MSI Unveils Claw 8 EX AI+ Handheld Gaming PC

MSI unveiled the Claw 8 EX AI+, an Intel-based handheld with an 8-inch display and a 1.7-pound chassis. It uses Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme GPU, a Panther Lake chip with two performance and twelve efficiency cores. MSI has not set a price, but statements from MSI and Intel suggest a retail cost near US $1,500.

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At 35 W TDP, the Claw 8 EX AI+ delivered over 60 fps on high settings in *Forza Horizon 6*, *Hogwarts Legacy* and *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* using Intel XeSS. In side-by-side tests, *Diablo IV* ran at 122 fps versus 66 fps on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X (?85 % gain). Even at 17 W, it outperformed the Ally X in *Cyberpunk 2077*, though it fell up to 18 % behind in *Crimson Desert* and *Battlefield 6*, a shortfall Intel attributes to driver issues.

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The device’s textured plastic grips accommodate a range of hand sizes, and the sticks use Hall-effect magnetic sensing, which reduces drift and false inputs compared with the potentiometer joysticks of the Acer Predator Atlas 8.

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MSI positions the Claw 8 EX AI+ as a premium alternative to AMD handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go 2 and the $790 Steam Deck. Intel’s data claim it outperforms the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X at 1080p with 2× upscaling. The projected $1,500 price places it above most current handhelds, raising value questions.

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Intel says the handheld disables its performance cores below 12 W, making GPU performance the primary driver at low power. In a 17 W endurance mode, Intel claims over five hours of gameplay in *Forza Horizon 6*.

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Reviewers warn the projected cost may limit adoption, expressing doubt that any gaming handheld justifies such a price. Performance varies at lower TDPs, and Intel attributes some shortfalls to driver and compatibility issues, suggesting future software updates could improve the experience.

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Sources differ on the magnitude of the low-power advantage: some games show clear superiority over the Ally X, while others record up to an 18 % deficit. Independent verification of the claimed five-hour battery life is absent.

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• “MSI’s new Claw 8 EX AI+ is exactly the kind of handheld I want to slot between my weary fingers.” — Gizmodo reviewer

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• “7 pounds, that I didn’t need to strain to hold it aloft.” — Gizmodo reviewer

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• “Plus, they’re Hall effect, a type of magnetic sensing technology that is better at resisting dreaded stick drift and false input issues.” — Gizmodo reviewer

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• “If you limit the power envelope to 17W on “endurance” mode, Intel claims you can get more than five hours of battery life in a game like Forza Horizon 6.” — Intel spokesperson

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MSI plans to announce pricing and production later in 2026. Intel will issue driver updates, and further benchmarks will clarify the handheld’s market position.

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