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 main PC or console is not obtainable. Although I personally use gaming handhelds lots in my residence so I can play on the sofa or in mattress, these gadgets are designed to be moveable first, and virtually at all times come second to a different, main gaming machine.

Nevertheless, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is the primary gaming handheld I’ve tried that feels prefer it might truly turn 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 to 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 value, and the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is not a handheld for everybody. However if you’re in search of 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 in search of.

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Value, availability, and specs

Energy in your palms

Beneath the hood, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is rocking the extremely highly effective Intel Core Extremely 7 258V processor, which gives 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 actually 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 needs to be famous that each one this energy does come at a value, because the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is without doubt one of the costliest gaming handhelds presently obtainable, costing an eye-popping $1000 as of July 2025. Little question a few of this value could also be as a consequence 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 it is best to take into account 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 means 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 once 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 wise AI Engine characteristic that routinely optimized efficiency and as soon as I turned it on I used to be in a position to get the sport operating easily in only a matter of moments. Although you might be nonetheless free to make use of the machine’s handbook 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 doable, with Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle operating 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 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 enough efficiency as properly.

It doesn’t matter what you are enjoying, the MSI Claw 8 AI+’s huge 8-inch IPS touchscreen seems vivid 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+ would not have an OLED display, however I truthfully suppose the LCD will get the job carried out properly sufficient that if that is the place the nook needed to be minimize 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+

Typically, it is not nearly energy

There’s truthfully not lots to dislike in regards to the MSI Claw 8 AI+. It is a dear handheld to make sure, however with loads of energy underneath the hood, that value 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 underneath the “your mileage might differ” umbrella.

First up, my greatest problem 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 robust to carry for lengthy intervals of time, particularly as a result of the machine weighs virtually two kilos and put numerous pressure on my wrists. I discovered myself usually propping the machine up on a pillow or a countertop to provide my wrists a break after only a few hours of gaming. As with something, I’d encourage those that are taken with 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 problem I had was with the MSI software program that ships with the machine. Very similar to 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, regulate settings, and customarily bypass numerous Home windows 11. Although the launcher will get the job carried out, it is not as absolutely featured as Legion House or Armory Crate on ROG gadgets, and it takes some digging to seek out fundamental features contained in the app. Fortuitously, when you’re like me and also you hate it, you’ll be able to at all times simply bypass it completely. 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 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 in a position to 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 vital to know that if you’re getting this handheld primarily to play top-tier video games, do not anticipate prolonged battery occasions, and be sure to have a high-capacity power bank with you when you’re taking it on the go.

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Must you 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 simply use commonly, 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 in search of a brand new main gaming machine (or simply have cash to burn I suppose) that is virtually actually the most effective handheld presently 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 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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