MSI Claw 8 AI+ Gaming Handheld Review

Say Goodbye to the Old MSI Claw, Hello Powerhouse!

Remember the first MSI Claw? It’s still around. But honestly, it felt unfinished. Its design and Intel chip just didn’t quite hit the mark. Now, say hello to the MSI Claw 8 AI+! This new handheld feels completely different, right from the start.

First Impressions Matter: Weight and Quality

Picking up the Claw 8 AI+ is impressive. It’s solid and hefty. You immediately sense the quality. The thumbsticks feel great, using Hall effect technology. Triggers and shoulder buttons are much improved too. Overall, it looks and feels like a premium device. And for the price, around $900, it should!

Big, Beautiful Screen for Immersive Gaming

The screen grabs you right away. It’s an 8-inch display, sharp and vibrant. Booting into Windows, the colors pop. Okay, it’s not super small to carry around. However, every part of this handheld feels high-end. That big, beautiful screen in the center just begs you to play.

Power Inside: Lunar Lake is Here!

Excitement builds when you look inside. The Claw 8 AI+ packs the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V. This “Lunar Lake” chip is what gamers have waited for. It promises great things for handheld gaming PCs.

MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM Specs:

• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 285V
• Cores: 4 Performance, 4 Efficient
• Threads: 8
• GPU: Intel Arc 140V
• Memory: 32 GB LPDDR5x-8533
• Screen: 8-inch
• Resolution: 1920 x 1200
• Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
• Storage: 1 TB SSD
• Battery: 80 Wh
• Ports: MicroSD, 2x Thunderbolt 4
• Size: 299 x 126 x 24 mm
• Weight: 795 g
• Price: $900/£899

Intel’s Comeback for Mobile Gaming?

2024 was tough for Intel desktop CPUs. But Lunar Lake mobile chips are different. They look perfect for gaming on the go. They are efficient with power. Plus, they boast better graphics with the Arc 140V. This new GPU uses Battlemage tech. It has eight Xe2 cores to boost performance.

Ray Tracing: Not Quite There Yet

Don’t expect amazing ray tracing here. It will take time for integrated graphics to handle maxed-out games smoothly. Think Cyberpunk 2077 on ultra settings. However, this Intel chip is still a big deal. The Claw 8 AI+ is the first gaming handheld using it.

Claw 8 AI+ vs. Top Competitors: Can it Compete?

So, this handheld has serious specs. Therefore, it’s time to compare it. I tested it against top dogs like the Asus ROG Ally X. That’s currently the best handheld PC. Also tested was the OneXPlayer OneXFly F1 Pro. It’s a super-fast AMD machine. The F1 Pro is the fastest we’ve tested, costing $1,339. That’s much more than the Claw.

Lenovo Legion Go Joins the Fight

I also included the Lenovo Legion Go. It’s another big-screen option with lots to offer. The big question remains: Can the Claw 8 AI+ keep up with these top rivals?

Performance Punch: Keeping Pace with the Best

The answer? Yes, mostly! In Black Myth Wukong, the Claw matches the ROG Ally X. This is at Medium settings without upscaling. Turning on FSR, the Claw even edges ahead. Its minimum frame rate is also better. It’s only slightly behind the OneXFly F1 Pro. That’s impressive considering the price difference.

Beating the Speed Champ in Cyberpunk?!

Even more surprising, in Cyberpunk 2077, it beats the OneXFly! This happens both with and without upscaling. That’s seriously fast. It shows the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V is a real competitor. It rivals the Ryzen chip in the OneXPlayer.

Wins and Losses: Game by Game

The competition continues game by game. In F1 24, the Claw 8 AI+ beats the ROG Ally X easily. Especially with upscaling on, it gains a big lead. However, the OneXFly F1 Pro takes back the crown. It’s faster than the Claw in all tests.

Metro Exodus Victory for the Claw

But wait, Metro Exodus Enhanced shows a different story. Here, the Claw jumps to the top! It leaves the ROG Ally X behind. It even slightly beats the OneXFly. Minimum frame rates are also higher.

Horizon Zero Dawn: A Strange Result

Horizon Zero Dawn showed something odd in testing. Without upscaling, the Claw leads the OneXFly. It even doubles the minimum frame rate. However, with FSR on, performance drops. It falls behind all other handhelds tested. But minimum frame rates stay high.

Driver Quirks? Maybe

I tested Horizon repeatedly. I tried different settings. The result was consistent. Could it be Intel drivers? Intel GPUs sometimes have driver issues. But overall, games ran well on the Claw. There were just occasional performance hiccups.

3DMark Score: Take it with a Grain of Salt

Speaking of quirks, check out the high 3DMark score! Intel Arc desktop cards score well in 3DMark. But this doesn’t always translate to real game performance. The Arc 140V seems similar. So, maybe don’t focus too much on that number. Still, it was consistent across tests.

CPU Performance: Good Enough for Gaming

The Core Ultra 7 285V has a mix of cores. It uses four fast Performance cores and four efficient cores. Compared to the eight full cores in the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, the CPU score is lower. This is seen in Cinebench R24 too. Single-core speed is great. Multi-core score is less impressive than AMD chips. But for gaming, does this really matter?

Real-World Gaming is What Counts

For a gaming handheld, probably not. Gaming performance in real games is where Lunar Lake shines. Benchmarks show the best and worst. But most gamers won’t care about multi-core productivity on a device for gaming on the go.

Cool and Quiet Performer

I retested the ROG Ally X for this review. Its benchmark numbers needed updating. The Asus gets quite loud at max power. But the Claw 8 AI+ is surprisingly quiet. I wasn’t even sure if benchmarks had finished at times! It also runs fairly cool. The bigger design helps keep the chip cool.

Battery Life Champion

Battery life is amazing on the Claw 8 AI+. It lasted 129 minutes in a gaming battery test! That’s just longer than the ROG Ally X. And almost double the OneXFly. The larger size let MSI put in a big battery. Combined with Intel’s efficient chip, the battery lasts and lasts.

Real-World Battery Wins Too

This long battery life translates to real use. I played Doom 2016 on Ultra settings for 90 minutes on a train. Battery was still left! And it played smoothly. Doom is older, but still looks great. Playing a high-quality shooter on a big screen on a train? Awesome. No battery worries at all.

Controls: Good, But Could Be Better

I’ve played fast-paced games to test the controls. Thumbsticks are accurate and comfortable for long sessions. Compared to the ROG Ally X, though, Asus wins on controls. Triggers, buttons, and shoulder buttons feel more premium on the Ally X.

Premium Feel: ROG Ally X Still Leads

It’s a matter of personal preference, maybe. The Asus simply feels more premium in hand. The Claw’s controls are good, even great. But the ROG Ally X feels a bit more refined. The OneXPlayer also feels a bit better made. The MSI controls are not bad, just compared to top rivals, they are a touch less refined.

Software and Portability: Minor Drawbacks

Other points? MSI’s software is basic. The AI Engine is meant to adjust performance automatically. But it’s better to turn it off and set power manually. It does save battery, but caused benchmark issues. Also, the Claw is big. The Ally X is smaller and easier to carry. The Claw might make you think twice before packing it.

To Buy or Not to Buy?

Buy if…

✅ Great performance for less: It rivals faster handhelds, costing $400 less.
✅ Love big screens: The 8-inch screen is amazing for gaming immersion.

Don’t buy if…

❌ Need ultra-portability: It is a big, chunky handheld. Not as easy to carry as smaller ones.
❌ Want best-in-class controls: Controls are better than before, but competitors are still better.

Final Verdict: A Powerful Contender

But, the Claw 8 AI+ offers a lot for the price. It delivers top-tier performance, a great screen, good controls, and long battery life. All for $900. That’s a good deal compared to others.

Is it the New King of Handhelds?

Should the Claw take the crown from the ROG Ally X? Almost, but not quite. The Claw beats the Ally X in many tests. However, the Asus is a slightly better overall package. Both are great, but for different reasons.

Choose Based on Your Needs

If you value portability, a premium feel, and a lower price ($800), go for the Ally X. But if you want raw power, a big screen, and don’t mind a bigger size and slightly less refined feel, then the Claw is for you.

Think of it as a powerful, tough handheld gamer. It might not be perfect. But it delivers a serious punch of gaming power, long battery life, and that big screen. It’s not just better than the old Claw. It’s one of the best handhelds I’ve used.