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

For lots of avid gamers, together with myself, handheld gaming PCs are a secondary system, providing on-the-go play when your main PC or console is not obtainable. Although I personally use gaming handhelds loads in my dwelling so I can play on the sofa or in mattress, these gadgets are designed to be transportable first, and virtually 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 may truly turn into the first manner 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 in your favourite recreation, 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 searching for 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 searching for.

See our course of

How we test and review products at Pocket-lint

We do not do arm-chair analysis. We purchase and check our personal merchandise, and we solely publish purchaser’s guides with merchandise we have truly reviewed.

Value, availability, and specs

Energy in your arms

Beneath the hood, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is rocking the extremely highly effective Intel Core Extremely 7 258V processor, which offers significantly 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 actually 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 ought to be famous that every one this energy does come at a value, because the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is without doubt one of the most costly gaming handhelds at present obtainable, costing an eye-popping $1000 as of July 2025. Little doubt a few of this value could also be because of elevated prices thanks to political policy, however with this unit costing greater than a PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Change 2 mixed, price is certainly one of many first elements you need to take into account for those who’re considering of choosing up this system.

Associated

The Lenovo Legion Go S is a big, bright beast that might blow your budget

The Lenovo Legion Go S is a superbly effective handheld, however pricing holds it again from being really nice.

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 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 pissed off me on different gadgets with frequent crashes, framerate drops, and loading points. And after I bought began with the MSI Claw 8 AI+, I famous a few of these similar points throughout the first ten minutes or so of beginning the sport.

Nonetheless, the sport has a sensible 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 working easily in only a matter of moments. Although you might be nonetheless free to make use of the system’s guide 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 steady 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 taking part in 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 supplied satisfactory 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 to be like vivid and delightful and makes use of VRR (variable refresh price) at as much as 120Hz to make sure easy 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+ does not have an OLED display, however I truthfully assume the LCD will get the job performed 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.

Associated

This $80 controller does a lot to justify its own existence

The GameSir G7 Professional is not constructed for the informal gamer.

What I did not like in regards to the MSI Claw 8 AI+

Typically, it is not nearly energy

There’s truthfully not loads to dislike in regards to the MSI Claw 8 AI+. It is a expensive 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 in regards to the system, although these largely fall beneath the “your mileage might fluctuate” umbrella.

First up, my largest concern personally with the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has to do with ergonomics. I’ve very small arms, and I discovered the system’s slab-like form to be robust to carry for lengthy intervals of time, particularly as a result of the system weighs virtually two kilos and put a number of pressure on my wrists. I discovered myself usually propping the system 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 inquisitive about shopping for this system to discover a unit they will check out first, as my distinctive hand construction might merely be incompatible with the system, whereas others might discover it simpler to carry.

One other small concern I had was with the MSI software program that ships with the system. Very like different gaming handhelds, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has its personal proprietary app on the system named Heart M, which permits customers a central hub from which they will launch video games, customise controls, regulate settings, and customarily bypass a number of Home windows 11. Although the launcher will get the job performed, it is not as absolutely featured as Legion Area or Armory Crate on ROG gadgets, and it takes some digging to seek out fundamental capabilities contained in the app. Fortuitously, for those who’re like me and also you hate it, you possibly can 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 attempting 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 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 may get virtually double that quantity, however its essential 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 you have a high-capacity power bank with you for those who’re taking it on the go.

Associated

I wasn’t expecting the ROG Ally X to outshine the Steam Deck quite this much

Each gaming handhelds have particular strengths and weaknesses, however typically, the ROG Ally X reigns supreme.

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 avid gamers for a giant funding up entrance, and if you have already got a handheld, a laptop computer, even a Change 2 that you simply use recurrently, that pricetag might merely make this system, as spectacular as it’s from a technical standpoint, not well worth the cash.

Nonetheless, if you’re searching for a brand new main gaming system (or simply have cash to burn I assume) that is virtually actually 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. 

Associated

This $23 gadget is all you need to reuse an old NVMe SSD

If in case you have an outdated NVMe SSD mendacity round or are merely searching for a fast approach to join one to your PC, this gadget is the answer.