Key Takeaways
1. Processor Upgrade: The Claw 8 AI+ features a new Intel Lunar Lake processor, enhancing efficiency while providing impressive gaming performance despite lower power limits compared to the original model.
2. Improved Efficiency and Noise: The new model operates at a lower power draw (37/30 watts) while achieving 25% better performance than its predecessor, and it has reduced fan noise during use.
3. Design and Display Enhancements: The Claw 8 AI+ has a larger 8-inch IPS display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, offering a more immersive gaming experience, though it’s heavier than competitors like the ROG Ally X.
4. User-Replaceable Storage and Better Battery: It includes a user-replaceable M.2 2230 SSD and a larger 80 Wh battery, allowing up to 3.5 hours of gameplay in energy-efficient mode.
5. Pricing Challenges: Priced at $899.99, the Claw 8 AI+ may face competition from more affordable options like the Steam Deck, despite its advanced features and performance.
When MSI introduced the original Claw gaming handheld last year, its choice of processor raised eyebrows. Unlike most other brands, it opted for an Intel Meteor Lake processor, which is known to need more power than AMD chips to function properly. In its highest setting, the processor could draw up to 43 watts continuously. While this amount of power is impressive for a cooling system to manage in such a small device, it contradicts the goal of creating an energy-efficient product. Moreover, the fans were almost always on and tended to be quite noisy during gaming sessions.
New Processor for a New Generation
For its latest model, the Claw 8 AI+, MSI has continued to rely on Intel processors, now featuring a Lunar Lake processor aimed at enhancing efficiency. Although the performance of the processor itself is somewhat lower when compared to previous models, the integrated GPU offers commendable performance even with reduced power limits, resulting in overall gaming capabilities that are quite impressive. During our gaming trials, the new Claw 8 AI+ outperformed the original Claw by 25% while operating at 37/30 watts compared to the earlier 45/43 watts. Additionally, its gaming performance surpasses that of the ROG Ally X, which uses an older AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4), by about 10%. While the GPD Pocket 4 with the latest Zen 5 SoC is a bit faster, it comes at a much higher price point and isn’t designed specifically for gaming.
Efficiency and Noise Management
Thanks to its enhanced efficiency, the Claw 8 AI+ achieves higher performance without increasing fan noise, which has actually decreased overall. However, during testing, we observed that the fan speed often fluctuated between two settings despite a stable thermal design power (TDP), which can be a bit irritating. These variations were also present in the slower AI mode, albeit at a lower intensity. This leads to some confusion regarding the device’s energy profiles, as the AI engine produced notably weaker results in our tests. There are three manual TDP settings (8, 17, and 30 watts), making it hard to find a true manual mode. While the device’s software is generally good, it still experiences some lags and lacks the extensive features compared to Asus’ Armoury Crate SE software. MSI needs to address these areas and optimize fan performance.
Design and Display
In addition to the processor, the new casing and larger screen make a significant impact. Compared to the ROG Ally X, the Claw 8 AI+ is noticeably larger and about 100 grams heavier. Still, it feels comfortable to hold, especially for those accustomed to the ROG Ally X, and the 8-inch display is quite a bit bigger. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference whether one favors a larger screen or a more compact design. The screen remains an IPS panel with 500-nit brightness, 120 Hz refresh rate, and variable refresh rate (VRR), making it suitable for gaming, even though its response times are slightly inferior to the older model.
Storage and Battery Life
The compact M.2 2230 SSD is user-replaceable, and MSI has also included a larger 80 Wh battery (up from 53 Wh), which allows for extended usage times. The duration of gameplay varies depending on the performance mode chosen. In the fastest mode, our testing lasted around 1 hour and 45 minutes, while using the AI engine (at 17 watts) extended playtime to approximately 3.5 hours.
Pricing Concerns
One significant concern is its price tag of $899.99. While we believe this price is justified given the hardware offered, it may deter many potential customers. The Steam Deck has gained popularity not only for its user-friendly Steam OS but also due to its more affordable price point, and the original ROG Ally continues to sell well. Whether the new Claw 8 AI+ will find success despite its strong performance remains uncertain.
Leave a Reply