In a recent exploration of the revamped MSI Claw 8 handheld gaming console, it is clear that this new iteration, aptly named the “Claw 8 AI+,” has made significant strides since its predecessor. Previously, MSI’s first-gen Claw 8 left much to be desired, particularly due to its underwhelming Meteor Lake Core Ultra 7 155H APU, which paled in comparison to the formidable Ryzen Z1 Extreme of the Rog Ally. Fast forward seven months and MSI has addressed these shortcomings with a second-generation model that brings the latest technology to the table.
The Claw 8 AI+ now houses the Core Ultra 7 258V, a cutting-edge Lunar Lake APU from Intel outfitted with a next-gen Xe2 Arc 140V integrated GPU. According to testing conducted by Dave2D, these improvements enable the Claw 8 AI+ to measure up to the Asus Rog Ally X, both in terms of performance and battery efficiency.
When put to the test in various games at a resolution and graphics setting of 1080p/low and a power consumption of 17 W, the Claw 8 AI+ not only matches but sometimes surpasses its competitors. In gaming titles like Ghost of Tsushima and Black Myth: Wukong, it delivers strong frame rates, edging past the Rog Ally X in Cyberpunk 2077 by 9% and achieving even greater advantages in Red Dead Redemption 2 and F1 23.
Increasing the power to 30 W with the same resolution and adjustments for FSR/XeSS yields modest performance boosts across the board. Yet, the Claw 8 AI+ maintains a lead, outperforming in games like Ghost of Tsushima and Baldur’s Gate 3 by small yet significant margins.
Battery life sees the Claw 8 AI+ and Rog Ally X in close contention, both boasting an impressive 80 Wh battery. They excel with long durations under light loads, such as streaming on YouTube. However, the Claw 8 AI+ pulls ahead in gaming endurance, lasting longer than the Rog Ally X during sessions of Cyberpunk 2077, while the latter takes the advantage in Street Fighter 6.
Despite these improvements, there’s a notable caveat: price. The Claw 8 AI+ comes with a considerably higher price tag, posing a hurdle for gamers seeking bang for their buck. Until MSI adjusts its pricing strategy, despite its flagship performance, the recommendation for the Claw 8 AI+ remains tempered by its cost compared to more affordable yet competitive options.
