It can be said that the MSI Claw received a mix of feedback when it was released earlier this year. Both MSI and Intel have tried to enhance gaming performance since the device's debut. Yet, it's clear that the Intel Meteor Lake platform does not perform as well in a compact design when compared to AMD's latest advancements.
New Architecture Update
Now, MSI has upgraded the Claw with the more capable Lunar Lake architecture. For context, the Claw 7 AI+ is being launched alongside the larger Claw 8 AI+, which we have detailed in a separate article. Visually, the changes between the original MSI Claw and the Claw 7 AI+ are minimal. One notable addition is a second Thunderbolt 4 port.
Specifications and Features
According to Amazon US and Excaliber PC, the Claw 7 AI+ features the Core Ultra 7 258V processor along with 32 GB of LPDDR5X-8533 RAM. The storage capacity of 512 GB remains, but it’s now an M.2 2280 SSD instead of the M.2 2230 that was in the first MSI Claw. The device still has a 53 Wh battery and retains a 7-inch IPS display that supports 1080p, 120 Hz VRR, and 500 nits brightness.
Pricing and Availability
At this time, the Claw 7 AI+ can be pre-ordered on Amazon US and Excaliber PC for a price of $799. It's important to mention that while Amazon US states the gaming handheld will be available on December 1, Excaliber PC suggests a different release date of December 25.
