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I knew I wanted to write our MSI Claw 8 AI+ review as soon as this new Intel Core Ultra Series 2 Windows gaming handheld was revealed.
I’ve previously reviewed the ASUS ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and several other Windows 11 gaming handhelds. As such, I wanted to see how the MSI Claw 8 AI+ matches up to these rival devices.
Now, if you’re familiar with gaming handhelds, then you know that the original MSI Claw A1M, which was released in March 2024, didn’t really match up to its competition.
It was the only mainstream handheld powered by Intel’s Core Ultra Series 1 AI CPUs (central processing units), but it failed to keep pace with the performance of AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme devices like the Legion Go and ROG Ally.
With all this in mind, I took to using the new MSI Claw 8 AI+ as my main gaming device for two weeks. I also ran it through several benchmark tests to see how it compares to ROG Ally and Legion Go.
It’s a much-improved device over the original, but is that enough to make it worth buying? And what’s with the delayed launch? Let’s dive in and discuss.
I’ve been obsessed with video games ever since I was a kid and have been a handheld gamer since the 90s. At Windows Central, I review video games, gaming laptops, gaming handhelds, and various gaming accessories. My experience and analysis helps me know when a device is worth buying or when it’s best to get something else.
This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by MSI. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ review: Pricing and specifications
- The MSI Claw 8 AI+ launches at $899.99 with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and an 8-inch display.
- MSI is also releasing a 7-inch display $799.99 model that offers a lower 512GB SSD.
- These devices are more expensive than other handhelds on the market.
- Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
Windows 11 gaming handhelds are expensive, and that’s especially true of the new MSI Claw AI handhelds.
Reviewed configuration
• Price: $899.99 at Best Buy
• Display: 8-inch IPS, 16:10 aspect ratio, FHD+ (1,920 x 1,200) resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support, multi-touch support
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (8 cores, 8 threads, up to 4.8GHz)
• NPU: Intel AI Boost (47 TOPS)
• GPU: Intel Arc 140V (8 cores)
• RAM: 32GB LPDDR5x
• Storage: 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD
• Connection: Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4
• Battery: 80Whr, 65W Thunderbolt 4 Type-C charger
• Dimensions: 299 x 126 x 24mm (11.77 x 4.96 x 0.94in)
• Weight: 795g (1.75lbs)
MSI actually announced two Intel Core Ultra Series 2 gaming handhelds for this year.
First, there’s the larger black and sandy-brown “Sandstorm” MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM, which has an MSRP of $899.99 at Best Buy. Then, there’s the smaller all-black MSI Claw 7 AI+, which has an MSRP of $799.99 at Best Buy.
These newer MSI handhelds are notably more expensive than the original Intel Core Ultra Series 1 MSI Claw A1M, which has a starting price of $649.99 at Best Buy.
Outside of MSI devices, the most similar handheld to the Claw 8 AI+ is arguably the ASUS ROG Ally. It costs $100 less and offers a 7-inch display, AMD Z1 Extreme, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 80Whr battery, and sells for $799.99 at Best Buy.
That said, part of the reason why the Claw 8 AI+ is so expensive is that it is one of the only Windows handhelds that uses Intel AI processors with AI-boosted NPUs (Neural Processing Units) rather than AMD’s handheld-centric Z-Series chips.
Additionally, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has some really nice next-gen handheld specs compared to other lower-configured rivals, which is part of what makes it more costly. Additionally, Intel chips also tend to cost more than AMD chips.
Because it has this Intel AI chip, this handheld is technically an AI PC, unlike ROG Ally and Legion Go. MSI even goes as far as to label it a Copilot+ PC, although it doesn’t have a dedicated Copilot button to meet this classification.
The biggest problem with the MSI Claw 8 AI+ at the time of writing is availability. It still isn’t actually available for purchase yet, even though it was supposed to hit the market already.
I have no idea when this handheld will actually be widely available for purchase, but a Best Buy listing has been up for a few months now with no changes.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ review: Design and build quality
- The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a major improvement over the original Claw A1M.
- It’s well-balanced and offers ergonomic grips, but the indentations on the back feel unpleasant on my fingertips.
- Design rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
While this device’s “Sandstorm” coloring stands out from the usual sea of white and black handhelds, the design can be pretty divisive.
Some of the Windows Central team loves the color scheme and see it as an 80s futuristic throwback, while others don’t particularly like the look. You’ll just have to decide for yourself.
Design-wise, the new MSI Claw 8 AI+ offers some nice improvements over the original MSI Claw A1M. For one thing, the back buttons have been flattened, preventing them from getting in the way of the grips as much.
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Overall, the handheld has a balanced and ergonomic design, but I don’t like the hard plastic indentations on the back, which feel unpleasant on my fingertips compared to the flatter, less-textured back casings of Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Legion Go devices.
Connectivity-wise, the new Claw now offers two Thunderbolt 4 ports, which means you can actually charge the handheld up with one port and have an accessory connected to the other at the same time.
To further add to this device’s conveniences, it offers the latest Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, as well as a microSD card slot for quickly expanding storage.
Despite my aversion to the Claw’s back texture, the handheld is well-balanced, provides good grips, and offers plenty of helpful connections for accessories.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ review: Display quality
- The MSI Claw 8 AI+ has an 8-inch IPS touchscreen with VRR and 120Hz.
- This screen size is larger than ROG Ally but smaller than Legion Go.
- Colors, contrast, details, and motion clarity aren’t top-tier, but they’re good for an IPS gaming handheld.
- Display rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
While the MSI Claw 8 AI+’s 8-inch IPS touchscreen isn’t the best handheld screen out there, it’s large, responsive, and offers crisp details, a good color gamut, and a pleasant overall viewing experience.
After playing games on it for a few hours, I connected a colorimeter and ran a color gamut test. The touchscreen produced 99% of sRGB, 76% of AdobeRGB, and 77% of P3, making it just slightly better than the respectable results produced by the ROG Ally X IPS display (see our ROG Ally X review for more details).
Obviously, these results aren’t nearly as good as what you’ll get on a handheld with an OLED display (see our Legion Go S review for an example), but having an IPS screen rather than OLED saves on the device’s overall cost.
The device supports VRR (variable refresh rate) at up to 120Hz. Motion clarity in games is decent on the Claw 8 AI+ display but not always perfect; that’s pretty typical with VRR-supporting handhelds.
I’ll talk more about gaming and performance in the next section. For now, let’s continue talking about the display.
|
Setting |
Brightness |
Black |
Contrast |
White point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0% |
12.1 |
0.00 |
0 : 1 |
7300 |
|
25% |
119.7 |
0.07 |
1630 : 1 |
7300 |
|
50% |
239.9 |
0.15 |
1630 : 1 |
7400 |
|
75% |
356.2 |
0.22 |
1630 : 1 |
7400 |
|
100% |
469.7 |
0.32 |
1480 : 1 |
7500 |
I also conducted a brightness and contrast test while the colorimeter was in use.
This revealed that the display’s max brightness is 469 nits, which is decent but doesn’t get as bright as ROG Ally X’s max brightness of 536 nits. However, contrast is slightly better on MSI’s handheld than ASUS’ handheld.
In the end, the Claw 8 AI+’s display is more than good enough for handheld gaming, with great details, good coloring, and a responsive touchscreen. It would just be nicer if it got a bit brighter, though.
How does the MSI Claw screen compare to ROG Ally X and Legion Go?
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I arranged my 8.8-inch display Legion Go, 8-inch display MSI Claw 8 AI+, and 7-inch display ROG Ally X on my table by screen size to conduct a visual comparison between the three.
Aside from size differences, each of these handheld screens offers tradeoffs.
The Legion Go produces the very best color gamut of the three, as evidenced by its much higher AdobeRGB and P3 results.
|
Gaming handheld |
Display color gamut |
|
Lenovo Legion Go |
100% of sRGB, 91% of AdobeRGB, and 96% of P3 |
|
MSI Claw 8 AI+ |
99% of sRGB, 76% of AdobeRGB, and 77% of P3 |
|
ASUS ROG Ally / X |
98% of sRGB, 73% or AdobeRGB, and 75% of P3 |
However, I found that the glass used on the smaller ROG Ally X didn’t tend to reflect as much as the MSI Claw and Legion Go glass, which makes it easier to see contrast and dark details in person on ASUS’s handheld where dark areas on the other devices tend to look more gray.
Overall, the MSI Claw 8 AI+’s display is not top-tier, but it’s plenty good for handheld gaming.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ review: Performance and thermals
- MSI Claw 8 AI+ and its Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor provide much better performance than AMD Z1 Extreme handhelds like ROG Ally and Legion Go.
- The MSI Claw was able to more than double the average frame rate that the ROG Ally earned in the same game benchmarks.
- Performance rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Over the past two years, I’ve toted the AMD Z1 Extreme ROG Ally as the best Windows handheld performance-wise and motion-clarity-wise. But now, my testing has helped me see that the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 MSI Claw 8 AI+ offers a significantly smoother playing experience than it.
To test the Claw 8 AI+, I spent over 12 hours playing several CPU and/or GPU-straining video games, including Baldur’s Gate 3, Ashes of the Singularity, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Cyberpunk 2077, and more.
Overall, it played much more smoothly than ROG Ally and Legion Go, with less pop-in and significantly higher frame rates.
|
Default Graphics Setting |
MSI Claw 8 AI+ Avg. FPS |
Legion Go Avg. FPS |
Ally X Avg. FPS |
Ally Avg. FPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Low |
59.01 FPS |
36.43 FPS |
26.45 FPS |
21.64 FPS |
|
Steam Deck |
59.27 FPS |
36.43 FPS |
29.13 FPS |
23.86 FPS |
|
Ray Tracing: Low |
57.20 FPS |
35.76 FPS |
27.22 FPS |
21.86 FPS |
To further drive this point home, I’ve also included the graph above comparing the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark results of the Claw 8 AI+, Legion Go, Ally X, and Ally when these devices are at max TDP and running the same graphic preset settings.
During testing, I also put the Claw handheld at its max 30W TDP and ran it through various benchmark tests. The Claw 8 AI+ provided a fantastic playing experience overall.
- Ashes of the Singularity — 66 FPS (Normal preset, 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, V-sync enabled)
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider — 76 FPS (Lowest preset, 1080p resolution, V-sync enabled)
- Cyberpunk 2077 — 59 FPS (Low preset, 1080p resolution, 120Hz, V-sync disabled, Intel Xe Super Sampling 1.3 set to “Auto,” frame generation disabled)
As you can see in the benchmark results, the Claw tended to produce around 60 FPS or even higher when playing these more straining titles, which is significantly better than what you get on ROG Ally and Legion Go.
Fantastic performance to rival a laptop
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Since the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is basically a laptop but with controllers attached instead of a keyboard, I ran the device through the same gauntlet of benchmark testing as I would a laptop.
Starting with CPU analysis, the handheld produced a multi-core score of 10,446 and a single-core score of 2,718 in Geekbench 6. While not the most impressive results for an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, these scores were very similar to other devices with the same processor.
It’s worth noting that ASUS ROG Ally X, ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go all got higher Geekbench 6 multi-core scores than Claw 8 AI+, but the Claw 8 AI+ got the highest single-core score of them all.
I also ran Cinbench R24 to check CPU rendering abilities. In this test, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ only got a single-core score of 120 and a multi-core score of 483, which is a bit lower than we’d like to see for this processor.
For perspective, the ROG Ally X and its AMD Z1 Extreme currently hold the highest Cinebench handheld multi-core score of 724, but it also has a lower 100 single-core score than the Claw 8 AI+.
Since the Claw 8 AI+’s Intel Core Ultra 7 258V is an AI-boosted processor with an integrated NPU (neural processing unit), I also ran some additional AI PC testing on it.
In Procyon’s Windows ML Float 32 CPU test, the handheld got a pretty low score of 60. However, the device faired better in Procyon’s Intel OpenVINO float 16 NPU test, earning a score of 837.
My previous video game benchmark testing showed that this device offers better game performance than other handhelds. The fact that the Claw doesn’t match up with other AI PC devices isn’t a huge problem, given that this has a very different end-goal design from other AI PCs we’ve tested.
Image 1 of 4
I then moved to 3DMark to test the MSI Claw 8 AI+’s integrated Intel Arc 140V GPU (graphics processing unit).
Here, the handheld got a score of 3,882, which is the lowest Intel Arc 140V score we’ve seen in Time Spy so far. That said, this was a higher score than the ROG Ally X’s 3,506 score and Legion Go’s 3,247 score.
I also ran 3DMark’s integrated graphics test, Night Raid, and here, the handheld got a good score of 28,499, but it is lower than this processor’s 34,451 average.
With those results in, I used CrystalDiskMark to analyze SSD performance. The Claw’s SSD produced a read speed of 6,068 MB/s and a write speed of 5,324 MB/s, which is better than the Legion Go’s 5,016 MB/s read speed and 1,620 MB/s write speed, and the ROG Ally’s 4,337 MB/s read speed and 1,812 MB/s write speed.
What this tells us is that the Claw is faster than other handhelds at the important gaming tasks of accessing, loading, and saving data.
To top everything off, I ran CrossMark to gauge the MSI Claw 8 AI+’s overall system performance. It earned a score of 1,665, which is higher than Legion Go’s 1,588 score and ROG Ally’s 1,508 score.
TL;DR — While it didn’t always get the highest scores in every benchmark, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and its Intel processors dominated overall when compared against ROG Ally and Legion Go. In other words, it is an excellent handheld AI-boosted computer that provides smoother gaming performance than its rivals.
Thermals and fan noise
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This handheld doesn’t get very loud when playing games or running certain programs. In fact, when I had my decibel meter right next to the vents the sound level only ever peaked at 52.9 dB during a CPU stress test.
You’re not likely to sit with your head against the handheld, so I also took a reading with the decibel meter next to my ear while I held the Claw at a normal distance from me. The sound level peaked at 38.0 dB, which isn’t loud at all.
Nearing the end of the 20-minute CPU stress test, I pulled out my thermal camera and took pictures of the Claw 8 AI+.
Unsurprisingly, the hottest areas of the handheld are the main vents, which peaked at 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). The second-hottest area is the bottom center of the screen, which peaked at 99 degrees F (~37 degrees C).
The back center of the Claw did reach a peak of 98 degrees F (~36 degrees C), but the areas that you actually grip and hold don’t ever get overly warm to the touch.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ review: Battery experience
- It has the same-sized 80Whr battery capacity as the ROG Ally X.
- When playing intensive games, it gets about 2 of battery life.
- Battery rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gaming handhelds all have one major weakness, and that is battery life.
As it stands, the longest-lasting Windows handhelds only tend to run for about two hours when at max TDP and playing intensive games — this device doesn’t break any new ground in this area.
As with the ROG Ally X’s 80Whr battery, the MSI Claw’s 80Whr battery only lasted two hours and 10 minutes when playing Cyberpunk 2077 with max TDP and the screen at roughly 200 nits brightness.
There were also times during my testing when the handheld only lasted about an hour and 47 minutes, depending on the games I was playing.
Honestly, unless you only play quick gaming rounds, you’ll likely want to use the Claw 8 AI+ while plugged into a charger or connected to a TV docking station if you want longer play sessions.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ review: Software experience
- It comes with Windows 11 and the MSI Center M software.
- Windows can be divisive on handhelds, but it can also give a lot of freedom.
- MSI Center M doesn’t have as many customization options as some other handheld software.
- Software rating: ⭐⭐⭐½
Since this is a Windows 11 device, it works like a laptop that has connected controllers instead of a keyboard. You can access the internet, run games, and open programs that are accessible on a normal computer.
This, of course, means you can open other game launchers, including Steam, Ubisoft Connect, Xbox app, Epic Games, Battle.net, and more.
The Claw 8 AI+ comes with MSI Center M installed, a software that functions as a game launcher, gives access to customer service, and provides settings adjustments, among other things.
Image 1 of 4
Like its Claw A1M predecessor, the Claw 8 AI+ doesn’t have as many setting customization options as competitors like ASUS ROG Ally. For instance, there is no way to adjust VRAM on this handheld, which will be frustrating to people who want to tailor the system.
However, going into the manual mode does let you change TDP between 8W, 17W, and 30W. Additionally, fan speed can be set to auto or can be manually adjusted via sliders.
Since this is an AI PC, I can put the handheld in AI Engine mode, which automatically adjusts settings based on my usage of the device. This AI Engine mode works well and is especially useful for people who don’t want to personally fiddle with settings.
One of the other main functions MSI Center M provides is RGB lighting adjustment.
The Mystic Light tab lets me choose between five effects and provides a color picker. I can create up to three profiles or presets to swap between.
I like how vibrant the colors look around the joysticks, but I also appreciate that MSI Center M lets me turn the RGB lights off completely when I don’t want colorful lighting aimed at my face.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ review: Controls and other hardware
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- The MSI Claw 8 AI+ buttons and joysticks offer great responsiveness.
- This handheld also offers a really good mic and Hi-Res speakers.
- Other hardware rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Compared to the original Claw A1M, the Claw 8 AI+’s D-Pad, buttons, triggers, and Hall Effect joysticks all seem similar, if not the same. The only big difference I can see is that the joystick tips have more texture on them for better grip control.
As I mentioned earlier, the back buttons have been flattened compared to the original device, but they click in nicely and are responsive like everything else.
As with some competitors, this handheld’s power button doubles as a fingerprint reader. It doesn’t always work on the first attempt, but it can make the login process a lot more convenient.
Since there is no built-in camera on this handheld, the device cannot take advantage of Windows Hello facial login.
I’m happy to report that the two 2W speakers with Hi-Res support and the built-in mic are much better than is necessary for a handheld.
There was a stretch where I was playing Baldur’s Gate 3 co-op with friends, and my headset stopped working for some reason. Thanks to the mic, I was still able to effectively communicate with my teammates for several minutes until I got my headset sorted.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ review: Alternative handhelds
I’ve mentioned ROG Ally X and Legion Go so often in this review that my recommending them as MSI Claw 8 AI+ alternatives should come as no surprise.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ review: Score card
|
Attribute |
Rating & notes |
|---|---|
|
Value |
3.5/5 — Not only is this one of the most expensive handhelds on the market, it’s unclear when it will actually be available for purchase. It was supposed to have launched months ago. |
|
Design |
4/5 — The color scheme is divisive and the back texture feels strange, but it has a balanced weight and two Thunderbolt 4 ports for more convenience. |
|
Display |
5/5 — While not as good as an OLED, the IPS touchscreen offers decent coloring and contrast, crisp detail, and respectable brightness. |
|
Performance |
5/5 — Compared to other handhelds on the market the Claw 8 AI+ offers far better gaming performance. |
|
Battery |
4/5 — Battery life is a rough spot for all handhelds, but the 80Whr battery does last up to two-ish hours, which is higher than smaller battery capacity handhelds. |
|
Software |
3.5/5 — MSI Center M doesn’t provide as many customization options as other handhelds, but it does allow for TDP, fan, and RGB lighting adjustments. |
|
Other hardware |
5/5 — Hall Effect joysticks, responsive controls, fantastic speakers that support Hi-Res, and a good microphone all work together to make this a great device. |
|
Overall |
4.5/5 — It costs more than other gaming handhelds, but it also has far better performance and has one of the longest-lasting batteries. |
MSI Claw 8 AI+ review: Final thoughts
You should buy this if …
✅ You want a handheld with longer battery life
Of the gaming handhelds on the market today, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ does have one of the largest battery capacities that can last up to 2 hours and 10 minutes when playing intensive games at max TDP. It would be better if it could last longer, but this is peak for where Windows handheld tech is at right now.
✅ You want a handheld that offers great gaming performance
As far as gaming handhelds go, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ offers some of the very best performance we’ve seen so far. It’s not as good as the best gaming laptops or desktops, but it can usually reach around 60 FPS or higher in more demanding games. Plus, VRR support and a 120Hz refresh rate work together to provide good motion clarity.
You should not buy this if …
❌ You want the best value handheld for your money
As it currently stands, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is one of the most expensive gaming handhelds out there. You can find other alternatives that don’t cost as much but still provide good game performance.
❌ You’d prefer a handheld that offers more setting customizations
There are other gaming handhelds on the market that provide more setting customizations, such as the ability to adjust VRAM. If you care to have a more tailored playing experience, then the MSI Claw 8 AI+ might not be a good fit for you.
It’s rather pricey, but if you’re willing to pay for it, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ provides the very best gaming performance available on handheld right now.
Of course, it would be better if this device offered more customization controls, but the automatic AI mode keeps the system running effectively without you needing to manually change things.
MSI’s latest and greatest gaming handhelds is a major improvement over the original device. It features an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V chip with an Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics card, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD. Plus, the display supports a 120Hz refresh rate and VRR to help with motion clarity.
