From my time enjoying round with the brand new Panther Lake-powered MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ I’ve discovered some severely excessive issues about this handheld gaming PC. Largely that is a very good factor, nevertheless it being 2026—and the actual fact I am speaking a few new gaming handheld mere days after the Steam Deck value hike—you may most likely already guess what the not-so-good excessive factor is…It is powered by the brand new Intel G3 Excessive processorIt’s extraordinarily quietIt’s battery life is extremeIt feels extraordinarily good within the handsAnd the value is clearly extremeYeah, that. There is not but a remaining value for the hand held but, and there may be seemingly solely going to be one mannequin at launch in direction of the top of June, however we have been instructed immediately at a pre-Computex hands-on occasion with the Claw that we’re $1500. As long as MSI can keep manufacturing prices and maintain it at that value level. Which is possibly a tiny bit regarding.It’s value re-iterating that the Steam Deck has simply had a hoofing nice value hike itself, and has nonetheless one way or the other bought out of its total inventory for North America. Not that I am making excuses for that eye-watering value, but when Valve’s ageing handheld—and a far weaker setup at that—goes to set you again round $1,000 possibly we should not be stunned {that a} system that appears to be the benchmark by which all different handheld gaming PCs are rated goes to price a piece extra.
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Now I’ve bought that one detrimental out of the way in which let’s get onto the extra constructive stuff… and there is a variety of it.MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ specsThe MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is utilizing the highest chip within the new G3 vary of devoted handheld Intel chips, the G3 Excessive. Which means you are getting the total 14-core processing array, together with the 12 Xe core Arc B390 iGPU. Whereas there’s a extra reasonably priced 10 Xe core model within the straight G3 chip, MSI just isn’t utilizing that simply but.I requested the query and was instructed: “To date we’re beginning with the G3 Excessive and we’ll be sticking with this one in our first wave.”These 14 cores breakdown into only a single pair of Cougar Cove Efficiency cores, with eight Darmont Environment friendly cores, and an additional 4 low energy E-cores able to working on their very own whereas leaving the remainder of the extra power-hungry cores turned off.Maintain updated with a very powerful tales and the most effective offers, as picked by the PC Gamer group.Swipe to scroll horizontallyClaw 8 EX AI+ specsProcessorIntel Arc G3 Excessive processorOperating SystemWindows 11 HomeChipsetIntegrated SoCMemoryLPDDR5x-8533 onboard, as much as 32 GB, twin channelDisplay8-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200), Touchscreen, 48~120Hz VRR, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Stage panelGraphicsIntel Arc GPU B390Storage Slot1 x NVMe M.2 2280 SSD by PCIe Gen 4 x4Sensor6-Axis IMU Vibration MotorCommunicationIntel Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v6Audio2 x 2 W Audio system / 1x Audio combo jack / DTS Audio Processing / Hello-Res Audio readyI/O Port2 x Thunderbolt™ 4 (DisplayPort™ / Energy Supply 3.0)1 x microSD Card Reader1 x Audio Combo Jack SecurityFingerprint sensor on energy buttonBattery/Adapter4-Cell, Li-Polymer, 80 Whr / 65 W USB-C PD 3.0Dimension296~321 (W) x 130 (D) x 25~48 (H) mmWeight785 gColorVoid PurpleWhich is the proper solution to construction it, in the event you ask me. I do not want a ton of high-performance CPU cores in my handheld. I get that it is enjoyable to do the entire ‘I used my handheld as a full desktop pc’ factor, but when I’ve bought a handheld I would like it to be doing cellular stuff with an awesome battery life, and energy funds saved by not spooling up some beefy cores can be my private choice.Together with that you simply’re getting 32 GB of LPDDR5x-8533 and a 1 TB SSD. That SSD is of the usual 2280 selection, which suggests customers have a larger variety of choices to select from in the event that they want to improve the storage down the road. Although it bears saying that, owing to the constraints of the chassis, you are solely ready to make use of single-sided SSDs in there.By way of the I/O, there is a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports on the highest, with a MicroSD card reader, fingerprint studying powerbutton, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. You are additionally getting new “HD haptic” linear resonant actuator (LRA) modules to ship a brand new, extra correct, quieter, and decrease powered vibration motor within the handles.
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There are some issues that notably have not modified from the earlier model of the MSI Claw, specifically the display screen, the Corridor impact triggers and sticks, and the 80 Whr battery. So, you are still getting a 1200p IPS-level panel, with a peak luminance of 500 nits and assist for VRR, from 48 Hz to 120 Hz.Picture 1 of three(Picture credit score: Future)(Picture credit score: Future)(Picture credit score: Future)MSI can also be sticking with Home windows, too. It is clearly going to have the Xbox mode of the Xbox Ally X, with MSI creating a light-weight fast settings display screen that mimics what Asus has accomplished with its Armoury Crate software program. So, will probably be a extra tailor-made handheld expertise, however SteamOS it’s not.Although MSI has examined SteamOS after Intel really helpful giving the Claw a whirl with various working methods, however I am instructed “with SteamOS, there are nonetheless technical obstacles.” With my very own expertise of attempting Valve’s Linux OS out on varied non-Asus, non-Lenovo, non-Valve handhelds, I must agree. MSI has examined different Linux working methods within the labs, however after I ask in the event that they’re working okay I am instructed they’re “workable, however only for engineers”.MSI can also be testing out TMR sticks within the labs, however the outcomes of these experiments have come too late to get into this model of the Claw no less than.Despite the fact that it’s utilizing the identical huge ol’ battery, the brand new Claw is a little bit lighter than the outdated one, coming in at 785 g versus 795 g for the outdated model. Which truly stunned me. Having picked it up and performed round with it, it feels a lot lighter than that within the hand. It is nicely balanced, and the flared grips, nearer to that of the ROG Xbox Ally X and the Xbox Controller it is based mostly on, make it really feel much more comfy than the earlier gadget while you’re truly holding it.MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ battery life
(Picture credit score: Future)”I promise you battery life that must be extra spectacular than the present Lunar Lake one we now have proper now,” the MSI product supervisor for the brand new Claw tells us. “Due to Intel expertise assist for that.”Given the earlier model was fairly spectacular in that regard I can not wait to see what the battery life is once we truly get one in our arms for correct testing exterior of the MSI HQ in Taipei the place I am at present pawing on the gadget. MSI is not giving out a selected battery life determine itself, however the Lunar Lake model nearly topped two hours within the PC Mark gaming battery life check.And one Intel rep I spoke to had been enjoying 007 First Gentle on his flight over to Taipei and hadn’t considered plugging it in till round 4 hours into the sport.There’s a new Endurance mode, which drops the CPU cores down to only 8 W, leaving the entire thing with round a 17 W TDP. In fact, if you wish to push it you will get the G3 Excessive as much as 45 W if you wish to run it in console mode plugged into the wall.MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ efficiency
(Picture credit score: Future)It is fast. That is one thing which ought to shock no-one given how nicely the Arc B390 Panther Lake iGPU has carried out in 12 Xe core laptops. I wasn’t allowed to benchmark it per se, however was capable of fiddle with Hogwarts, F1 25, and Battlefield 6. At its native 1200p decision—particularly with XeSS body era doing its factor—you are going to have the ability to match its 120 Hz refresh charge in these first two no less than.BF 6 is a bit harder on the GPU, however you will nonetheless be capable to prime 60 fps at 1080p with some even handed use of XeSS, although with out body gen as but.I did have the Claw 8 EX AI+ operating at 4K on a TV in MSI’s workplace, with F1 25 operating at between 80 and 90 fps, however I’ll say using body era, whereas needed, wasn’t doing good issues for the visible stability or a clean expertise.MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ hands-on verdict
(Picture credit score: Future)I am into it.I am into the Void Purple colourway MSI goes with for this preliminary launch. I am into the efficiency of Panther Lake, particularly with a well specced out G3 chip, which prioritises the iGPU over jamming in additional P-cores. I am into the type and really feel of the gadget within the hand. And I am undoubtedly into the battery life, too.I fear in regards to the value, and given the potential energy/battery life steadiness of the ten Xe model of the Intel G3 collection, I am a little bit disillusioned that MSI is resolutely sticking to only a single costly SKU. It is also a disgrace the Claw does not appear to be significantly supportive of Linux, however that will nicely simply be a G3 factor.Having performed round with the gadget, and its fast settings/Xbox mode structure, it is nonetheless much more finicky than the usual Massive Image Mode expertise you will get with a easy Bazzite set up. I do reckon you will shortly get used to it and its foibles, nonetheless.However I’ve come away from my time with it impressed by what MSI and Intel have created right here. There are different G3-powered handhelds I am going to get my mitts on over the following few days at Computex, with Acer and OneXPlayer each having different machines right here in Taipei, however whereas the primary two MSI Claw units felt very very like the corporate was partnering with Intel in a extra experimental manner, that is the primary of its handhelds that basically appears like a completed, premium product to me.However that is simply based mostly on just a few hours enjoying with the factor and chatting with MSI and Intel people in regards to the gadget and its design. The true proof can be once we get it dwelling and begin correctly messing round with it.Greatest handheld PC 2026All our present suggestions
