Exclusive! First Look at the MSI Claw 8 AI+

Salutations to fellow aficionados and friends. This is Mikhailov from Team Retrogue, a group that enjoys playing retro video games and the gadgets that play them.

Along with Stubbs, Rob, Russ, and a few other YouTubers, I had our first opportunity to use the MSI Claw 8 AI+ this week in Anaheim, California. During the experience, I developed some preliminary opinions on the device.

MSI Claw 8 AI+ Hardware Revisions

The Intel Core Ultra 258V Lunar Lake Processor will be found in the first portable PC, the MSI Claw 8 AI+.

The device's 80Wh battery significantly improved over the original Claw A1M's 53Wh battery.

People who attended the event had differing opinions about whether or not the D-pad's middle is more concave than it was in the original model.

The speakers also received a sound boost, and they sound fantastic. I'm eager to test it out and compare it to the original Claw. But until I have an in-house unit, such testing will have to wait.

The end user only needs to open the device's rear to change the hard drive, which is readily accessible. Regretfully, only M.2 2230 NVMe SSD sizes are compatible with the device. This indicates that the Claw 8 can only be upgraded to a maximum of 2TB. A 1TB hard drive is pre-installed on the gadget.

A second Thunderbolt 4 connector, an 8-inch 16:10 VRR screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and upgrades to the shoulder and trigger buttons are among the other hardware changes.

Ergonomics

Playing games on the Claw 8 did not cause me to become tired, and it felt good in my hands. But compared to the original Claw, the ergonomic bumps felt a bit flatter. Although it wasn't unpleasant, the gadget would be better off with a second case.

Stubbs and I suggested that MSI investigate having grip and kickstand cases made for the Claw 8. When I showed the representatives my ROG Ally X with the Dbrand skin and Killswitch case, they strongly wanted to see a comparable model made for the Claw.

Additionally, the Claw 8 enhances the back buttons by making them more extensive and accessible. They didn't appear to interfere when holding and using the gadget to play games.

Despite having an 8-inch screen, the gadget did not feel weighty or unevenly divided. Due to its lighter weight, this could be a better option than the Legion Go if a large screen is a top concern.

MSI Center M Updates

An updated version of MSI Center M will allow for custom fan curves and manual switching between three TDP settings.

Even with the updates, only three TDP control options remain: AI Engine, Endurance (Battery Saver), and the previously mentioned Manual setting.

A manual TDP slider would have been helpful when you want to adjust the TDP to exact settings, even though these provide greater flexibility than the original Claw.

Like its predecessor, the new MSI Center M app has an interface for launching games from many game stores, including Epic and Steam. The Xbox Game Bar is integrated with a new quick settings mode.

Additionally, MSI and BlueStacks have collaborated to create an application that enables the installation and playback of Android apps on the Claw.

Gameplay

There weren't many chances to test out the device's playability. Immortals Fenix Rising and Street Fighter 6 were the only games I could play. The D-pad in SF6 was responsive enough to deliver Dragon Punches, Tornado Kicks, and Hadoken Fireballs with about 95% accuracy.

Street Fighter 6 topped at roughly 58FPS with a 17W TDP on Low settings, falling short of the 60FPS cap. The battery went from 84% to 83% during the one match I put up against Guile. Even though this isn't the most efficient test, if you anticipate a 1% battery loss for every Street Fighter fight, you'll need to get a charger after 100 games.

At a 17W TDP on low settings, MSI also set up a demonstration in which they tried to demonstrate how the Claw 8 outperformed a ROG Ally X. The Claw did outperform the Ally by roughly 18 FPS when Fenix was standing in the environment (the Claw's maximum speed was 69 FPS, while the Ally's was 51 FPS). However, the Claw's framerate would decrease more often than the Ally X's when it was being played intensively.

This preliminary testing is inconclusive because MSI stated that the Intel drivers will be upgraded before the release of the Claw. However, the Lunar Lake chipsets can perform better than demonstrated at the event, so I hope the driver upgrades enhance this gameplay experience.

MSI Claw 8 AI+ & Claw 7 AI+ Pricing

When it launches at Best Buy and other major stores, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is anticipated to retail for $900.

MSI plans to update the original 7′′ MSI Claw with the Lunar Lake Processor for $800 and various hardware upgrades, such as new shoulder buttons.

The ordering pages on Best Buy's website are active, although they are now marked as "Sold Out." Below are links to the pages so you can monitor them and place preorders when they open.

• MSI Claw 8 AI+
• Amazon
• Best Buy
• MSI Claw 7 AI+
• Amazon
• Best Buy