The original MSI Claw was an embarrassment — a handheld gaming PC so flawed that The Verge’s Sean Hollister advised no one to buy it and got blacklisted by MSI for his candor. But the Claw 8 AI Plus, built on Intel’s new Lunar Lake architecture, is a complete course correction. After weeks of testing, it’s clear that this $1,000 device isn’t just better than its predecessor; it’s a legitimate contender for the best Windows handheld you can buy, outperforming the Asus ROG Ally X in many games while delivering longer battery life. The transformation is so dramatic that Hollister, once a harsh critic, now calls the Claw 8 a “hero.”
MSI didn’t just polish the original design — they rethought it. The result is a handheld that pairs an 8-inch 120Hz VRR display, Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor with Arc graphics, and a capacious 80 watt-hour battery into a comfortable, if large, chassis. The combination earns it top marks in sustained gaming performance and endurance, though it still carries Windows 11’s desktop baggage and a premium price tag.
Hardware at a Glance: Bigger, Faster, and More Efficient
The Claw 8 AI Plus is the largest mainstream handheld, measuring nearly a foot wide and weighing 1.75 pounds, but MSI’s ergonomic focus pays off. Scalloped grips, textured surfaces, and balanced weight distribution make it surprisingly comfortable during long sessions. The star of the show is the 8-inch IPS panel — a 1920×1200 resolution screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and variable refresh rate (VRR). It’s more vibrant and immersive than the 7-inch displays on competitors, with thinner bezels that stretch the picture edge to edge.
Under the hood, Intel’s Lunar Lake Core Ultra 7 258V APU replaces the ill-fated Meteor Lake chip. Paired with Intel Arc Xe2 “Battlemage” integrated graphics and up to 32GB of LPDDR5x memory, the Claw 8 delivers a generational leap in both CPU and GPU grunt. Storage comes via a PCIe Gen4 SSD, and connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, Wi‑Fi 7, and a microSD slot. The 80Wh battery matches the Asus ROG Ally X’s capacity, a huge step up from the original Claw.
Prices vary. While NotebookCheck and others cite an MSRP around $899.99 for certain configurations, Hollister’s review unit cost $1,000. That discrepancy likely reflects SKU and regional differences, but buyers should brace for a premium.
Design and Ergonomics: Big but Beautiful
MSI deliberately prioritized screen size and grip over pocketability. The Claw 8 is 11.8 inches long and 5 inches tall, dwarfing the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. Yet Hollister found it “one of the most comfortable Windows handhelds to hold.” The sculpted grips fill the palms nicely, and the extra heft is negligible compared to the Ally X — just 0.25 pounds heavier, despite the larger display. Hall effect joysticks and a dedicated gyro mode add precision, though out-of-the-box aiming felt a bit loose and required tweaking.
The device’s two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports have raised dots for tactile identification in the dark, a thoughtful touch. Overall build quality is robust, and the Claw now sports a unique identity that doesn’t look like a knockoff. While not travel-friendly like the Steam Deck, the Claw 8 is built for marathon gaming on the couch.
Performance: Lunar Lake Leaves Meteor Lake in the Dust
If the original Claw’s performance was a dealbreaker, the Claw 8 AI Plus is a revelation. In synthetic and real-world tests, the Lunar Lake chip consistently outperforms the old Meteor Lake model by up to 136% in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla at 20W, and even beats the ROG Ally X in many titles at matched TDPs. For example, at 30W in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Claw 8 hits 81 fps versus the Ally X’s 76 fps. In CPU-bound scenarios, the lead widens: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided at 15W sees 79 fps on the Claw versus 59 fps on the Ally X — a 34% advantage.
The Claw 8 also supports a 30W TDP unplugged, a mode the Ally X reserves for wall power, giving it an extra performance tier. When plugged in, the Claw’s frame rates climb even higher, reaching 119 fps in Mankind Divided compared to the Ally X’s 93 fps.
Driver maturity is crucial. Hollister noted that installing the latest Intel graphics drivers improved performance by up to 30% in some titles compared to launch. Without these manual updates, users leave performance on the table. The AI Engine, which is supposed to automatically tune performance via the NPU, proved “very dumb in practice” and not a reason to buy. Power users should stick to manual TDP profiles.
In lightweight games like Balatro, the Claw still draws more power than AMD-based handhelds — at minimum brightness with wireless off, it drained at 11W, yielding about 7 hours. The Steam Deck OLED can reach 9 hours and the ROG Ally X 10 hours in the same scenario. So for ultra-casual indie gaming, AMD still holds an efficiency edge. But in demanding titles, the Claw 8 often uses less total power to deliver higher frame rates, thanks to Lunar Lake’s superior performance-per-watt.
Battery Life: The 80Wh Advantage Meets Intel Efficiency
The 80Wh pack and frugal silicon give the Claw 8 stellar runtimes in most real-world tests. In a Dirt Rally drain test, it lasted 19 minutes longer than the Ally X (with Bazzite), 28 minutes longer than the Steam Deck OLED, and a full 80 minutes longer than the Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS. The following table, averaged across multiple games, shows how battery life scales with TDP:
| TDP Setting | Approx. Battery Life (hours) |
|---|---|
| 15W | 3.5 – 4.0 |
| 20W | 2.7 – 3.2 |
| 25W | 2.2 – 2.6 |
| 30W | 1.9 – 2.1 |
At 15W, you can enjoy modern games for nearly four hours, which is remarkable for a Windows handheld. Even at 30W, the Claw manages over two hours — comparable to what competitors achieve at lower TDPs. This means you can crank up the power for smooth frame rates without instantly killing the battery.
Software: Windows 11 Still Grates, but MSI’s Tweaks Help
Windows 11 remains the biggest impediment to a console-like experience. Hollister described it as “a bloated mess filled with annoying upsells and unwanted AI cruft.” Sleep mode is unreliable: the Claw often woke up and drained its battery in a backpack. The workaround is to use hibernation, which MSI conveniently places as the first option in its quick settings widget. This preserves your session and prevents battery drain.
The quick settings widget is integrated into the Xbox Game Bar, replacing the old MSI Center overlay. It offers TDP control, brightness, volume, and more. However, it was sluggish out of the box until switching Windows’ power mode to “Best Performance.” Even then, it’s slower than Asus’ Armoury Crate and nowhere near SteamOS’s seamlessness. MSI’s software experience still requires patience and tweaking.
One bright spot: initial Windows setup was blazing fast — just seven minutes to reach the desktop, a fraction of the typical 45-minute ordeal. But this may be a pre-production anomaly, as Hollister suspected it skipped some Microsoft certification steps. Otherwise, users must manually hunt for Intel graphics drivers via MSI Center or Intel’s website, as the built-in updater often misses them.
How It Stacks Up: Claw 8 vs. Ally X vs. Legion Go S vs. Steam Deck
In direct comparisons, the Claw 8 offers the best balance of raw performance and battery life among Windows handhelds. Here’s a snapshot:
| Game & TDP | Claw 8 fps | ROG Ally X fps | Legion Go S (SteamOS) fps | Steam Deck OLED fps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC Valhalla (15W) | 66 | 52 | 66 | 57 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (15W) | 51 | 41 | 57 | 50 |
| Returnal (15W) | 40 | 31 | 24 | 25 |
Against the Legion Go S running SteamOS, the Claw 8 trades blows: it often loses in pure frame rate but wins decisively on battery efficiency. The Steam Deck OLED remains the efficiency champ in very light loads, but the Claw 8 pulls ahead in demanding Windows titles. The ROG Ally X is a formidable rival, but the Claw 8’s ability to run at 30W unplugged and its better performance-per-watt give it the edge in many modern games.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- Genuine performance uplift from Lunar Lake and updated drivers, often beating the ROG Ally X.
- Stunning 8-inch 120Hz VRR display with excellent color and immersion.
- Class-leading battery life in most gaming scenarios.
- Comfortable ergonomics for a large device; balanced weight and grippy texture.
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports and Hall effect joysticks.
Weaknesses
- Windows 11’s controller-unfriendly UX and Modern Standby sleep bugs.
- Intel graphics drivers still require manual attention; not all games run flawlessly.
- AI Engine feature is a gimmick, not a useful performance tool.
- Premium price ($899–$1,000) puts it at the top of the market.
- Lighter indie games drain battery faster than AMD-powered competitors.
The Xbox Ally Threat and Future Outlook
MSI’s window of opportunity may be short. On October 16, 2025, Asus and Microsoft will launch the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, featuring a revamped handheld-friendly OS, tighter Xbox integration, and possibly lower pricing. If Microsoft’s handheld compatibility program delivers on its promise of streamlined navigation and reduced overhead, the Claw 8 could quickly lose its crown. However, MSI’s hardware foundation is so solid that software updates — both from Intel and MSI — could keep it competitive.
Who Should Buy the Claw 8 AI Plus?
The MSI Claw 8 AI Plus is the best Windows handheld for players who want maximum compatibility with PC games, a large high-refresh screen, and the freedom to game unplugged for hours. It’s ideal for those who are comfortable tweaking Windows settings, manually installing drivers, and using hibernation instead of sleep. If you prioritize a polished, console-like experience out of the box, wait for the Xbox Ally or explore the Steam Deck ecosystem. But if you need a handheld today that can handle AAA titles with class-leading battery endurance, the Claw 8 delivers a redemption story that’s hard to ignore.