Can the new MSI Claw 8 AI+ and 7 AI+ Series take on the competition?

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At CES 2025, MSI made waves in the handheld gaming market with the introduction of two new devices: the Claw 7 AI+ and Claw 8 AI+. These new models represent significant upgrades over their predecessor and aim to compete with established players in the rapidly evolving handheld PC gaming space.

MSI Claw 7 AI+: A Worthy Successor

The Claw 7 AI+ builds upon the foundation laid by the original MSI Claw, offering substantial improvements across the board. Powered by Intel’s new Lunar Lake processor, specifically the Core Ultra 7 258V, the Claw 7 AI+ promises enhanced performance and efficiency.

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Claw 7 AI+ vs. Original Claw

Compared to its predecessor, the Claw 7 AI+ maintains the 7-inch display size but upgrades to a higher resolution of 1920×1200, offering a 16:10 aspect ratio instead of 16:9. The refresh rate remains at 120Hz, ensuring smooth gameplay. One of the most significant improvements is the battery capacity, which has been increased from 53Whr to 65Whr, addressing one of the main criticisms of the original Claw.

MSI Claw First Impressions30

The Claw 7 AI+ also features upgraded memory, with options for up to 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a substantial increase from the 16GB found in the original model. Storage options have been expanded as well, with up to 1TB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage available.

Claw 7 AI+ vs. ROG Ally X

When compared to the ASUS ROG Ally X, the Claw 7 AI+ holds its own in several areas. While the ROG Ally X uses an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, the Claw 7 AI+ opts for Intel’s latest offering. The Claw 7 AI+ matches the ROG Ally X’s maximum RAM capacity of 32GB, but potentially offers faster LPDDR5X memory.

ROG Ally X Launched in PH (55)

The ROG Ally X does have a slight edge in display size with its 7-inch 1080p screen, but the Claw 7 AI+ counters with a higher resolution 1920×1200 panel. Battery capacity is comparable between the two devices, with the Claw 7 AI+ offering 65Whr and the ROG Ally X featuring a 80Whr battery.

MSI Claw 8 AI+: Going Big

The Claw 8 AI+ is MSI’s answer to larger handheld gaming PCs, featuring an 8-inch display that puts it in direct competition with devices like the Lenovo Legion Go.

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Claw 8 AI+ vs. Lenovo Legion Go (2024)

The Claw 8 AI+ and the Lenovo Legion Go (2024) both feature 8-inch displays, but the Claw 8 AI+ opts for a 1920×1200 resolution compared to the Legion Go’s higher 2560×1600 resolution. However, the Claw 8 AI+ boasts a massive 82Whr battery, significantly outpacing the Legion Go’s 49.2Whr capacity.

Lenovo Legion Go Lite rumor detachable

In terms of processing power, the Claw 8 AI+ utilizes Intel’s Lunar Lake architecture, while the Legion Go relies on AMD’s Ryzen Z1 Extreme. Both devices offer up to 32GB of RAM, but the Claw 8 AI+ may have an edge with its LPDDR5X memory.

Claw 8 AI+ vs. Upcoming Legion Go with Ryzen Z2

The upcoming Legion Go with Ryzen Z2 promises to be a formidable competitor to the Claw 8 AI+. While detailed specifications are still emerging, the new Legion Go is expected to feature AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, which boasts 8 cores (3 Zen 5 and 5 Zen 5c) and an upgraded GPU with 16 compute units based on RDNA 3.5 architecture.

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The Claw 8 AI+ may have an advantage in battery life with its 82Whr battery, as the new Legion Go is rumored to have a 74Whr battery. Both devices are expected to offer up to 32GB of RAM, but the Legion Go may have a slight edge with LPDDR5X-7500 memory.

Comparison Tables

MSI Claw 7 AI+ vs. Original Claw vs. ROG Ally X

FeatureMSI Claw 7 AI+Original MSI ClawROG Ally X
ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 7 258VIntel Core Ultra 7 155HAMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
Display7″ 1920×1200 120Hz7″ 1920×1080 120Hz7″ 1920×1080 120Hz
RAMUp to 32GB LPDDR5X16GB LPDDR5Up to 24GB LPDDR5X
StorageUp to 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMeUp to 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe
Battery65Whr53Whr80Whr

MSI Claw 8 AI+ vs. Lenovo Legion Go (2024) vs. Upcoming Legion Go (Ryzen Z2)

FeatureMSI Claw 8 AI+Lenovo Legion Go (2024)Upcoming Legion Go (Ryzen Z2)
ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 7 258VAMD Ryzen Z1 ExtremeAMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme
Display8″ 1920×1200 120Hz8.8″ 2560×1600 144Hz8.8″ 1920×1200 144Hz OLED
RAMUp to 32GB LPDDR5XUp to 32GB LPDDR5XUp to 32GB LPDDR5X-7500
StorageUp to 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMeUp to 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMeUp to 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe
Battery82Whr49.2Whr74Whr

With these new offerings, MSI is making a strong push into the handheld gaming PC market, offering competitive specifications and addressing previous shortcomings. As the handheld PC gaming space continues to evolve, consumers can expect fierce competition and rapid innovation from manufacturers vying for the top spot.

Gian Viterbo
Founder, Chief Editor, and Sales Lead at Gadget Pilipinas | Website

Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.

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