The gaming handheld market is witnessing a significant advancement with MSI's latest entry, marking a potential shift in portable gaming performance benchmarks. The company's new flagship devices leverage Intel's cutting-edge processor technology to challenge existing market leaders.
Intel Core Ultra Powers New Gaming Frontier
MSI has officially unveiled two new gaming handhelds: the Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+. Both devices feature the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V processor, representing a substantial upgrade from previous generations. The new processor architecture promises enhanced gaming capabilities while maintaining power efficiency, a crucial factor for portable gaming devices.
Performance Claims and Benchmarks
According to MSI's internal benchmarks, the new Claw models demonstrate impressive performance gains. The company claims up to 113% faster peak frame rates and approximately 20% higher average frame rates compared to current market leaders. These improvements are particularly notable when running at a modest 17W power consumption level, suggesting efficient performance optimization.
Hardware Specifications and Design
The Claw 8 AI+ features an 8-inch 1080p IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 500 nits brightness. The device comes equipped with 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533 RAM and an 80Whr battery, matching the capacity of the updated Asus ROG Ally X. The new design adopts a Sandstorm color scheme and includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports, though at 795g, it's notably heavier than its competitors.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ Key Specifications:
- Display: 8-inch 1080p IPS, 120Hz, 500 nits
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 285V
- Memory: 32GB LPDDR5x-8533
- Battery: 80Whr
- Dimensions: 299 x 126 x 24 mm
- Weight: 795g
- Price: USD $899.99
Pricing and Market Position
The Claw 8 AI+ is positioned at the premium end of the market with a price tag of USD $899.99, while the Claw 7 AI+ is set at USD $799.99. These price points reflect MSI's confidence in their devices' superior performance capabilities, though they represent a significant investment for potential buyers.
MSI Claw 7 AI+ Key Specifications:
- Display: 7-inch 1080p, 120Hz, 500 nits
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 285V
- Memory: 32GB LPDDR5x-8533
- Battery: 54.5Whr
- Price: USD $799.99
Market Impact and Competition
This release could potentially reshape the competitive landscape of gaming handhelds, currently dominated by the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go. MSI's implementation of Intel's latest processor technology might set new standards for portable gaming performance, though real-world testing will be crucial to validate these claims.