Handheld gaming devices are the only way you can get me to play my PC games nowadays. Naturally, I was curious about the MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM after missing out on the original Claw, and falling so in love with my ROG Ally X. The Claw 8 certainly has its place in the handheld market, but whether or not it is the handheld for you really depends on your needs.
The appeal of a Windows handheld is that you aren’t locked to just your Steam library. That is what held me back from bringing the Steam Deck into my home full-time. This means my options fell to the likes of the ROG Ally family, The Lenovo Legion range, or the MSI Claw line-up. I have to say, out of all the handhelds that have come across my desk, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is the most striking design-wise.
Something about the brushed-bronze with a screen that covers most of the massive body just screams premium to me. RGB lighting surrounds both thumb sticks and ABXY buttons, though I usually keep those off for battery’s sake. Vents score the back and bottom of the front of the device, and there are two back buttons, volume buttons, as well as all the buttons you would find on an Xbox controller, plus one dedicated to the MSI Center.
The display on the MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM handheld is truly the standout feature. It boasts a full 8-inch screen—larger than both the Ally X and Steam Deck OLED, and, although not directly comparable, even bigger than the Nintendo Switch OLED. That extra inch of screen real estate makes a noticeable difference. I usually use my handhelds docked, but with the MSI Claw 8, I found myself enjoying it even in handheld mode.
“The MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM is the most striking design-wise among all the handhelds that have come across my desk.”
With a variable refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, you won’t be left behind in competitive games. The display also has a brightness of 500 nits, which I had to significantly lower on my flight to avoid blinding nearby passengers—so it’s definitely more than sufficient. I jumped back into Minecraft and could clearly see the darkest caverns and stare at the sun without any issues. The display is also a touchscreen, and I can’t imagine using a Windows handheld without that feature. Thankfully, it’s highly responsive on the Claw 8.
Since the MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM runs on Windows, you can use apps like the Xbox App, Epic Games, GOG, EA, or whatever game launcher you prefer. While using Windows on a handheld device can feel a bit awkward, the Claw 8 performs just as well as any other Windows device. You can also switch the MSI Claw 8 AI+ to gamepad mode and use the MSI Center to browse through any games installed on Steam—although I noticed that my Xbox App games didn’t appear in this mode.
In terms of ports, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM offers two Thunderbolt 4 ports with DisplayPort and Power Delivery 3.0 support. There is also a microSD card reader, an M.2 2230 SSD slot and a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button. While the fingerprint reader feels unnecessary and somewhat awkward to use, it is there for added security.
The Claw 8 features Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity and is equipped with the new Cooler Boost Hyper Flow cooling system, which performs well and rarely feels warm—unless used while plugged in. Regarding weight, I’ve seen some people complain about the size of the MSI Claw 8, but I disagree. It weighs 795 grams, which is heavier than the Ally X at 687 grams, and the Steam Deck OLED at 640 grams. However, I didn’t find the added weight problematic during use.
BUT the MSI Claw 8 AI+ isn’t as clunky as those. It is long and slender, meaning when I throw it in a bag, it fits alongside my laptop, taking up more space length-wise (thanks to the excellent display) and less space width-wise, kind of like headphones like the Sonos Ace have done. It means a more neatly packed bag for travel and less stuff crammed on top of it in the end. Not to mention, because of the shape of the Claw 8, the weight is distributed differently. More than one person picked it up and thought it was lighter than the Ally X in testing.
Powering the MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM is up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 258V and Intel Arc graphics, 32 GB of LPDDR5x-8533 RAM, and 1TB of memory, all a great upgrade from the original Claw. Other gaming handhelds tend to stick with AMD, and this is where the Claw 8 differs.
“The Claw 8 performs just as well as any other Windows device, but with the bonus of being a handheld.”
Where I came into crashes with more intense games on the ROG Ally X when using the device docked, I found the Claw 8 required fewer adjustments to get things working smoothly when connected to my 4K display. Even less demanding games can struggle on the Ally X when I connect them to my TV, and I never really had to do that with the Claw 8. I can’t say that this is solely due to the Intel internals, but I can say that I noticed it.
Something I believe is a bit of a downside when Intel is involved is the constant need to flaunt “AI+.” AI is at the forefront of everything in 2025, even if it isn’t needed and definitely doesn’t need to be mentioned. A gaming handheld is just that, a gaming handheld. MSI and Intel have boasted about how the Claw 8 is a “Mini-PC with Copilot+ PC Experience,” but nobody has asked for that.
I would be impressed to find someone using their gaming device as a PC in any way other than in a pinch. The two companies were dead set on seeing if they could; it is right there in the name of the device, but no one stopped to think about whether they should.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ has an 80Wh battery, up from 53 on the original. For comparison, it is now even with the ROG Ally X and above the Steam Deck OLED. Handhelds don’t last hours, and I am always disappointed when they die, but the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is at the top of the game for battery life in a handheld device. In testing, with RGBs off—because why—after two full hours of use, I was still left with about 30% battery. This could be reduced if playing more intense games or extended with lower brightness/refresh rate, etc.
I will note that I had some issues pairing peripherals with it, though. I came upon a couple of issues pairing mice and controllers, but the problems were inconsistent, and I couldn’t replicate them on command. Pairing controllers, I couldn’t get the Claw 8 to recognize my Cyclone 2 or Xbox controllers. Eventually, it found an Xbox controller and then I couldn’t get that to allow me to use the A or B buttons in Minecraft, though this could be an Xbox App issue.
I had no issues for a while with my Razer Pro Click Mini, but then, on a long flight, I decided to play Civ Vii, which I play with the same mouse all the time on my ROG Ally X, and the mouse started to go haywire. The controls would constantly pop in and out of controller/mouse, and eventually, everything would start to scroll like my controller was walking. This only ever came up with the mouse, so I unpaired it to start again.
“The Claw 8 AI+ A2VM is a great handheld but bloated with unnecessary AI+ PC connotations and features no one really needs.”
While pairing a mouse, the Claw 8 would not find the Pro Click or my Razer Orochi. After multiple attempts, we finally got the Orochi working, and this issue happened again. I gave up on the mouse altogether at this point, and the scrolling never happened again while just using it in handheld mode.
Other things to consider when purchasing the MSI Claw 8 AI+: no carrying case, no kickstand, no screen protector, no extras. For $899 USD, it would be nice to see some add-ons to make the premium cost feel worth your while. The MSI Claw 8 is currently one of the most expensive handhelds on the market, so something to sweeten the deal would have been nice.
Something else to consider is how you plan to use your gaming handheld. Personally, I regularly use mine in docked mode as a way to play PC games on my TV while sitting on the couch. Others may never dock their device and only use it in handheld mode.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is extremely comfortable in handheld mode, with great weight distribution and a display that stands out above the rest. Having it docked behind my television felt like a waste, and the issues connecting peripherals were plenty. That being said, I really enjoyed how it fit in my bag and loved using it on the go, something I tend to avoid when I can with other handhelds. Something to consider.
All in all, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM is a great handheld but bloated with unnecessary AI+ PC connotations and features no one really needs. Though being powered by Intel is great for the overall functionality of the device, it comes with buzzwords and a push to be used as a mini PC, which is just not needed. I fear this might also be what led to the extreme price point, which borders on some budget gaming laptop prices. If you make a great handheld—which they did with the MSI Claw 8—then you don’t need to push so hard, it will sell itself.
