It would be an understatement to express our dissatisfaction with the original MSI Claw. We had high expectations for the first gaming handheld powered by Intel, but it delivered subpar performance, inadequate bumpers, elevated heat levels, software troubles, and lackluster battery longevity.
This holiday season, MSI and Intel have brought forth the Claw 8 AI+. While the title of this portable gaming PC is quite unfortunate, the device itself is an enjoyable surprise. Intel has made significant efforts to transform the Core Ultra 200V “Lunar Lake” series into a worthy gaming processor, complete with quality driver enhancements, enhanced super sampling, and ray tracing capabilities. MSI has revamped the joysticks and bumpers on the Claw 8 AI+, making them more responsive and satisfying, and has improved the thermal management with a new Cooler Boost Hyper Flow system.
Has the Claw 8 AI+ redeemed MSI in your eyes? Can this returning contender surpass the Asus ROG Ally X and secure a place among our top gaming laptops under $1,500 or best gaming handhelds?
MSI Claw 8 AI+: Specifications and benchmarks
| Price: | $899 |
| CPU: | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V |
| GPU: | Intel Arc 140V |
| RAM: | 32GB |
| Storage: | 2TB SSD |
| Display: | 8-inch, (1920 x 1200), 120Hz, IPS touchscreen |
| Battery (HH:MM): | 2:22 gaming (assessed at 30W power), 3:06 (evaluated in AI Engine mode) |
| Dimensions: | 11.77 x 4.96 x 0.94 inches |
| Weight: | 1.75 pounds |
Click to view complete benchmark test results
| Header Cell – Column 0 | MSI Claw 8 AI+ |
|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (Higher is preferable) | 10,917 |
| Handbrake conversion (Lower is preferable) | 06:34 |
| 25GB File Transfer Test (Lower is preferable) | 16.97 |
| 25GB File Transfer Test (SSD velocity) | 1,582 |
| Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit) | 95 |
| Gaming Temperature (Degrees Fahrenheit, 95 comfort threshold) | 96.6 |
| Battery longevity (Higher is preferable) | 13:31 |
| PCMark 10 Gaming Battery longevity (higher is preferable) | 03:06 |
| Display luminance (Higher is preferable) | 473 |
| sRGB color spectrum (Higher is preferable) | 113.6% |
| DCI-P3 color spectrum (Higher is preferable) | 80.4% |
| Color precision (Lower is preferable) | 0.32 |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra (Higher is preferable) | 2,243 |
| 3DMark Time Spy Extreme (Higher is preferable) | 2,076 |
| Assassin’s Creed: Mirage (1080p, fps) | 30 |
| Borderlands 3 (1080p, fps) | 28.8 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (720p, fps) | 14.72 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, fps) | 7.49 |
| DiRT 5 (720p, fps) | 37.9 |
| DiRT 5 (1080p, fps) | 31.3 |
| Red Dead Redemption II (Medium, 1080p, fps) | 20.706 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (720p, fps) | 37 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, fps) | 25 |
MSI Claw 8 AI+: Pricing and configurations
Currently, there exists a singular configuration for the Claw 8 AI+ (A2VM), which is our $899 evaluation unit. This version of the Claw is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V “Lunar Lake” chip, integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and an 8-inch (1920 x 1200) 120Hz IPS touchscreen interface. The 8-inch MSI Claw can be acquired at Best Buy and the MSI Store.
An alternative is the updated 7-inch handheld, the MSI Claw 7 AI+ (A2VM), which also includes the same Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor and integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics, 32GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 7-inch 120Hz IPS display. This variant is priced at $799 and can be obtained through Amazon.
Both second-generation Claw devices carry a higher price tag, yet we have observed increases in the costs of other second-generation gaming handhelds. The Steam Deck OLED is markedly more expensive compared to its LED variant, and the Asus ROG Ally X saw a price spike of $150. Given the current inflationary climate, the Claw 8 AI+’s price of $899 is not particularly surprising, albeit it does represent a more substantial investment.
MSI Claw 8 AI+: Design
The Claw 8 AI+ features a significant redesign compared to the prior 7-inch frame. The most noticeable alteration is the color-blocked outer casing, showcasing a Sandstorm beige on the front of the handgrips and a black casing underneath. Although I would prefer a more vibrant hue like red, purple, or teal for the accent color, the dual-tone aesthetic does distinctly differentiate the Claw 8 AI+ from its earlier model. If any handheld device required a fresh start, it’s definitely the second-generation MSI Claw.
The handgrips of the Claw 8 are adequately sized to fit comfortably in your palms and are well-structured, ensuring you can press all the necessary buttons. The handgrips widen near your palms, resembling a contemporary game controller, which represents an improvement over some of the less ergonomic handheld designs previously released, such as the original Asus ROG Ally. We appreciated the ergonomics of the original Claw, and it appears that MSI has maintained that successful design in the handheld’s second version.
Regarding thermal management and sturdiness, MSI has integrated an intraflow thermal structure for enhanced cooling, reducing the number of air intakes located on the top and rear sections of the handheld. The joysticks and triggers continue to utilize a Hall-Effect mechanism for greater longevity and precision, with the new setup feeling significantly more robust than its predecessor. The triggers on the Claw 8 AI+ possess a bit more weight and resistance, resulting in a substantially more gratifying click. Furthermore, the triggers and bumpers click along the entire length of the button, eliminating any unresponsive areas at the edges of the handheld.
The Claw 8 AI+ is not the largest or heaviest handheld gaming PC available; that title belongs to the Lenovo Legion Go. However, it is undeniably substantial, measuring 11.77 x 4.96 x 0.94 inches and weighing 1.75 pounds. This represents a considerable size and weight when compared to many other handheld gaming portable systems such as:
MSI Claw 8 AI+: Ports
MSI has revised the port configuration with the Claw 8 AI+, providing extra ports to enhance your gaming convenience. The complete port selection for the Claw 8 includes:
- 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C
- 1x microSD Card reader
- 1x 3.5mm headphone/mic port
Since the Claw operates as a handheld device, this setup should suffice for connecting a headset, augmenting your storage, and simultaneously charging the Claw 8.
However, if you plan on utilizing the Claw 8 AI+ to energize your home workspace, we suggest purchasing one of the top laptop docking stations or USB-C hubs to allow for connections to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
MSI Claw 8 AI+: Battery life
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is equipped with three distinct user scenario power settings; the AI Engine mode is the default setting, while the Endurance mode is engineered to provide optimal battery longevity, or you may choose Manual mode. The latter grants you the ability to specify the TDP at 30W, 17W, or 8W power levels. While gaming on the Claw 8 AI+, I generally operated games using the 30W manual TDP or AI Engine mode. I did observe that I could fit in a bit more of my daily MMO sessions when utilizing AI Engine mode, although the performance was not as seamless compared to the 30W setting, which is to be expected. I averaged approximately 2 hours of gameplay in Final Fantasy XIV at 30W and gained about an additional 30 minutes when in AI Engine mode.
We assessed the Claw 8 AI+ under the 30W power setting, which included our initial battery life evaluations. With the maximum 30W power, we registered a PCMark 10 battery life benchmark of 2 hours and 22 minutes. When operating on the default AI Engine Mode, we recorded a PCMark 10 battery life score of 3 hours and 6 minutes. Since we typically evaluate handheld devices under their default power modes, that 3:06 battery duration is the one we are using for comparison, making the Claw 8 AI+ the longest-lasting handheld gaming PC we’ve examined to date.
MSI asserts that the Claw 8 AI+ provides over 4 hours of gaming time with the Endurance mode, so we verified that as well. In the PCMark 10 gaming battery examination, with the screen brightness set to 150 nits, the Claw endured for 4 hours and 21 minutes.
You will experience a decrease in performance while running in Endurance mode, but if you are only engaged in playing a low-intensity indie game or do not require a competitive framerate, it is ideal for gaming on the go.
Click to view chart data in table format
| Header Cell – Column 0 | MSI Claw 8 AI+ | Asus ROG Ally X | Steam Deck OLED | Lenovo Legion Go | MSI Claw (A1M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery longevity (Higher is superior) | 13:31 | 08:19 | Row 0 – Cell 3 | 04:06 | 06:09 |
| PCMark 10 Gaming Battery longevity (higher is superior) | 03:06 | 03:04 | Row 1 – Cell 3 | 01:59 | 01:22 |
MSI Claw 8 AI+: Display
The Claw 8 showcases an 8-inch, 120Hz (1920 x 1200) IPS touchscreen display. This shiny IPS panel is genuinely remarkable. The Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail endgame hub city Solution Nine appeared as vivid as I have ever witnessed, with distinct differences in the neon pink and cotton-candy blue amid the simulated lights of the cyberpunk environment.
Baldur’s Gate III exhibited similarly vibrant visuals, featuring deep contrast, exceptional detail quality, and an impressive spectrum of colors in the Act One zone of the game. The Emerald Grove displayed a lovely variety of greens among the thriving vegetation and the neon-green accents of Druid magic, indicating a commendable level of color fidelity in the panel. While we have encountered creator-level gaming laptops with greater vibrancy and color precision, the Claw 8 AI+ screen provides excellent quality for an 8-inch display on a portable gaming device.
The Claw 8 AI+ is bright enough to overcome screen glare, even with its glossy IPS screen. We have evaluated brighter gaming handhelds, as evidenced by the Steam Deck OLED achieving an average peak brightness of 597 nits, which is over 100 nits more than the Claw 8 AI+ (473 nits). Nevertheless, all of these devices are sufficiently bright for gaming on the go.
The touchscreen of the Claw 8 AI+ operates as anticipated, accurately detecting taps and gestures. However, you might consider increasing the display zoom while in Windows 11 desktop mode to allow for more accessible touch targets.
Click to reveal chart data in table format.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | MSI Claw 8 AI+ | Asus ROG Ally X | Steam Deck OLED | Lenovo Legion Go | MSI Claw (A1M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display luminance (Higher is superior) | 473 | 523 | 597 | 477 | 429 |
| sRGB color spectrum (Higher is superior) | 113.6% | 112.7% | 143.7% | 151.8% | 102.4% |
| DCI-P3 color range (Higher is preferable) | 80.4% | 79.8% | 101.8% | 107.5% | 72.5% |
| Color precision (Lower is preferable) | 0.32 | 0.36 | 0.22 | 0.21 | 0.31 |
MSI Claw 8 AI+: Audio
The DTS dual speaker configuration on the Claw 8 AI+ directs sound upwards, emanating from the speaker vents positioned just below the screen on the front of the device. Additionally, MSI incorporated noise-canceling technology into the Claw 8 AI+, enhancing the effectiveness of its speakers. This significantly improves both audio volume and clarity, allowing you to relish the beautiful melodies of Baldur’s Gate III or experience the excitement of the action with the Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers battle theme “rencounter”.
I maxed out the audio on the Claw 8 AI + while engaging in fate grinding in the older Shadowbringers areas to level up my Pictomancer, and I was pleased by the volume and clarity. The powerful metal-style guitar riffs combined with the battle cry vocals made the Shadowbringers battle theme sound exceptional from such compact speakers.
Of course, for a fully immersive gaming experience with studio-grade audio, I would suggest connecting a pair of top-quality headphones to the Claw 8 instead of relying on the built-in speakers.
MSI Claw 8 AI+: Gaming and graphics
Similar to all other Windows-based gaming handhelds, you must use the Windows 11 desktop to download and install your games for the first time. After obtaining the games on the Claw 8 AI+, you can nearly eliminate the need for Windows by launching games directly from the MSI Center M interface, which serves as a convenient workaround for my least favored aspect of handheld PC gaming. Namely, Windows itself.
Regarding gaming performance, the built-in Intel Arc 140V graphics processor inside the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V “Lunar Lake” processor delivers impressive graphics quality and smooth framerates. While your optimized configurations will vary depending on the game, you can achieve solid performance at 30W power even with the highest graphics presets at 1080p. However, adjusting to medium settings can yield smoother framerates.
In Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail at the Standard (Laptop) graphics settings at 1080p resolution, I averaged 40-50fps across most content. Although it wasn’t the most fluid experience, it allowed me to navigate end-game trials and dungeons without any stuttering or unexpected frame drops. In Bladur’s Gate III, I experienced a seamless gameplay at High graphics presets at either 1080p or 1200p resolution, though Medium settings proved to be a bit more dependable.
Even Cyberpunk 2077 was playable due to a strategic implementation of Intel’s XeSS super sampling technology and reducing the graphics to the Medium preset. When we benchmarked the game, we ran it at Ultra settings, without any software aid, which explains the difference in playability. Yet, our laboratory managed to achieve Black Myth: Wukong at 30fps on Medium settings, which is quite commendable for such a demanding game benchmark. Indeed, during our lab assessments, the Claw 8 consistently outperformed its rivals, including a 5-7 fps advantage over the Asus ROG Ally X across a majority of games.
Click to view chart data in table format.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | MSI Claw 8 AI+ | Asus ROG Ally X | Steam Deck OLED | Lenovo Legion Go | MSI Claw (A1M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra (Higher is improved) | 2,243 | 2,090 | Row 0 – Cell 3 | 1,723 | 2,161 |
| 3DMark Time Spy Extreme (Higher is improved) | 2,076 | 1,444 | Row 1 – Cell 3 | 1,090 | 1,851 |
| Assassin’s Creed: Mirage (1080p, fps) | 30 | 23 | Row 2 – Cell 3 | 17 | Row 2 – Cell 5 |
| Borderlands 3 (1080p, fps) | 28.8 | 22.76 | Row 3 – Cell 3 | 21.15 | 22.71 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (720p, fps) | 14.72 | 9.76 | 23.34 | Row 4 – Cell 4 | 31.94 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, fps) | 7.49 | 4.94 | Row 5 – Cell 3 | 20.45 | 29.43 |
| DiRT 5 (720p, fps) | 37.9 | 30.5 | 23.77 | Row 6 – Cell 4 | Row 6 – Cell 5 |
| DiRT 5 (1080p, fps) | 31.3 | 24 | Row 7 – Cell 3 | 26.7 | Row 7 – Cell 5 |
| Red Dead Redemption II (Medium, 1080p, fps) | 20.706 | 17.263 | Row 8 – Cell 3 | 15.6673 | Row 8 – Cell 5 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (720p, fps) | 37 | 36 | 40 | Row 9 – Cell 4 | Row 9 – Cell 5 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, fps) | 25 | 22 | Row 10 – Cell 3 | 17 | Row 10 – Cell 5 |
MSI Claw 8 AI+: Performance and Heat
Even though I wouldn’t consider the Claw 8 AI+ as a compact PC, it possesses the capability for all your web browsing, email management, or spreadsheet editing needs. Featuring an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V “Lunar Lake” processor, it may not boast the strongest multi-thread performance in a portable CPU, yet it exceeds what most users require and can support even more resource-intensive programs like Photoshop.
While the Asus ROG Ally X surpasses the Claw 8 AI+ in terms of sheer CPU strength with a superior Geekbench 6 evaluation (11,255), the Claw 8 (10,917) outperforms the Steam Deck OLED (4,542) over twofold and leads the Legion Go (9,857) by approximately 11% and has a 7% advantage over the initial Claw A1M (10,209).
The Claw 8 AI+ is also equipped with a fast SSD, easing the burden of downloading large game files. Utilizing our office’s high-speed internet connection, I managed to get Baldur’s Gate III up and running in approximately 90 minutes.
Regarding thermal management,
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MSI’s intraflow Cooler Boost Hyper Flow mechanism successfully maintained the device at a relatively low temperature. I positioned the Claw on my knee during extended gaming sessions with no discomfort. In our laboratory’s thermal evaluation, the handheld reached a peak temperature of 96.6 degrees Fahrenheit while running the Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition benchmark on the Extreme setting. Although this exceeds the Laptop Mag comfort limit of 95 degrees, it is 8 degrees cooler than the initial Claw A1M and over 10 degrees cooler than the Lenovo Legion Go. While we emphasize heating issues on laptops, this is even more vital on handheld gaming PCs since the assumption is that you will be holding it continuously.
Click to display chart data in table format.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | MSI Claw 8 AI+ | Asus ROG Ally X | Steam Deck OLED | Lenovo Legion Go | MSI Claw (A1M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (Higher is better) | 10,917 | 11,255 | 4,542 | 9,857 | 10,209 |
| Handbrake conversion (Lower is better) | 06:34 | 6:45 | 15:20 | 9:24 | 6:19 |
| 25GB File Transfer Test (Lower is better) | 16.97 | 19.95 | 387.5 | 18.7 | 29.2 |
| 25GB File Transfer Test (SSD speed) | 1,582 | 1,346 | 69 | 1,432 | 920 |
| Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit) | 95 | 83.7 | 111.0 | 103.5 | 92.8 |
| Gaming Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit, 95 comfort threshold) | 96.6 | 95.4 | 103.0 | 111.5 | 104.2 |
MSI Claw 8 AI+: AI features
MSI positions the Claw 8 AI+ as a Copilot+ mini-PC. With an Intel Lunar Lake processor powering it, that assertion is less far-fetched than it may have seemed with the first handheld. Although I have no intention of docking a handheld gaming PC to transform it into a workstation, I am aware of individuals who have swapped a laptop or desktop for a handheld.
The Claw 8 AI+ incorporates the conventional Copilot+ features, such as Microsoft CoCreate and Live Captions. As an Intel Lunar Lake device, you also gain access to Intel’s AI Playground functionalities to broaden your AI capabilities. While I am not entirely convinced about Copilot+ AI at this moment, early adopters of AI who are also passionate about handheld gaming PCs may discover this aspect to be more appealing.
MSI Claw 8 AI+: Software and warranty
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is equipped with Windows 11 pre-installed, including the typical software such as a trial version of Microsoft Office 365, the
Xbox application for PC, and Copilot.
MSI Center M is pre-installed on the Claw 8 AI+ to assist in managing your performance configurations. MSI Center M also initiates your games, enabling you to bypass the Windows desktop after your games are set up.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is backed by a 1-year limited warranty covering parts and labor.
Conclusion
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ represents a remarkable enhancement over the original Claw A1M. This reengineered Claw provides smooth gaming performance, remarkable battery longevity, a breathtaking display, superior thermal management, excellent ergonomics, refined triggers, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and 32GB of system memory to support everything. Moreover, it is significantly more reliable than the original Claw, which faced several optimization challenges with its Intel Meteor Lake processor.
Nevertheless, the Claw 8 AI+ stands as the priciest option among the mainstream handheld gaming PCs, priced at $899 for the 8-inch variant, while the smaller Claw 7 AI+ A2VM is available for $799. Conversely, the recently updated Asus ROG Ally X is priced at $799 for the 1TB model, making the Claw’s pricing appear justified since the Ally is a 7-inch handheld. The Claw 7 AI+ A2VM offers reduced storage capacity, featuring only a 512GB SSD; however, both Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ come equipped with a new Intel processor and 32GB of memory, which contributes to some of the variance in pricing. The Ally X utilizes the Ryzen Z1 Extreme from June 2023, which is merely a slight modification of the Ryzen Z1 introduced in May 2023. Thus, the Claw 8 AI+ boasts considerably newer components.
Additionally, the Claw 8 is somewhat heavy, weighing 1.75 pounds. However, it maintains a cool enough temperature that balancing the Claw on your lap or knee is manageable without significant discomfort. Hence, this can mitigate some of the weight on your wrists.
Personally, if I were to select one of these handheld PCs for myself, I would likely choose the Claw 7 A2VM due to its slightly smaller size and portability, and I could simply insert a 1TB microSD card to enhance my storage without hassle. However, the Claw 8 features a sleek 8-inch display, which could facilitate gaming with expansive HUDs as it provides additional screen real estate to accommodate ability hotbars, group chat interfaces, minimaps, and enmity lists. Therefore, if you are mainly an MMO enthusiast like myself, perhaps the Claw 8 is the more suitable option.