Do you recall the MSI Claw? The portable game computer that was a huge failure? Yes, I agree; neither did I. The experience was hampered by software bugs, poor battery life, and unimpressive performance. But six months later, MSI is back in the ring with the Claw 8 AI+, not raising the white flag.
Here’s not your average update—this is a full hardware redesign. the focal point? An unidentified Lunar Lake CPU from Intel. While MSI declined to reveal the precise model, they did reveal some other interesting information. You’re looking at a 1TB M.2 SSD and up to 32GB of lightning-fast LPDDR5x RAM, which is comparable to the new ROG Ally X for simple future upgrades.
MSI also tossed in dual Thunderbolt ports for expanded connectivity options and redesigned the triggers and external shell with ergonomics in mind. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get my hands on the device (or any Lunar Lake device for that matter), but early images suggest a larger, more comfortable body to house the new 8-inch, 120Hz display.
Battery life was a major complaint with the original Claw, so MSI went back to the drawing board. The Claw 8 AI+ boasts a beefy 80Wh battery, matching the ROG Ally X and a massive leap from the original’s disappointing 53Wh. This should translate to extended gaming sessions on the go, a major improvement for handheld gamers. The announcement comes hot on the heels of the original Claw’s launch, highlighting MSI’s commitment to making serious waves in the competitive handheld gaming market. They’re not abandoning the first Claw either – driver updates are still rolling out, with one recently released.
The Claw 8 AI+ has the potential to be a game-changer, thanks to Intel’s much-hyped Lunar Lake architecture. This new architecture promises radical improvements in low-power consumption and significantly better integrated graphics with the Battlemage architecture. But lofty promises don’t always translate to reality – the original Claw’s problems went way beyond the processor. However, with the power of Lunar Lake and a clear focus on addressing shortcomings, MSI might just have a contender on their hands.
Pricing and availability are still up in the air, but MSI is targeting a September launch. While I visited their headquarters in Taipei, it was clear I was looking at a prototype. The exact price of the Claw 8 AI+ remains unknown, but MSI hinted at a possible price drop for the original Claw – good news for budget-minded gamers. Overall, it’s exciting to see MSI and Intel pushing the boundaries of handheld PC gaming and giving AMD and Asus a reason to sweat. Here’s to hoping the Claw 8 AI+ lives up to the hype and delivers a truly compelling handheld gaming experience that gamers can get excited about.
Battery life was a major Achilles’ heel for the original Claw. Thankfully, MSI took that criticism to heart. The Claw 8 AI+ boasts a hefty 80Wh battery, matching the ROG Ally X and a massive leap from the original’s disappointing 53Wh. This translates to extended gaming sessions on the go, a significant improvement for gamers who crave uninterrupted playtime.
The announcement of the Claw 8 AI+ comes just months after the original Claw’s launch, highlighting MSI’s determination to make a splash in the competitive handheld gaming market. They’re not abandoning their first attempt either – driver updates are still being rolled out, with one recently released to address early issues.
The potential game-changer here is Intel’s much-hyped Lunar Lake architecture. This new technology promises radical improvements in low-power consumption, a major concern for handheld devices. Additionally, the integration of Intel’s Battlemage graphics architecture promises significantly better graphical performance. Of course, lofty promises don’t always guarantee success. The original Claw’s problems stemmed from more than just the processor. But with the power of Lunar Lake and a clear focus on addressing user feedback, MSI might just have a contender on their hands.
Pricing and availability details are still under wraps, but MSI is targeting a September launch. While my visit to their Taipei headquarters offered a glimpse of the Claw 8 AI+, it was clear I was looking at a prototype. The exact price tag of the Claw 8 AI+ remains unknown, but MSI hinted at a possible price drop for the original Claw. This could be good news for budget-minded gamers looking for a more affordable entry point into the world of handheld PC gaming.
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