When MSI released its first handheld gaming PC, the MSI Claw, the reception was not good. Not only was it launched right after several impressive handheld gaming PCs—such as the ASUS ROG Ally and the Lenovo Legion Go—but it also faced another issue: performance, or rather, the lack of it, due to the integration of Intel’s Meteor Lake mobile processor, which didn’t stack up to its competition at the time. However, MSI didn’t give up, and I’m hearing a lot of positive things about MSI’s next attempt at the handheld gaming PC market: the MSI Claw 8 AI+.
Several outlets, including those attending IFA 2024, a consumer electronics event that dwarfs even CES (Consumer Electronics Show), are reporting early impressions of the device.
- MSI Claw 8 AI+ hands on: Intel Steam Deck rivals are getting good (pcgamesn.com)
- Hands on: MSI Claw 8 AI+: will the second time be a charm for MSI? It sure feels that way | TechRadar
- MSI Claw 8 AI+ hands-on review: promising second chance for an Intel-powered gaming handheld (theshortcut.com)
- I’m giving MSI a second chance with the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and you should, too | Laptop Mag
As for giving MSI another chance, I don’t see why not. It’s not like other companies haven’t made mistakes during their first go-round. I’m looking squarely at ASUS and the flaws with the ROG Ally. Despite that, the device sold so well that ASUS released an upgraded version—the ASUS ROG Ally X. Now, it’s MSI’s chance for redemption.
So, what has MSI learned this time around? For starters, taking a page from Lenovo, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is equipped with an 8-inch, 1080p 120Hz display that supports VRR, along with a massive battery upgrade from 53 Wh to 80 Wh. I’m still disappointed that no one outside of Nintendo and Valve has opted to include OLED screens in their handheld devices. The device will also be upgraded to 32 GB of LPDDR5x-8533 RAM, up from the MSI Claw’s 16 GB LPDDR5-6400.
However, the biggest change comes under the hood—the switch from Intel’s Meteor Lake processor, which contributed to the poor performance of the MSI Claw, to the newly released Intel Core Ultra 200V Lunar Lake CPU. Intel promises better performance and improved battery life with this chip. On paper, Lunar Lake looks poised to beat—or at least match—AMD’s mobile offerings that power the ROG Ally/Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go. We’ll have to wait and see if that’s the case.
As a handheld enthusiast, this all sounds promising, however, there are still a few details that have been revealed. MSI seems to be keeping everything under wraps until the device is ready, which is probably the right move. Given that the original MSI Claw was a disaster in many ways, MSI wants to show the handheld PC gaming world that it can compete with ASUS and Lenovo. I’m looking forward to seeing that.
Yet MSI faces one major roadblock: regaining consumer trust after the MSI Claw’s failure. The MSI Claw 8 AI+ must be aggressively priced to compete with other handheld gaming PCs, but it also can’t be too expensive if MSI wants to, well, “claw” its way back into the market. Either that or this device had better be the best-performing handheld on the market to win fans over. For me, it needs to blow the doors off the ASUS ROG Ally X, for me to even consider it. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
There’s no release date yet for when the MSI Claw 8 AI+ will be available.
