It was only a few months ago when MSI released their Claw A1M gaming handheld. From what we can tell, its reception seemed more underwhelming than they had hoped. As such, they’re quickly doing a reboot to better compete in the space in the form of the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and the MSI Claw 7 AI+.
That’s right, the outfit is outright replacing their recently-released gaming handheld with a pair of new models, which bring new processors, longer battery life, and a whole host of quality of life improvements. The result are gaming handhelds that should perform significantly better than the previous model, making them competitive with the Steam Decks, Asus ROG Allies, and other models already in the category.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ has an 8-inch touchscreen LCD panel, with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, a 16:10 aspect ratio, and a 120Hz refresh rate that should enable smooth gameplay visuals. The screen also boasts 500 nits of brightness, 100 percent coverage of the sRGB color space, and VRR support. It’s equipped with an energy-efficient Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, with Intel Arc 140V graphics, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage, as well as an 80Wh battery, although there’s no listed rating for how long it can power the device between charges.
The smaller MSI Claw 7 AI+ comes with a 7-inch touchscreen LCD, with a slightly lower 1920 x 1080 resolution. Everything else is the same as on the 8-inch version, so you get the same refresh rate, color coverage, and brightness. Same goes for the CPU, GPU, memory, and storage, so performance should stay consistent between both devices, regardless of what games you decide to play on the handheld. It does have a smaller 54.5Wh battery, though, so expect to get a little less mileage out of it during gameplay. Both devices support 65W fast charging.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ and 7 AI+ both come with redesigned thumb sticks, bumpers, and D-pad, with new hall effect triggers that should ensure more precise interactions during gameplay. There’s also a six-axis IMU sensor that allows them to support motion controls, a vibration motor for rumble feedback, and MSI’s Cooler Boost HyperFlow tech, which uses dual fans and dual heat pipes to dissipate heat for extended gaming sessions. For audio, it gets a pair of 2W speakers, with DTS sound effects and Hi-Res Audio support.
As you can tell from the AI+ in the name, it’s supposed to have some AI processing capabilities, although there are no details on how the devices are meant to use them. It comes with Windows 11 Home preinstalled. For connectivity, it gets both Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5, along with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a microSD card reader, and an audio combo jack. According to the outfit, the device’s shape is tailored to fit the natural contours of the player’s hands, ensuring a comfortable and intuitive feel that enables precise control for any hand size, with the weight evenly spread out to ensure a well-balanced ergonomic experience.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ and 7 AI+ are slated for available December 25th.
