A few months have gone by since MSI last talked about the possibility of releasing its second gaming handheld. For some background, the company introduced the Claw 8 AI+ featuring Intel Lunar Lake processors during Computex 2024 in June. Later, in September at IFA 2024, MSI presented the same device and made the following announcement:
More Details at IFA 2024
During IFA 2024, MSI will share more information about the Claw 8 AI+. This fresh gaming handheld running Windows 11 will be a new addition to the Claw series, expected to arrive in early 2025. The Claw 8 AI+ is powered by the new Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor, promising a notable boost in AI capabilities.
Confirmation Still Pending
However, MSI has yet to specify an exact launch date. Additionally, most of the technical details remain uncertain. Recently, CES has shed some light on not just the potential timing for the Claw 8 AI+’s full unveiling, but also its enhanced battery specs.
The Claw 8 AI+ has been recognized as a CES 2025 Innovation Award Honoree. Thus, it looks like a January 2025 launch could be possible, though this might not directly correlate with its official release date. Furthermore, CES has disclosed that the Claw 8 AI+ will feature an 8-inch screen paired with an 82 Wh battery, which is 2 Wh more than the battery found in the ROG Ally X.
Battery Comparisons
In contrast, the current MSI Claw includes a 53 Wh battery (priced at $471.18 on Amazon). This new 82 Wh battery is expected to enable the Claw 8 AI+ to deliver more than 4 hours of gameplay on triple-A games. Still, it might be wise to hold off on making any conclusions until independent reviews are available.
