This $1000 gaming handheld would possibly simply be price its insane pricetag

For lots of avid gamers, together with myself, handheld gaming PCs are a secondary gadget, providing on-the-go play when your major PC or console is not accessible. Although I personally use gaming handhelds quite a bit in my house so I can play on the sofa or in mattress, these units are designed to be transportable first, and nearly at all times come second to a different, major gaming gadget.

Nonetheless, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is the primary gaming handheld I’ve tried that feels prefer it may truly develop into the first approach I play video games. With insane {hardware} below the hood, a high-quality display screen, and AI options that take the guesswork out of optimizing your gadget to your favourite sport, I discovered myself prioritizing enjoying video games on a handheld over a console for the primary time ever.

Sadly, such a premium expertise does come at a price, and the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is not a handheld for everybody. However if you’re in search of a gaming gadget that fairly actually does all of it, and do not thoughts plunking down a hefty chunk of change, this simply could be the console-replacement you are in search of.

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Value, availability, and specs

Energy in your arms

Below the hood, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is rocking the extremely highly effective Intel Core Extremely 7 258V processor, which offers a lot better efficiency than different handhelds just like the ROG Ally collection and the Lenovo Legion Go S, which use an AMD Z1 Excessive. Paired with 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage, this handheld is definitely essentially the most highly effective I’ve examined and might go toe to toe with loads of mid-range gaming laptops and PCs, which is fairly spectacular for a handheld.

Along with uncooked energy, this handheld packs Corridor Impact joysticks, two Thunderbolt 4 ports (good for attaching a controller or exterior show whereas nonetheless charging), RGB lighting, whisper-quiet Hyperflow followers, and a high-capacity 80WHr battery.

Nonetheless, it must be famous that each one this energy does come at a value, because the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is among the costliest gaming handhelds at the moment accessible, costing an eye-popping $1000 as of July 2025. Little doubt a few of this value could also be as a result of elevated prices thanks to political policy, however with this unit costing greater than a PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Change 2 mixed, value is certainly one of many first components it’s best to take into account in the event you’re considering of selecting up this gadget.

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What I appreciated in regards to the MSI Claw 8 AI+

Gaming on the go with out limitations

When placing the MSI Claw 8 AI+ by way of its paces, I attempted to pick a sport that I knew would push the {hardware} to its limits. On this case, that title ended up being Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle, a sport that has pissed off me on different units with frequent crashes, framerate drops, and loading points. And once I obtained began with the MSI Claw 8 AI+, I famous a few of these identical points inside the first ten minutes or so of beginning the sport.

Nonetheless, the sport has a sensible AI Engine function that mechanically optimized efficiency and as soon as I turned it on I used to be capable of get the sport operating easily in only a matter of moments. Although you might be nonetheless free to make use of the gadget’s guide settings mode if you want, I am unable to suggest the AI engine sufficient because it helped me get into the video games I needed to play as rapidly as potential, with Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle operating at a steady 50 FPS when in handheld mode. Sadly, the sport’s power-saving endurance mode was merely less than the duty when it got here to enjoying this sport, however once I booted up lighter weight video games like Persona 3: Reloaded and Slay the Spire, the MSI Claw 8 AI+’s battery saving mode supplied ample efficiency as effectively.

It doesn’t matter what you are enjoying, the MSI Claw 8 AI+’s large 8-inch IPS touchscreen seems to be vivid and exquisite and makes use of VRR (variable refresh price) at as much as 120Hz to make sure clean efficiency from even essentially the most demanding titles. Given the gadget’s premium value, you would be forgiven for questioning why the MSI Claw 8 AI+ would not have an OLED display screen, however I truthfully assume the LCD will get the job carried out effectively sufficient that if that is the place the nook needed to be lower to maintain the gadget from costing over a grand, the IPS display screen is an appropriate substitution.

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What I did not like in regards to the MSI Claw 8 AI+

Typically, it isn’t nearly energy

There’s truthfully not quite a bit to dislike in regards to the MSI Claw 8 AI+. It is a expensive handheld to make certain, however with loads of energy below the hood, that value is justified if you’re out there for a top-of-the line handheld. Nonetheless, there have been some nitpick-y issues that I did not personally like in regards to the gadget, although these largely fall below the “your mileage might differ” umbrella.

First up, my largest problem personally with the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has to do with ergonomics. I’ve very small arms, and I discovered the gadget’s slab-like form to be robust to carry for lengthy intervals of time, particularly as a result of the gadget weighs nearly two kilos and put loads of pressure on my wrists. I discovered myself usually propping the gadget up on a pillow or a countertop to present my wrists a break after only a few hours of gaming. As with something, I might encourage those that are fascinated with shopping for this gadget to discover a unit they’ll check out first, as my distinctive hand construction might merely be incompatible with the gadget, whereas others might discover it simpler to carry.

One other small problem I had was with the MSI software program that ships with the gadget. Very similar to different gaming handhelds, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has its personal proprietary app on the gadget named Middle M, which permits customers a central hub from which they’ll launch video games, customise controls, modify settings, and customarily bypass loads of Home windows 11. Although the launcher will get the job carried out, it isn’t as totally featured as Legion Area or Armory Crate on ROG units, and it takes some digging to seek out fundamental capabilities contained in the app. Luckily, in the event you’re like me and also you hate it, you may at all times simply bypass it totally. In fact, meaning you may be caught utilizing Home windows 11, which has its personal well-documented points, but when all you are attempting to do is get to your video games, it is a comparatively small downside.

Lastly, like just about any gaming handheld, the battery life on the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is not nice. When enjoying Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle, I used to be capable of simply barely eke out 90 minutes of gameplay earlier than needing to plug in. Granted, when enjoying different, much less resource-intensive video games like Slay the Spire or Persona 3: Reloaded, I may get nearly double that quantity, however its vital to know that if you’re getting this handheld primarily to play top-tier video games, do not anticipate prolonged battery instances, and be sure to have a high-capacity power bank with you in the event you’re taking it on the go.

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Do you have to purchase the MSI Claw 8 AI+?

Take into consideration your individual use case first

At an MSRP of $1000, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is asking avid gamers for an enormous funding up entrance, and if you have already got a handheld, a laptop computer, even a Change 2 that you simply use frequently, that pricetag might merely make this gadget, as spectacular as it’s from a technical standpoint, not well worth the cash.

Nonetheless, if you’re in search of a brand new major gaming gadget (or simply have cash to burn I suppose) that is nearly definitely one of the best handheld at the moment accessible. Regardless of some issues I had with ergonomics, the onboard software program, and the battery life, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ nonetheless is one premium buy you may most likely be glad you made.

Weight

1.75 kilos

Chipset

Intel Core Extremely 7 processor

RAM

32 GB

Storage

1 TB

A premium gaming handheld powered by Intel Core Extremely 7-258V with 32GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. 

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