Amazon recently put up a tantalizing listing for the upcoming MSI Claw 8 AI+ gaming handheld, priced at $899, and it’s already grabbing attention among gaming enthusiasts—especially with its compelling CPU and RAM details. Notably, this will be the first handheld to feature Intel’s latest Lunar Lake CPUs. Meanwhile, MSI isn’t holding back, also preparing to roll out a refreshed version of the MSI Claw 7 AI+ slated for even earlier shipping.
So, what’s under the hood? The Claw 8 AI+ will be powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, though another version is said to come equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V. Gamers will have the choice between two impressive memory options: 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR5X-8553 RAM. Not too shabby, right?
Let’s talk numbers—the Ultra 7 285V boasts a clock speed that ranges from 2.2 GHz to a turbo-charged 4.8 GHz. Regardless of the version, you can count on a spacious 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 SSD for all your storage needs, with room for more via a micro SDHC card. Graphic performance won’t disappoint, as both CPU options come paired with Arc 14V graphics featuring eight Xe2 cores. As for the visuals, they’re stepping up to an 8-inch touchscreen that offers a 120Hz refresh rate and 1920 x 1200 resolution, plus it’s bright enough with 500 nits.
Now into the nitty-gritty of design and functionality, the Claw 8 AI+ supports an upgraded battery at 80 Wh. Connectivity isn’t left behind either—there are two Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports, ideal for charging, docking, or even hooking up to an eGPU. Out of the box, it runs on Windows 11, and the scheduled release date is December 25th, with the top-tier model tagged at $899.
But don’t count the Claw 7 AI+ out just yet. This refreshed edition hosts the same Intel Ultra 7-258V CPU and 32GB of RAM, though it scales down storage to 512GB, flaunts a 7-inch 1080p display, and maintains a 53Wh battery. Shipping kicks off on December 1st—just in time for holiday gift shopping. For just $100 more than the Claw 7 AI+, you’re bumping up to a larger display and battery, not to mention more storage with the Claw 8 AI+.
To compare, the Claw 8 AI+ boasts slightly beefier specs than its predecessor, making it an enticing option for those seeking more power on the go.
Initially rumored for a 2025 release, MSI’s Claw 8 AI+ now inches closer to gamers’ hands, as it’s slated to ship days before CES 2025. In the meantime, gaming aficionados are eyeing potential successors in the form of a new Lenovo Legion Go or Asus Ally X with AMD’s Ryzen Z2 or Z2 Extreme CPUs anticipated for 2025. AMD has thrown down the gauntlet, claiming its Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 will outperform Intel’s Core Ultra 7 285 by 75% in gaming performance. With these exciting developments, staying patient might just pay off.
As next month’s releases begin to flood the market, users will soon have firsthand insights into the performance, battery life, and overall user experience of these handhelds, whether opting for Intel’s Lunar Lake or AMD’s Z2 chips. The future looks promising for handheld gaming.
