MSI Sharpens Its Focus With the Claw 8 EX AI+ Handheld Gaming PC

Photo credit: PC World
MSI will release the Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld gaming PC on June 23. The company sets the device at a premium level, with early pricing talk centering on $1,500 for the loaded version that includes 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533 memory and a one-terabyte drive. That figure places it well above many current Windows handhelds and gives it clear ambitions against established names in portable PC gaming.

The new body stretches out the handles wider, giving them the feel of a normal controller. The preview units weigh approximately 785 grams, but they are balanced in such a way that they are less of a handful even when held for extended periods of time. Hall effect sticks and triggers are making a comeback since they are dependable and do not float around like older ones did. A redesigned D-pad and button layout completes the controls, and the small RGB lights around the sticks give a pop of color without causing too much confusion.

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Haptics have also been thoroughly redone, as new linear motors replace the old vibration units. They provide crisp, precise feedback with significantly less noise and power draw. Early users have reported that the improvement is noticeable in compatible games, since it adds texture to what you’re doing and eliminates the unpleasant buzzy rumbling that prior versions were prone to.

Next, and most importantly, the Claw 8 EX AI+ has power, thanks to its Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor. It’s a processor that accomplishes the fundamental tasks well and has a graphics component on top of 12 Xe cores. MSI believes it’s fairly efficient and can compete with some of the other mobile CPUs on the market while using significantly less power. Dual fans suck air throughout the entire device, which is approximately 25% better than the last one, and to be honest, it’s quite quiet even when working hard.

When users got their hands on some prototype gear, they were able to see just how well the chip handled recent games at the screen’s native resolution. It also supports Intel’s XeSS 3, which is a fancy term for upscaling and frame generation that helps boost frame rate when needed. You can also plug this device in and turn up the performance if you want, although there’s an endurance mode to keep the power drain low. The eight-inch screen is the same as previously, but with upgraded internals that allow it to display 1920 by 1200 resolution, refresh at 120 times per second, and use VSync to reduce screen tearing. It covers the entire sRGB range and gets bright enough to see at around 500 nits.

An 80-watt-hour battery powers the show, and those who have tried it say it will last a long time, possibly even longer than its predecessor. It charges via one of the two Thunderbolt 4 connectors, which also support external displays and rapid data transfers. Storage is a single M.2 2280 slot, so if you want to upgrade to a larger drive later on, you can simply swap it out without the need for any tools. Memory is fixed at 32GB in the launch model. There’s also a microSD slot and an audio jack, since who doesn’t appreciate a little extra flexibility?

MSI’s Xbox Mode overlay is linked with the operating system, Windows 11. This device allows you to adjust performance parameters, monitor the battery level, and switch between games without leaving the handheld experience. It aims to be like a console, but you can still access the complete desktop if you need to connect a monitor. Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth, as well as a fingerprint scanner embedded into the power button that eliminates the need to constantly enter in a password.
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