This $1000 gaming handheld may simply be value its insane pricetag

For lots of players, together with myself, handheld gaming PCs are a secondary machine, 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 residence so I can play on the sofa or in mattress, these units are designed to be moveable first, and virtually at all times come second to a different, major gaming machine.

Nevertheless, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is the primary gaming handheld I’ve tried that feels prefer it may really develop into the first approach I play video games. With insane {hardware} underneath the hood, a high-quality display, and AI options that take the guesswork out of optimizing your machine on your favourite recreation, I discovered myself prioritizing taking part in 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 in case you are searching for a gaming machine that fairly actually does all of it, and do not thoughts plunking down a hefty chunk of change, this simply is likely to be the console-replacement you are searching for.

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Value, availability, and specs

Energy in your palms

Underneath the hood, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is rocking the extremely highly effective Intel Core Extremely 7 258V processor, which supplies a lot better efficiency than different handhelds just like the ROG Ally sequence 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 may 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 (excellent for attaching a controller or exterior show whereas nonetheless charging), RGB lighting, whisper-quiet Hyperflow followers, and a high-capacity 80WHr battery.

Nevertheless, it must be famous that each one this energy does come at a value, because the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is likely one of the most costly gaming handhelds presently 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 Swap 2 mixed, price is unquestionably one of many first components it’s best to think about in the event you’re considering of selecting up this machine.

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

Gaming on the go with out limitations

When placing the MSI Claw 8 AI+ by its paces, I attempted to pick out a recreation 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 recreation that has pissed off me on different units with frequent crashes, framerate drops, and loading points. And once I received began with the MSI Claw 8 AI+, I famous a few of these identical points throughout the first ten minutes or so of beginning the sport.

Nevertheless, the sport has a sensible AI Engine function that robotically optimized efficiency and as soon as I turned it on I used to be in a position to get the sport working easily in only a matter of moments. Although you’re nonetheless free to make use of the machine’s guide settings mode if you want, I am unable to advocate the AI engine sufficient because it helped me get into the video games I needed to play as rapidly as doable, with Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle working at a steady 50 FPS when in handheld mode. Sadly, the sport’s power-saving endurance mode was merely lower than the duty when it got here to taking part in this recreation, 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 offered sufficient efficiency as nicely.

It doesn’t matter what you are taking part in, the MSI Claw 8 AI+’s large 8-inch IPS touchscreen appears shiny and delightful and makes use of VRR (variable refresh fee) at as much as 120Hz to make sure clean efficiency from even essentially the most demanding titles. Given the machine’s premium value, you would be forgiven for questioning why the MSI Claw 8 AI+ does not have an OLED display, however I actually assume the LCD will get the job executed nicely sufficient that if that is the place the nook needed to be reduce to maintain the machine from costing over a grand, the IPS display is a suitable substitution.

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

Generally, it isn’t nearly energy

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

First up, my largest subject personally with the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has to do with ergonomics. I’ve very small palms, and I discovered the machine’s slab-like form to be powerful to carry for lengthy durations of time, particularly as a result of the machine weighs virtually two kilos and put a number of pressure on my wrists. I discovered myself usually propping the machine 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 inquisitive about shopping for this machine to discover a unit they will check out first, as my distinctive hand construction might merely be incompatible with the machine, whereas others might discover it simpler to carry.

One other small subject I had was with the MSI software program that ships with the machine. Very like different gaming handhelds, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has its personal proprietary app on the machine named Middle M, which permits customers a central hub from which they will launch video games, customise controls, modify settings, and usually bypass a number of Home windows 11. Although the launcher will get the job executed, it isn’t as absolutely featured as Legion Area or Armory Crate on ROG units, and it takes some digging to search out fundamental capabilities contained in the app. Fortuitously, in the event you’re like me and also you hate it, you possibly can at all times simply bypass it completely. In fact, which means 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 drawback.

Lastly, like just about any gaming handheld, the battery life on the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is not nice. When taking part in Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle, I used to be in a position to simply barely eke out 90 minutes of gameplay earlier than needing to plug in. Granted, when taking part in different, much less resource-intensive video games like Slay the Spire or Persona 3: Reloaded, I may get virtually double that quantity, however its essential to know that in case you are getting this handheld primarily to play top-tier video games, do not count on prolonged battery instances, and be sure you 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 personal use case first

At an MSRP of $1000, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is asking players for a giant funding up entrance, and if you have already got a handheld, a laptop computer, even a Swap 2 that you simply use repeatedly, that pricetag might merely make this machine, as spectacular as it’s from a technical standpoint, not definitely worth the cash.

Nevertheless, in case you are searching for a brand new major gaming machine (or simply have cash to burn I suppose) that is virtually definitely the perfect handheld presently 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 in all probability 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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