Abstract
- The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a robust gaming handheld with premium options and a excessive price ticket of $1000.
- The gadget comes with a robust processor, huge storage, and high quality show, providing an distinctive gaming expertise.
- Whereas pricey, in the event you’re searching for a major gaming gadget that excels in efficiency, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a best choice.
For lots of players, together with myself, handheld gaming PCs are a secondary gadget, providing on-the-go play when your major PC or console is not obtainable. Although I personally use gaming handhelds loads in my house so I can play on the sofa or in mattress, these units are designed to be transportable first, and nearly at all times come second to a different, major gaming gadget.
Nevertheless, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is the primary gaming handheld I’ve tried that feels prefer it may truly turn into the first method I play video games. With insane {hardware} beneath the hood, a high-quality display screen, and AI options that take the guesswork out of optimizing your gadget on your favourite recreation, I discovered myself prioritizing enjoying video games on a handheld over a console for the primary time ever.
Sadly, such a premium expertise does come at a price, and the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is not a handheld for everybody. However in case you are in search of a gaming gadget that fairly actually does all of it, and do not thoughts plunking down a hefty chunk of change, this simply is perhaps the console-replacement you are in search of.
- Weight
-
1.75 kilos
- Chipset
-
Intel Core Extremely 7 processor
- RAM
-
32 GB
- Storage
-
1 TB
A premium gaming handheld powered by Intel Core Extremely 7-258V with 32GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.
- Intel chip gives unimaginable efficiency
- AI options make optimization straightforward
- Huge show
- Costly
- Arduous to carry when you could have small wrists
- Heart M launcher wants enchancment

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Value, availability, and specs
Energy in your fingers
Below the hood, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is rocking the extremely highly effective Intel Core Extremely 7 258V processor, which gives significantly better efficiency than different handhelds just like the ROG Ally collection and the Lenovo Legion Go S, which use an AMD Z1 Excessive. Paired with 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage, this handheld is actually probably the most highly effective I’ve examined and may go toe to toe with loads of mid-range gaming laptops and PCs, which is fairly spectacular for a handheld.
Along with uncooked energy, this handheld packs Corridor Impact joysticks, two Thunderbolt 4 ports (good for attaching a controller or exterior show whereas nonetheless charging), RGB lighting, whisper-quiet Hyperflow followers, and a high-capacity 80WHr battery.
Nevertheless, it must be famous that every one this energy does come at a worth, because the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is among the most costly gaming handhelds at present obtainable, costing an eye-popping $1000 as of July 2025. Little question a few of this worth could also be on account of elevated prices thanks to political policy, however with this unit costing greater than a PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Change 2 mixed, price is certainly one of many first components you need to think about in the event you’re considering of choosing up this gadget.
- Weight
-
1.75 kilos
- Chipset
-
Intel Core Extremely 7 processor
- RAM
-
32 GB
- Storage
-
1 TB
- Show
-
8-inch LED
- Graphics
-
Intel Arc Graphics
- Ports
-
2 Thunderbolt 4 USB-C
- Battery
-
80 WHr

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What I appreciated concerning the MSI Claw 8 AI+
Gaming on the go with out limitations
When placing the MSI Claw 8 AI+ by its paces, I attempted to pick a recreation that I knew would push the {hardware} to its limits. On this case, that title ended up being Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle, a recreation that has pissed off me on different units with frequent crashes, framerate drops, and loading points. And once I bought began with the MSI Claw 8 AI+, I famous a few of these identical points throughout the first ten minutes or so of beginning the sport.
Nevertheless, the sport has a sensible AI Engine function that routinely optimized efficiency and as soon as I turned it on I used to be in a position to get the sport operating easily in only a matter of moments. Although you might be nonetheless free to make use of the gadget’s handbook settings mode if you want, I can not advocate the AI engine sufficient because it helped me get into the video games I wished to play as shortly as doable, with Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle operating at a secure 50 FPS when in handheld mode. Sadly, the sport’s power-saving endurance mode was merely less than the duty when it got here to enjoying this recreation, however once I booted up lighter weight video games like Persona 3: Reloaded and Slay the Spire, the MSI Claw 8 AI+’s battery saving mode offered satisfactory efficiency as properly.
It doesn’t matter what you are enjoying, the MSI Claw 8 AI+’s large 8-inch IPS touchscreen appears shiny and exquisite and makes use of VRR (variable refresh charge) at as much as 120Hz to make sure easy efficiency from even probably the most demanding titles. Given the gadget’s premium worth, you would be forgiven for questioning why the MSI Claw 8 AI+ does not have an OLED display screen, however I actually suppose the LCD will get the job performed properly sufficient that if that is the place the nook needed to be reduce to maintain the gadget from costing over a grand, the IPS display screen is an appropriate substitution.

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What I did not like concerning the MSI Claw 8 AI+
Generally, it is not nearly energy
There’s actually not loads to dislike concerning the MSI Claw 8 AI+. It is a dear handheld to make sure, however with loads of energy beneath the hood, that worth is justified in case you are out there for a top-of-the line handheld. Nevertheless, there have been some nitpick-y issues that I did not personally like concerning the gadget, although these largely fall beneath the “your mileage could differ” umbrella.
First up, my greatest problem personally with the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has to do with ergonomics. I’ve very small fingers, and I discovered the gadget’s slab-like form to be robust to carry for lengthy intervals of time, particularly as a result of the gadget weighs nearly two kilos and put quite a lot of pressure on my wrists. I discovered myself typically propping the gadget up on a pillow or a countertop to provide my wrists a break after just some hours of gaming. As with something, I might encourage those that are all in favour of shopping for this gadget to discover a unit they’ll check out first, as my distinctive hand construction could merely be incompatible with the gadget, whereas others could discover it simpler to carry.
One other small problem I had was with the MSI software program that ships with the gadget. Very like different gaming handhelds, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has its personal proprietary app on the gadget named Heart M, which permits customers a central hub from which they’ll launch video games, customise controls, modify settings, and customarily bypass quite a lot of Home windows 11. Although the launcher will get the job performed, it is not as absolutely featured as Legion House or Armory Crate on ROG units, and it takes some digging to search out primary features contained in the app. Luckily, in the event you’re like me and also you hate it, you’ll be able to at all times simply bypass it totally. After all, meaning you will be caught utilizing Home windows 11, which has its personal well-documented points, but when all you are making an attempt to do is get to your video games, it is a comparatively small downside.
Lastly, like just about any gaming handheld, the battery life on the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is not nice. When enjoying Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle, I used to be in a position to simply barely eke out 90 minutes of gameplay earlier than needing to plug in. Granted, when enjoying different, much less resource-intensive video games like Slay the Spire or Persona 3: Reloaded, I may get nearly double that quantity, however its necessary to know that in case you are getting this handheld primarily to play top-tier video games, do not count on prolonged battery instances, and be sure you have a high-capacity power bank with you in the event you’re taking it on the go.

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Must you purchase the MSI Claw 8 AI+?
Take into consideration your personal use case first
At an MSRP of $1000, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is asking players for a giant funding up entrance, and if you have already got a handheld, a laptop computer, even a Change 2 that you just use frequently, that pricetag could merely make this gadget, as spectacular as it’s from a technical standpoint, not definitely worth the cash.
Nevertheless, in case you are in search of a brand new major gaming gadget (or simply have cash to burn I suppose) that is nearly actually the most effective handheld at present obtainable. Regardless of some issues I had with ergonomics, the onboard software program, and the battery life, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ nonetheless is one premium buy you will in all probability be glad you made.

- Weight
-
1.75 kilos
- Chipset
-
Intel Core Extremely 7 processor
- RAM
-
32 GB
- Storage
-
1 TB
A premium gaming handheld powered by Intel Core Extremely 7-258V with 32GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.

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