This $1000 gaming handheld would possibly simply be price 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 obtainable. Although I personally use gaming handhelds quite a bit in my house so I can play on the sofa or in mattress, these gadgets are designed to be moveable first, and virtually all the time 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 might really turn into the first method I play video games. With insane {hardware} below the hood, a high-quality display, and AI options that take the guesswork out of optimizing your machine in your favourite recreation, 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 on the lookout 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 perhaps the console-replacement you are on the lookout for.

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Value, availability, and specs

Energy in your fingers

Underneath 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 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 probably 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.

Nevertheless, it ought to be famous that every one this energy does come at a worth, because the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is without doubt one of the costliest gaming handhelds at present obtainable, costing an eye-popping $1000 as of July 2025. Little question a few of this worth 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, value is certainly one of many first elements you must think about when you’re considering of choosing up this machine.

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What I favored 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 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 annoyed me on different gadgets with frequent crashes, framerate drops, and loading points. And after I received 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.

Nevertheless, 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 working easily in only a matter of moments. Although you’re nonetheless free to make use of the machine’s handbook settings mode if you want, I am unable to advocate the AI engine sufficient because it helped me get into the video games I wished to play as shortly as doable, with Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle working at a secure 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 enjoying this recreation, however after 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 satisfactory efficiency as properly.

It doesn’t matter what you are enjoying, the MSI Claw 8 AI+’s huge 8-inch IPS touchscreen seems to be shiny and exquisite and makes use of VRR (variable refresh charge) at as much as 120Hz to make sure easy efficiency from even probably the most demanding titles. Given the machine’s premium worth, you would be forgiven for questioning why the MSI Claw 8 AI+ would not have an OLED display, however I truthfully assume the LCD will get the job finished properly 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 an appropriate 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 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 worth is justified if you’re 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 below the “your mileage might range” umbrella.

First up, my largest subject personally with the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has to do with ergonomics. I’ve very small fingers, 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 quite a lot of pressure on my wrists. I discovered myself usually propping the machine up on a pillow or a countertop to offer my wrists a break after only a few hours of gaming. As with something, I might encourage those that are serious 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 Heart M, which permits customers a central hub from which they will launch video games, customise controls, alter settings, and customarily bypass quite a lot of Home windows 11. Although the launcher will get the job finished, it isn’t as totally featured as Legion Area or Armory Crate on ROG gadgets, and it takes some digging to seek out primary features contained in the app. Thankfully, when you’re like me and also you hate it, you’ll be able to all the time simply bypass it solely. After all, meaning you may be caught utilizing Home windows 11, which has its personal well-documented points, but when all you are making an attempt to do is get to your video games, this can be a comparatively small drawback.

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 might get virtually double that quantity, however its necessary 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 you have a high-capacity power bank with you when 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 an enormous funding up entrance, and if you have already got a handheld, a laptop computer, even a Swap 2 that you just use frequently, that pricetag might merely make this machine, as spectacular as it’s from a technical standpoint, not well worth the cash.

Nevertheless, if you’re on the lookout for a brand new major gaming machine (or simply have cash to burn I suppose) that is virtually definitely the most effective handheld at present obtainable. 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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