MSI Claw A8 evaluation: Ryzen Z2 Extreme dominates, however at what value?

It’s been a very long time, MSI. Ever since testing the primary claw, the query has been loud and clear from me: “when will you make an AMD version?” Intel’s cool and all, and the current updates to Arc graphics have made the Claw 8+ AI a significantly succesful gaming machine.

But lastly, the MSI Claw A8 sporting Ryzen Z2 Extreme is right here, and I’m mightily impressed by the efficiency, stamina, and the eye to element on the ergonomics to make this a premium strategy to play.

Is it one thing I’d say is value upgrading to from a Z1 Extreme handheld if in case you have one? No — you’ve obtained greater than sufficient with that system, and the incoming Xbox Full Screen Experience replace ought to convey higher efficiency as I noticed with the ROG Xbox Ally. Speaking of, that is nonetheless full-fat Windows 11 out of the field, which continues to be awkward to make use of.

But with regards to those that are fans seeking to get into PC gaming on-the-go, this can be a sturdy possibility with Hall Effect joysticks, a pleasant design that feels nice to grip and play for hours on finish, and a buttery easy show… So what’s the issue?

Well, put simply, the price is rather bonkers for handheld gaming. We know it’ll cost £849 in the U.K. and round €999 in Europe, however MSRP for the U.S. is presently underneath wraps (rumors are pointing to $899 or perhaps even $999).

Some might say it earns that value with blistering efficiency, a big show, large battery cell and an ideal really feel within the hand. But given the minor good points over Z1 Extreme, the actual fact you would get a Steam Deck OLED for half the value, and powerful gaming laptops for a similar value, we’re by means of the trying glass.

If you possibly can afford it, and when you’re a eager PC gamer with ultraportable necessities, this can be a mighty possibility. But assume twice before you purchase, as there are higher worth for cash choices.

MSI Claw A8: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? This is a Windows gaming handheld — the primary to launch sporting the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme.
• Who is it for? This is for gaming fans who wish to take their PC library with them, without having the area for something cumbersome like a gaming laptop computer
• What does it value? You can choose one up for £849. The U.S. worth is but to be disclosed.
• What can we like? MSI’s transfer to AMD has paid off large right here — efficiency is extra constantly spectacular over the Intel-armed MSI Claw 8 AI+. On high of that, you’re getting the identical nice show, identical massive battery that lasts slightly longer too, and improved ergonomics with corridor impact sticks for comfy management over hours.
• What don’t we like? It’s Windows 11 once more, however that ought to be mounted in time with the Xbox Full Screen Experience replace. But finally, the principle concern right here is that worth. We don’t know the MSRP in USD but, however indicators are pointing to $1,000 and that’s a large worth for a gaming handheld.

MSI Claw A8: Specs

MSI Claw A8: The ups

MSI has really done its homework here — listening to what people do and don’t like about the current crop of gaming handhelds, and really applying it here in the Claw A8.

Upping the performance

Any time I’ve dabbled with the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, I’ve been impressed with the power gains. In the MSI Claw A8 paired with 24GB of LPDDR5x RAM to eliminate any memory obstacles, AAA titles absolutely purr on this handheld.

The company claims up to a 30% performance improvement, and while that is true when at the maximum 33W power profile, 17W does garner roughly 20-25% uplifts, and faster frame rates than the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V in the Claw 8 AI+.

Of course, just like any PC gaming, a little bit of tinkering is needed to put any AAA game you’re playing in the right frame for your gameplay needs. Example: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 with FSR at 1080p tuned to a series of high and medium settings can garner a rock-solid 60 FPS — all keeping cool under sustained load with the new Cooler Boost HyperFlow thermal management inside.

And that 80Whr cell inside the Claw A8 is capable of decently long gaming sessions — a little less than the Ryzen Z1 Extreme with a same-size battery in the ROG Ally X, but not to the point that I’m griping about it.

MSI does tout an Endurance Mode, which provided your gaming intent is more Indie, you can take advantage of. I was able to get Silksong running at 60 FPS at medium brightness for a touch over three hours.

All-in-all, this is the most powerful gaming handheld I’ve dealt with. It’s power may be somewhat masked by the bloated Windows 11 running in the background, but you’re not going to have a bad time here.

Ergonomic (and style) improvements

Honestly, I was getting pretty tired of every gaming handheld looking like the same black box in your hands. So the white or green finish here really does make this dynamically stand out from the pack — it actually feels fun to look at, and fun to hold too, as MSI has really done some great work with the ergonomics here.

The hand grips are a lot more blockier now, which did make me nervous at first about those edges digging into my hands, but they do add a little more of a chunk for you to grip onto. Plus the Hall Effect joysticks and triggers have a nice smoothness to them for the gameplay.

There is a fair bit more heft to this at 1.7 pounds, but the weight distribution is evenly balanced across the system, and the thickness of those grips does reduce that pressure on your wrists to keep it held up. But also, those USB-C ports do support AR glasses, and I’ve been having a really good time on long haul flights with the Viture Luma Pro specs.

Great screen and speakers

Much like the Claw 8 AI+, you are getting an 8-inch LCD panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate and a 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution. I will keep demanding OLED, especially at a price like this (more on that later), but as far as gaming handhelds go, this is one of the better screens out there — bright and crispy, and colorful even when you turn that brightness down to extract more battery.

But more surprisingly good has been the speakers. Normally, I would always point you towards buying a pair of wired headphones, because the tweeters are usually rather tinny and they never overwhelm the fan noise without distorting.

But MSI has done something impressive here. If you don’t have a good headset to immerse yourself, the speakers here have impressive definition in gameplay, and can go loud to block out any loud fan noise when in the midst of Cyberpunk 2077.

MSI Claw A8: The downs

One comes with a question mark, and one is a problem that should (hopefully) resolve itself soon — in fact, I’m actually in the process of testing it as we speak.

Enough of Windows 11

MSI Center M does some hard work here to try and keep you away from using Windows 11. But you will have to interact with it, and just like I’ve said many times before, it’s pretty terrible to use on a touchscreen.

When gaming, and when you have titles installed, the home screen MSI offers along with quick settings integrated directly into the Xbox Game Bar is a great way to tweak things and switch titles on the fly.

However, these just feel like band-aids over the ultimate problem that is the albatross of a desktop OS hanging over the neck of this system. Background processes are absolutely dragging this system down in terms of performance and battery life.

Now, a fix is on the way with the Xbox Full Screen Experience. In fact, if you download Windows 11 25H2 (like I just have), you can get access to an early version of this. But I’m not going to review something on the promise of a thing coming down the line. As of right now, it’s just a muddled UI.

Price = yikes

Now, I can’t go ahead and say this is entirely MSI’s fault. Inflation and tariff mania has taken a hold of handheld gaming, and beefier options like this were always going to be the hardest hit.

The Asus ROG Ally X with Z1 Extreme went up to $899, so while the price in USD of the Claw A8 is unknown, I wouldn’t be surprised if the cost could be $999. I mean the Intel version is $999 as well!

This puts it into the same territory where you could get a gaming laptop with vastly more power for the same price (if you’re a frames-per-dollar kinda person). But I’m more looking at this from what you can actually get at lower prices.

Granted, it won’t be this level of performance. However, you can still get a great gaming experience out of the Steam Deck OLED for a far lower price. Either that or go full console and snag the Nintendo Switch 2. At the known price of £849, this is a steeply priced option when you could get cheaper thrills.

MSI Claw A8: Verdict

And that’s the story of the MSI Claw A8. Chances are if you’re reading this, you’re already the kind of person that’s ready to take a big hit on the price. And if you do fall into that audience, and you don’t already have a Z1 Extreme system, this is a great option.

Performance and battery life are good, the ergonomics are great, and this is a great-looking option. But while it is indeed a good option, I have one piece of advice for you: wait.

The ROG Xbox Ally X is just around the corner, and so is the Xbox UI too. And in my time testing this, it’s what handhelds have been waiting for this entire time in terms of unlocking power and stamina.

This could also mean that Ryzen Z1 Extreme systems are back on the table too with this game-changing update, and you could save yourself some pennies. But in the immediate, if you are chasing speeds and feeds, this is the one to buy right now.