MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM
MSI

MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM

An 8-inch 120 Hz Intel Lunar Lake handheld with a large 80 Wh battery, comfortable grips and real performance.

  • Intel Core Ultra 7 258V with Intel Arc 140V graphics
  • 8"
  • 120 Hz
  • 80 Wh
  • 795 g

PCPR score

7.4

Good

Best price we’ve seen

$1,300Nov 9

Checked recently. Confirm at the retailer.

See it at Best BuyOfficial page

R1

The short version

The Claw 8 AI+ pairs an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V with Arc graphics, 32GB of LPDDR5X-8533 memory and a 1TB SSD behind an 8-inch 1920 x 1200 VRR screen that runs from 48 to 120 Hz. PC Gamer praised its speed, display, comfort and 80 Wh battery as a large improvement over the first Claw, while noting MSI's software can misbehave and the 795 g body is not small. It suits buyers who want strong Windows handheld performance and long battery life.

Pros

  • PC Gamer found strong performance that competes with faster-rated AMD handhelds in several games
  • 8-inch 1920 x 1200 VRR touchscreen that PC Gamer rated highly
  • 80 Wh battery with long endurance in PC Gamer's testing
  • Grips and build quality impressed PC Gamer
  • Two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a microSD reader

Cons

  • MSI's software occasionally misbehaves, per PC Gamer
  • At 795 g and 299 mm wide it is bulky to carry
  • Best Buy's current price sits well above the review-era figure
  • PC Gamer rated competing handhelds' finish a little higher

Best for

  • Windows handheld buyers who prioritize battery life
  • Players who want a large screen with Intel Arc graphics

SYS1

Configurations

ConfigurationProcessorGraphicsMemoryStoragePrice
Core Ultra 7 258V · 32GB · 1TBIntel Core Ultra 7 258VIntel Arc 140V (integrated)32 GB1 TB$1,300

J5

What you can upgrade later

Memory

Unconfirmed

The maker doesn’t publish its slot layout. Check before buying more memory.

Browse memory

Storage

Unconfirmed

Free storage slots aren’t published for this model.

Browse storage

Graphics card

Unconfirmed

Maximum card length isn’t published.

Browse graphics card

Processor

Unconfirmed

A drop-in upgrade depends on the socket and the maker’s BIOS. Check the board before buying a CPU.

Browse processor

Power supply

Unconfirmed

The maker doesn’t say whether the PSU is standard.

Browse power supply

Motherboard

Unconfirmed

The maker doesn’t say whether the board is standard.

Browse motherboard

J3

Full specifications

Core

Processor
Intel Core Ultra 7 258V with Intel Arc 140V graphics

Display

Screen size
8"
Resolution
1920 x 1200
Refresh rate
120 Hz
Panel
IPS
Variable refresh rate
Yes

Memory

Memory
32 GB
Storage
1,000 GB

Power

Battery
80 Wh

Physical

Weight
795 g

Software

Operating system
Windows 11 Home

Compatibility notes

  • Two Thunderbolt 4 ports with DisplayPort and USB Power Delivery 3.0
  • microSD card reader for storage expansion

P1

Where to buy

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. Prices move quickly, so confirm the final price at the retailer.

AV1

Video reviews

No verified video reviews yet

We only list videos we’ve confirmed are about this product. You can search YouTube for reviews in the meantime.

Search YouTube

AV2

What reviewers and owners say

  • PC Gamer

    Positive

    Rated it a solidly built and speedy handheld with a vibrant 8-inch screen and strong battery life, a large leap over the first Claw, with minor software quirks and limited portability.

    Review

    Read the source

Summaries are written in our words. Follow the links for each source’s own review.

R9

Common questions

Is the Claw 8 AI+ better than the original MSI Claw?

PC Gamer described it as a major improvement over its predecessor in speed, build and comfort, with an 8-inch screen and a larger 80 Wh battery.

Does it support variable refresh rate?

Yes. MSI lists an 8-inch 1920 x 1200 touchscreen with a 48 to 120 Hz VRR range.

J9Alternatives

Similar gaming handhelds

ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X

ASUS

ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X

AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (8 cores, 16 threads, up to 50 TOPS NPU) · 7" · 120 Hz

7.8
$1,000Nov 93 videos
Valve Steam Deck OLED

Valve

Valve Steam Deck OLED

AMD custom APU (Zen 2 4-core/8-thread, 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 6 nm) · 7.4" · 90 Hz

7.8
$789MSRP4 videos
Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS, Z1 Extreme)

Lenovo

Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS, Z1 Extreme)

AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (8 cores, 16 threads, Radeon 780M, 12 CUs) · 8" · 120 Hz

7.6
$950Nov 9
Lenovo Legion Go 2 (8.8-inch OLED)

Lenovo

Lenovo Legion Go 2 (8.8-inch OLED)

AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme (8 cores, 16 threads, RDNA 3.5 graphics) · 8.8" · 144 Hz

7.4
$2,000Nov 9