MSI has just unveiled its latest line of Claw gaming handhelds, and they’re packing a punch with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, a hefty 32GB of RAM, and up to a 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD. MSI assures that these SSDs are easily upgradable. The new handhelds, known as the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+, share almost identical specs. The primary distinctions between the two are the size of the display, battery life, and overall dimensions.
Whether you want the largest display for immersive gaming or something smaller that’s more portable, you won’t be compromising on performance with either choice.
Specifications at a Glance:
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V across both models.
- Memory: Both have 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533 RAM.
- Storage: Up to 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD with easy access for upgrades. Each has a single NVMe M.2 2230 SSD Gen4 x4 slot.
- Graphics: Intel Arc 140 GPU, integrated into both handhelds.
- Display:
- Claw 8 AI+: 8-inch FHD+ (1920×1200), 120Hz touchscreen.
- Claw 7 AI+: 7-inch FHD (1920×1080), 120Hz touchscreen.
- Audio: Dual 2W speakers with DTS support offering Hi-Res audio quality.
- Sensors: Both models sport a 6-axis IMU and a vibration motor for immersive feedback.
- Connectivity and Ports:
- Claw 8 AI+: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4.
- Claw 7 AI+: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3.
- Both devices offer Thunderbolt 4 ports, a microSD slot, and a 3.5mm combo jack.
- Battery:
- Claw 8 AI+: 80Whr, 6-cell Li-Po.
- Claw 7 AI+: 54.5Whr, 6-cell Li-Po.
- Dimensions and Weight:
- Claw 8 AI+: 299 x 126 x 24mm, weighing 795g.
- Claw 7 AI+: 290 x 117 x 21.2mm, weighing 675g.
- Operating System: Both come with Windows 11 Home pre-installed.
As for pricing, MSI has yet to reveal the cost in their official announcement, and the devices haven’t popped up on their US e-shop just yet. However, Amazon has started taking preorders, listing the Claw 8 AI+ at $899 with 1TB storage, while the Claw 7 AI+ is priced at $799, albeit with a lower 512GB storage—note this differs from MSI’s official spec sheet.
What’s really setting these devices apart from the competition, such as the ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go, is the choice of Intel processors instead of AMD. On top of that, MSI has revamped the joysticks, bumpers, D-pads, and hall-effect triggers to enhance accuracy and comfort during gameplay. Although Tencent has announced an 11-inch handheld featuring the same processor, it’s still under development, so US gamers will have to wait.
The Intel Lunar Lake chips powering these handhelds promise better efficiency. MSI states that the Claw 8 AI+ and 7 AI+ offer "113% higher peak FPS and 20% higher average FPS" under similar power settings. Thanks to a variety of ports, MSI touts these handhelds as capable mini-PCs. They will also support Copilot+ and feature an exclusive App Player that allows for playing both Windows and Android games, making them versatile for both work tasks and gaming.
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