Get a first look at the MSI Claw 8 AI+. Paul Antill goes over everything new with this new gaming handheld featuring the next-gen Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, upgraded Hall Effect joysticks, and a brand-new M-Center experience. This portable powerhouse is designed to deliver up to 113% higher peak FPS compared to its rivals like the ASUS ROG Ally X while maintaining impressive efficiency thanks to its 80Wh battery. While its unique Sandstorm color may not scream “gamer”, its tactile button upgrades, Bluetooth LE Audio support, and more are notable improvements. Could this be one of the best gaming handhelds in 2025? Let’s see if the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has what it takes to be your next gaming device!
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00:00Today, I'm getting my first hands-on with the new MSI CLAW 8 AI Plus gaming handheld
00:05PC.
00:06This is MSI's chance to redeem themselves after the less-than-stellar release of the
00:10original CLAW 7.
00:12The buttons sometimes don't work, sometimes the touch interface doesn't work.
00:15So the question is, does the CLAW fix enough of those issues to be more competitive and
00:18a great choice for gamers this year?
00:20MSI and Intel are making some big promises, so let's dive into everything that's new
00:23and exciting.
00:25Let's start things off with the design.
00:27We have an overall very similar profile that we first saw with the CLAW 7, but in a larger
00:32package.
00:33We've got an ergonomic build here with some nice upgrades.
00:35It's rocking a larger 8-inch 1920x1200 16x10 touchscreen display with 120Hz refresh rate
00:43and 500 nits of brightness.
00:45The D-pad is more concave now, giving off very strong Xbox controller vibes, and the
00:50joysticks have been upgraded to Hall-effect sensors.
00:53And even the left and right bumpers feel more satisfying to click and can be triggered more
00:56easily.
00:57And that's thanks to the new top-actuated switch, which MSI calls Tactile Edge Pressing.
01:03At 795 grams, it is about 100 grams heavier than the CLAW 7, which is to be expected because
01:08of its larger 8-inch display, as well as its new 80-watt battery.
01:12Now that said, I have been holding and gaming on this for a while and I haven't noticed
01:15that extra weight, but maybe with extra time and longer gaming sessions, it'd be something
01:19I'd be a little bit more concerned with.
01:22We find the new Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, Series 2, paired with an Intel Arc 140V GPU,
01:2932GB of LPDDR5X memory, and a 1TB NVMe SSD.
01:35So this is doubling the original CLAW 7's 16GB of RAM and 500GB of base storage.
01:40As for other upgrades, the CLAW 8 AI Plus is also packing newer Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth LE
01:46audio, plus improved speakers which are louder and more clear.
01:50But let's be real, while those are great new features to have, they're probably not
01:53the biggest deciding factors when choosing your next handheld.
01:57Another big improvement, which will probably get overlooked by a lot of gamers, is MSI's
02:01new mCenter software.
02:02MSI now offers quick access to key device settings like switching performance modes,
02:07viewing your FPS, changing your brightness and volume levels, quickly turning your Bluetooth
02:11or Wi-Fi on or off, and a lot more.
02:15And because of that, I found that it makes navigating and customizing the device settings,
02:18especially mid-game, a lot more seamless.
02:21Moving on to performance, MSI is claiming that the CLAW 8 AI Plus delivers up to 20%
02:26better performance than the ASUS ROG Ally X when both are set to 17W.
02:32What's interesting though is that the CLAW 8 AI Plus also supports a 30W power mode,
02:36however we don't have any benchmarks for it, so stay tuned and subscribe to see our full
02:40test results.
02:42As these are handhelds, another big consideration is going to be battery life.
02:46Now rocking the same 80Wh battery, which is found on the Ally X, MSI is still claiming
02:51that the CLAW 8 AI Plus can get up to 44% better battery life.
02:56What about pricing and availability?
02:58The CLAW 8 AI Plus starts at $899 and is available currently in the one sandstone color.
03:04It kind of reminds me of a tank, just because of its build quality and that color scheme.
03:10Some people may dig it, some people may prefer the black or all white that we've seen on
03:15other handhelds, whether it's the Ally X, the original Ally, or other options like that.
03:19Though, and this is just my opinion, I think it was a missed opportunity that they didn't
03:22add a little bit of red either on the CLAW logo on the top here or on the back of the device.
03:27But what do you think about its higher starting price and its new color option?
03:30Is that enough to sway you one way or the other?
03:32Let me know in the comments.
03:34Pre-orders are available now and shipping starts in late December.
03:37I'm really excited to get the full review unit in hand so we can give you more of those
03:40pros and cons, so stay subscribed and follow us everywhere on social so you know when that
03:44video drops.
03:45Until the next one, I'll catch you later.