MSI Claw 8 AI+ review

The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is the Intel option among the Windows handhelds. MSI lists up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 258V, an 8-inch 1920 x 1200 touchscreen at 120Hz with VRR and 500 nits, and an 80Whr battery with fast charge support, tied with the ROG Xbox Ally X for the largest here. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports stand out: MSI says they can connect an external display while charging, drive two displays at once, or attach an external GPU. Hall Effect sticks and analog triggers are rated by MSI for 5,000,000 cycles. It runs Windows 11 Home, so every PC launcher works, but setup takes more steps than SteamOS or a console. MSI's published battery claim comes from a 1080p video playback test, so it does not tell you gaming hours. We could not verify a USD price on the MSI page. We compared documented features and published prices only.

Who it is for

Players who want Intel hardware and Thunderbolt docks

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Up to Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 258V
• 8-inch 1920 x 1200 touchscreen at 120Hz with VRR and 500 nits
• 80Whr battery with fast charge support
• Two Thunderbolt 4 ports for displays or an external GPU
• Hall Effect sticks and analog triggers

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: 80Whr battery ties the ROG Xbox Ally X for the largest here
• Strength: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports can drive two displays or an external GPU
• Strength: 8-inch 16:10 screen is larger than both ROG Xbox Ally models
• Weakness: Windows 11 needs more setup than SteamOS or a Nintendo console
• Weakness: MSI's battery life figure is from a video playback test, not games
• Weakness: No USD price we could verify on the MSI page

Key facts

• Processor: Up to Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
• Screen: 8-inch 1920 x 1200, 120Hz, VRR
• Battery: 80Whr
• Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4

Where it ranks

MSI Claw 8 AI+ is No. 9 in our Best Handheld Gaming Consoles verdict.