MSI recently revealed all the details of its two new handheld PC gaming devices, now available for pre-order. While the Claw 7 AI+ and Claw 8 AI+ share Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processors, Arc Graphics 140V iGPUs, and 32GB of RAM, they also differ in a few key ways.
MSI’s latest portable PC gaming devices are now official after a soft launch in September. To recap, they were available from retailers like Amazon in the US. However, not only has MSI officially acknowledged what it calls its A2VM series, but it has also shed some new light on the technical specifications.
For example, the portable PC gaming devices will be available exclusively with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor. As such, both handheld PC gaming devices will feature 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM that Intel has clocked at 8,533 MT/s, as well as Arc Graphics 140V iGPU technology. Additionally, MSI is equipping them with 512GB and 1TB of storage, respectively. For some reason, the Claw 7 AI+ only has Wi-Fi 6E connectivity; the original Claw 8 AI+ only has Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. MSI’s original Claw (REVIEW) matches the Claw 8 AI+ with Wi-Fi 7.
Price and Release Date
The Claw 8 AI+ is $100 more than the Asus ROG Ally X (REVIEW & Comparison). The junior, on the other hand, is the same price as the most expensive version of the original Claw when it launched earlier this year.
The Lunar Lake-powered MSI handheld PC gaming devices bring impressive improvements over the previous-gen MSI Claws. Unsurprisingly, the Arc 140V iGPU helps the new Claw handhelds edge out the ROG Ally X by 113%.
Specifications
- Operating system: Windows 11 Home
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 258V
- Chip: Intel Arc 140V
- RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5X-8533
- Display: 7″ IPS-level display, 1920 x 1080, 16:9 aspect ratio, touchscreen, 120Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB, 500 nits, VRR (7 AI Plus) / 8″ IPS-level display, 1920 x 1200, 16:10 aspect ratio, touchscreen, 120Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB, 500 nits, VRR (8 AI Plus)
- Battery: 6 cells, Li-Polymer, 54.5 Wh/65 W USB Type-C PD 3.0 (7 AI Plus) / 6 cells, Li-Polymer, 80 Wh/65 W USB Type-C PD 3.0 (8 AI Plus)
- Storage: NVMe M.2 2230 SSD (PCIe Gen 4 x4)
- Sensors: 6-axis IMU, vibration motor
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 & Wi-Fi 6E (7 AI Plus) / Bluetooth 5.4 & Wi-Fi 7 (8 AI Plus)
- Audio: 2 x 2W speakers, DTS sound effects, Hi-Res Audio support
- Ports: 1x 3.5mm jack, 1x microSD card reader, 2x Thunderbolt 4
- Dimensions: 290 x 117 x 21.2 mm (7 AI Plus) / 299 x 126 x 24 mm ( 8 AI Plus)
- Weight: 675 g (7 AI Plus) / 795 g (8 AI Plus)
