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

For lots of players, together with myself, handheld gaming PCs are a secondary system, providing on-the-go play when your main PC or console is not out there. Although I personally use gaming handhelds loads in my residence so I can play on the sofa or in mattress, these units are designed to be transportable first, and nearly at all times come second to a different, main gaming system.

Nonetheless, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is the primary gaming handheld I’ve tried that feels prefer it might really turn into the first means I play video games. With insane {hardware} beneath the hood, a high-quality display, and AI options that take the guesswork out of optimizing your system to your favourite sport, 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 value, and the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is not a handheld for everybody. However if you’re in search of a gaming system that fairly actually does all of it, and do not thoughts plunking down a hefty chunk of change, this simply may be the console-replacement you are in search of.

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Worth, availability, and specs

Energy in your fingers

Below 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 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 definitely probably 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.

Nonetheless, it needs to be famous that every one this energy does come at a value, because the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is among the most costly gaming handhelds presently out there, costing an eye-popping $1000 as of July 2025. Little question a few of this value could also be on account 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 elements you must contemplate for those who’re pondering of choosing up this system.

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What I preferred concerning 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 out a sport 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 sport 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.

Nonetheless, the sport has a wise AI Engine characteristic that robotically 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’re nonetheless free to make use of the system’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 potential, with Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle operating at a steady 50 FPS when in handheld mode. Sadly, the sport’s power-saving endurance mode was merely less than the duty when it got here to taking part in this sport, 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 sufficient efficiency as effectively.

It doesn’t matter what you are taking part in, the MSI Claw 8 AI+’s huge 8-inch IPS touchscreen appears vibrant and exquisite and makes use of VRR (variable refresh charge) at as much as 120Hz to make sure clean efficiency from even probably the most demanding titles. Given the system’s premium value, 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 effectively sufficient that if that is the place the nook needed to be reduce to maintain the system from costing over a grand, the IPS display is an appropriate substitution.

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What I did not like concerning the MSI Claw 8 AI+

Typically, it isn’t nearly energy

There’s truthfully not loads to dislike concerning the MSI Claw 8 AI+. It is a dear handheld to make sure, however with loads of energy beneath the hood, that value is justified if you’re available in the market for a top-of-the line handheld. Nonetheless, there have been some nitpick-y issues that I did not personally like concerning the system, although these largely fall beneath the “your mileage could range” umbrella.

First up, my greatest challenge personally with the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has to do with ergonomics. I’ve very small fingers, and I discovered the system’s slab-like form to be powerful to carry for lengthy durations of time, particularly as a result of the system weighs nearly two kilos and put plenty of pressure on my wrists. I discovered myself usually propping the system up on a pillow or a countertop to present my wrists a break after just some hours of gaming. As with something, I’d encourage those that are curious about shopping for this system to discover a unit they’ll check out first, as my distinctive hand construction could merely be incompatible with the system, whereas others could discover it simpler to carry.

One other small challenge I had was with the MSI software program that ships with the system. Very similar to different gaming handhelds, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has its personal proprietary app on the system named Middle M, which permits customers a central hub from which they’ll launch video games, customise controls, regulate settings, and customarily bypass plenty of Home windows 11. Although the launcher will get the job finished, it isn’t as absolutely featured as Legion House or Armory Crate on ROG units, and it takes some digging to search out primary capabilities contained in the app. Thankfully, for those who’re like me and also you hate it, you may at all times 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 attempting 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 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 might get nearly double that quantity, however its essential to know that if you’re getting this handheld primarily to play top-tier video games, do not count on prolonged battery occasions, and ensure you have a high-capacity power bank with you for those who’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 a giant funding up entrance, and if you have already got a handheld, a laptop computer, even a Swap 2 that you simply use recurrently, that pricetag could merely make this system, as spectacular as it’s from a technical standpoint, not definitely worth the cash.

Nonetheless, if you’re in search of a brand new main gaming system (or simply have cash to burn I suppose) that is nearly definitely the perfect handheld presently out there. 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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