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 SSD for internal storage, alongside a micro SDHC card slot for extra space. You’ll find Arc 14V graphics with eight Xe2 cores providing the visual punch. The display is quite the upgrade too—it’s a bit bigger with an 8-inch touchscreen, supporting a 120Hz refresh rate, 500 nits brightness, and a resolution of 1920 x 1200.
Full of new features, the Claw 8 AI+ also sees an upgrade in battery capacity, now reaching 80 Wh. For connectivity, there are two Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports, perfect for both charging and hooking up add-ons or an eGPU. It’ll ship with Windows 11 as its operating system, just in time for a Christmas release on December 25. The top-tier specification will retail for $899.
On the other hand, the Claw 7 AI+ will sport the same Intel Ultra 7-258V CPU and come with 32GB RAM but with a 512GB storage option. Its 7-inch display offers a 1080p resolution, and it features a 53Wh battery. This variant is due to ship on December 1. For an additional $100, the Claw 8 AI+ gives you an extra inch of screen, a bigger battery, and twice the storage capacity. Consequently, the Claw 8 is slightly larger than the Claw 7 models, including its successor, the 7 AI+.
Here’s a quick comparison between the different MSI Claw handhelds:
- Claw 8 AI+: Intel Ultra Core 7 258V/256V, 16GB/32GB RAM, 1TB storage, Arc 140v graphics, 8-inch display, 80 Wh battery, weighs 794 g.
- Claw 7 AI+: Intel Ultra Core 7 258V, 32GB RAM, 512GB storage, Arc 140v graphics, 7-inch display, 53 Wh battery, weighs 675 g.
Initially, the Claw 8 AI+ wasn’t expected until early 2025, but it’s now set for release just before CES 2025, a nice surprise for gaming enthusiasts.
Turning our attention to future competition, it’s worth noting the anticipated Lenovo Legion Go and Asus Ally successors, which might feature AMD’s Ryzen Z2 or Z2 Extreme CPUs, due for 2025. According to AMD, their upcoming Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, with Radeon 890M graphics, could outperform Intel’s Core Ultra 7 285 by a whopping 75% in gaming scenarios, which could tip the scales for gamers deciding which brand to go with.
Looking ahead, expect plenty of new gaming handhelds in the months to come, featuring Intel’s Lunar Lake or AMD’s Z2 series APUs. We’ll have to wait a bit longer to fully assess performance, battery longevity, and user experience, but the future looks bright for gaming enthusiasts.
