The competition in the handheld PC gaming market is intensifying. MSI, after the less-than-stellar launch of the Claw 7, is back with the Claw 8 AI+, a device poised to challenge the dominance of the ASUS ROG Ally X.
Performance Claims
MSI claims the Claw 8 AI+ offers a significant performance boost, averaging 20% faster than the ROG Ally X at 17W. This was measured at 1080p resolution with low graphics settings and super resolution enabled. These claims are based on MSI's internal testing and were presented to reviewers like ETA Prime.
Specifications
The Claw 8 AI+ features the Core Ultra 7 258V processor with 8 CPU cores and 8 Xe2 cores, paired with 32GB of LPDDR5X-8533 RAM — a first for a major handheld gaming device. A less expensive version with the Core Ultra 7 256V and 16GB of RAM may also be released later.
| Feature | MSI Claw 8 AI+ | ASUS ROG Ally X |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Core Ultra 7 258V/256V | Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
| iGPU | Arc 140V (8 Xe2 Cores) | Radeon 780M |
| RAM | 32GB/16GB LPDDR5X-8533 | 24GB LPDDR5X-7500 |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe SSD | 1TB NVMe SSD |
| Display | 8″ 1920×1200 120Hz | 7″ 1920×1080 120Hz |
| Price (USD) | $899 (258V), Price TBD (256V) | $799 |
| Release Date | Dec 2024 - Jan 2025 | July 2024 |
Release Date and Pricing
The Claw 8 AI+ is scheduled for release between late December 2024 and mid-January 2025, depending on the region. The price for the 258V model is set at $899, while the price for the 256V version is yet to be announced.
You can find more information and early impressions from ETA Prime's hands-on video.
