MSI has officially launched its Claw series gaming handhelds, the Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+, both powered by Intel's Core Ultra 7 processors. While initially announced earlier, the official launch date is set for December 26th, with a potential US launch on January 15th.
Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ Specifications and Features
Both the Claw 8 AI+ and 7 AI+ feature the Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB of LPDDR5X-8533 RAM, and run Windows 11. A Core Ultra 7 256V model with 16GB of RAM is also hinted at but not officially announced.
The Claw 8 AI+ boasts an 80Wh battery, offering up to 4 hours of gaming and 28 hours of local video playback. It also features a 120Hz 16:10 display with VRR support and a PCIe 4.0×4 M.2 2230 SSD.
The Claw 7 AI+ offers similar specifications with 512GB of storage, the same battery, and a 120Hz display. However, it uses Wi-Fi 6E instead of Wi-Fi 7.
Pricing and Availability
The Claw 8 AI+ is priced at $899, while the Claw 7 AI+ will retail for $799. Both handhelds are expected to be available starting December 26th (potentially January 15th in the US).
Comparison Table
| Feature | MSI Claw 8 AI+ | MSI Claw 7 AI+ | ASUS ROG Ally X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Core Ultra 7 258V/256V | Core Ultra 7 258V | Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
| iGPU | Arc 140V Graphics | Arc 140V Graphics | Radeon 780M |
| External GPU | 2x Thunderbolt 4/USB4 | 2x Thunderbolt 4/USB4 | USB4 |
| RAM | 32/16GB LPDDR5X-8533 | 32GB LPDDR5X-8533 | 16GB LPDDR5X-7500 |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe PCIe 4.0x4 | 512GB NVMe PCIe 4.0x4 | 512GB NVMe PCIe 4.0x4 |
| Storage Type | M.2 2230 SSD | M.2 2230 SSD | M.2 2280 SSD |
| Display | 8″ 1920×1200 120Hz, 500 nits, VRR | 7″ 1920×1080 120Hz, 500 nits, VRR | 7″ 1920×1080 120Hz, 500 nits, VRR |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 + BT 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E + BT 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E + BT 5.2 |
| Battery | 80 Wh, 6-Cell | 80 Wh, 6-Cell | 40 Wh, 4-cell |
| Weight | 794g | 675g | 608g |
| Dimensions | 29.9 x 12.26 x 2.4 cm | 29.4 × 11.7 × 2.1 cm | 28.0 × 11.4 × 3.7 cm |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Price (USD) | $899 | $799 | $649 |
