MSI introduced its latest gaming handhelds, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and MSI Claw 7 AI+, this week, as a follow-up to the initial MSI Claw released earlier this year.
The new MSI Claw devices are equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V system-on-a-chip (SoC), featuring Intel’s latest Arc Xe2 graphics for enhanced gaming performance and efficiency. The original MSI Claw faced some performance challenges with its previous generation SoC, receiving mixed reviews.
However, with the second-gen Intel Core Ultra 7 chip, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ are expected to overcome the issues of their predecessor. The actual performance will be determined once they are tested.
Aside from the Core Ultra 7 chip, the Claw 8 AI+ boasts an 8-inch 1200p, 120Hz display with 100% sRGB color gamut and up to 500 nits brightness. It also includes 32GB LPDDR5x-8533 RAM, a 1TB PCIe SSD, and a large 80 WHr battery with 65W USB 3.0 power delivery.
The Claw 7 AI+, on the other hand, only differs in screen size, offering a 7-inch display and a smaller 54.5 WHr battery.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is currently available for preorder at Best Buy, Amazon, and the MSI Store for $899.99 in the US, while the Claw 7 AI+ is priced at $799.99. Pricing and availability details for the UK and Australia are yet to be confirmed.
When the original MSI Claw made its debut at CES 2024, there was considerable anticipation to see the capabilities of the first Intel-powered handheld. The Intel Core Ultra 100-series SoC in the first Claw offered some advantages, such as hardware-accelerated upscaling through XeSS, a feature unique to gaming handhelds at that time.
However, the gaming performance of the Intel Core Ultra 100-series chips was somewhat disappointing, especially when compared to AMD Z1 chips found in devices like the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally.
Yet, the new MSI Claw devices may have a better standing this time around, thanks to Intel’s upgraded Lunar Lake chips. Laptops with Intel Core Ultra 200-series chips have shown impressive performance, especially in gaming.
Coupled with enhanced energy efficiency from Intel’s re-engineered architecture, the new MSI Claw models could offer superior performance and longer battery life – two critical factors for the success of a gaming handheld.
While it’s too early to confirm the performance of the new Claw models, the preview of the Claw 8 AI+ at IFA 2024 hinted at a significant improvement compared to the original device. Whether this justifies the $899.99 price tag remains to be seen.