MSI Claw Handheld: Rumors Point to AMD Ryzen Switch
Is MSI about to shake up the handheld console gaming apple cart? Rumors have been circulating that next-gen MSIs Claw handhelds, recently Intel-based, will turn their backs on Team Blue and go over to the dark side with an AMD chip. Speculation at this stage, but speculation that's made handheld gamers swoon into ecstasy.
Whispers of a Ryzen-Powered Claw
The current MSI Claw was making waves as one of the first handhelds to include Intel's Core Ultra processors (Lunar Lake). However, the latest rumors suggest that MSI is considering the possibility of a Claw model with an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor. It is not just any processor; instead, it's mentioned to be based on AMD's beefy "Strix Point" architecture, which vows to deliver a radical increase in performance.
MSI will release Claw handheld utilizing AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme
— Haze (@Haze2K1) April 11, 2025
Why the potential pivot? Well, early impressions of the Intel-fueled Claw are that while it gets the job done, AMD's Ryzen chips are generally seen as leading the charge in handheld gaming performance, particularly when it comes to graphics. Could MSI be trying to squeeze in a performance advantage in order to more effectively compete with hardware such as the ASUS ROG Ally?
Intel vs. AMD: The Handheld Battleground
Picture it as an old shoot-out: Intel versus AMD, but this time in the little world of handheld game consoles. The newest MSI Claw 8 AI+, with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, is already showing that it can match wits with AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 in a few games. But the highly awaited Ryzen Z2 Extreme can do even better. If MSI were to employ this AMD chip, it could potentially be able to outsell the competition in raw gaming ability.
Why the Switch Would Work (or Not)
For MSI, there are a couple of ways to look at this:
- Performance Boost: AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme should have improved gaming performance, which would be a tremendous selling point for a handheld console.
- Market Trends: AMD chips at the moment occupy the high-end handheld market share. Changing may bring MSI to be in concert with the existing trend.
- Competition: To effectively compete against ASUS and other AMD-based handhelds, MSI may have to compete against a similar AMD chip.
But switching chip platforms isn't simple. MSI only just launched the Intel-based Claw, and releasing an AMD version too quickly could cannibalize their own product. Moreover, Intel's Panther Lake, the second-generation Lunar Lake, isn't coming until late 2025 or even 2026, which could leave AMD with an extended window of opportunity in the handheld space.
Wait and See
For now, this is firmly in the rumor category. MSI has not announced anything officially about plans for an AMD-powered Claw. But rumors continue to fly, and the benefits of doing so are clear. The handheld gaming market is heating up, and a power switch from Intel to AMD in the MSI Claw product line would certainly be an interesting twist in the saga.
Stay tuned for further developments – the portable console wars are set to become even more intriguing.
