These new MSI Claw gaming handhelds are the most powerful Steam Deck rivals yet

It has taken some time, however MSI has lastly absolutely unveiled its new flagship gaming handheld and Steam Deck rival, the MSI Claw 8 AI+, months after first teasing the brand new gadget. Not solely that, however it has additionally revealed a shock second new possibility, the Claw 7 AI+, which provides the identical efficiency however in a smaller package deal.

Over six months since we acquired our MSI Claw 8 AI+ first look, following the preliminary reveal of the brand new gadget, and three months since our MSI Claw 8 AI+ palms on expertise, MSI has stopped the teasing and introduced its new greatest handheld gaming PC contender as out there now.

The important thing efficiency improve of the brand new handheld vary is using an Intel Core Extremely 7 285V processor. It is a important improve over the unique MSI Claw A1M, which used an Intel Core Extremely 7 155H. Whereas in some methods the 155H is extra highly effective than the 285V, because of it having a complete of 16 CPU cores to the 285V’s complete of eight CPU cores, the newer chip’s cores are sooner and, furthermore, for gaming efficiency, eight cores remains to be greater than sufficient.

MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ specs

As an alternative, it’s the GPU a part of the 285V that basically makes the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ such thrilling prospects. The architectures of the GPUs used within the newer and older Claw units are sufficiently totally different that immediately evaluating their stats doesn’t inform us a lot. Nevertheless, MSI claims the newer units can be as much as 113% sooner by way of peak body fee, and as much as 20% faster in the case of common body fee.

These claims are backed up by exams of gaming efficiency of those identical processors when utilized in laptops, so we actually can anticipate to see large good points. There can be some variance, because of the thermal and energy limitations of a handheld versus a laptop computer – MSI’s exams are based mostly on the gadget operating at a comparatively modest 17W load – however the relative outcomes needs to be comparable.

What’s extra, that is all within the context of the unique Claw’s Intel Core Extremely 155H already being way more highly effective than the AMD GPU within the Steam Deck, and on par for efficiency with the newer AMD GPU used within the likes of the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. As such, the brand new AI+ Claws ought to now be the quickest available gaming handhelds round.

As for the opposite options of the brand new Claws, the bigger of the 2, the Claw 8 AI+, options an 8-inch 1080p IPS display screen operating at as much as 120Hz, with a brightness of as much as 500nits. That is housed in a barely bigger up to date bodily design in comparison with the unique Claw, switching from black to a “Sandstorm” shade scheme. It measures 299 x 126 x 24 mm (W x D x H) and weighs 795g, making it notably heavier than most rivals with 7-inch screens.

It then companions its new processor with an enormous 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533 RAM and its bigger kind permits area for a sizeable 80Whr battery – the identical because the up to date Asus ROG Ally X. The brand new units additionally get two Thunderbolt 4 ports, because of assist for the usual on the brand new Intel chip.

In the meantime, the MSI Claw 7 AI+ is basically only a chip replace to the unique MSI Claw. It has the identical black design as earlier than, and seemingly makes use of the identical smaller 7-inch display screen with its 1080p decision, 120Hz refresh fee, and 500 nits brightness. The smaller gadget is supplied with the very same CPU and reminiscence because the Claw 8 AI+. however makes use of the identical smaller 54.5Whr battery as the unique Claw.

That battery on the unique gadget wasn’t perfect for getting nice battery life, because the Intel 155H’s GPU used a good quantity of energy. Nevertheless, the brand new Core Extremely 285V ought to use far much less energy, guaranteeing that although the battery capability hasn’t elevated on this smaller unit, the battery life ought to have improved.

What must also have improved with these newer units is recreation and driver assist. Simply as with Intel’s first technology of desktop graphics playing cards, as seen in our Intel Arc A770 evaluation, stability and compatibility had been main issues. Nevertheless, with many extra months of improvement below its belt, these points needs to be a lot improved on the brand new units. Suffice it to say, we’ll be getting our palms on them as quickly as potential to see by simply how a lot.

MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ worth

MSI is claiming the brand new Claws can be found now, although inventory is both already offered out or was by no means really out there. Nevertheless, you may keep watch over listings similar to these on Amazon to see when inventory does arrive. The MSI Claw 8 AI+ worth is $899.99 (add to your want checklist through this hyperlink), making it one of the vital costly handhelds at present out there. In the meantime, the MSI Claw 7 AI+ worth is $799.99 (add to your want checklist through this hyperlink), which strikes us as surprisingly costly contemplating you don’t get the bodily up to date design and bigger battery.

For extra on our ideas in regards to the unique Claw, take a look at our MSI Claw 7 A1M preview, and for a full image of the hand held panorama, take a look at our Steam Deck OLED evaluation, Asus ROG Ally X evaluation, and Lenovo Legion Go evaluation, as these are the three largest gamers within the area proper now.