In our assessment of the MSI Claw 8 handheld gaming device, we determined that the first-generation Claw 8 was "not worthy of our recommendation." A significant factor in this judgment was the Meteor Lake Core Ultra 7 155H, which not only lagged behind the Ryzen Z1 Extreme present in the Rog Ally but also showed inefficiency.
Improvements in the New Model
Seven months later, we now have a glimpse into the enhancements that MSI has made with the second-generation MSI Claw 8. Dubbed the "Claw 8 AI+," this handheld console is powered by the Core Ultra 7 258V, Intel's latest Lunar Lake APU, and features a next-gen Xe2 Arc 140V iGPU. According to tests conducted by Dave2D, the Lunar Lake chip enables the MSI Claw 8 AI+ to finally compete effectively with the Asus Rog Ally X in terms of both performance and battery longevity.
Performance in Gaming Tests
When conducting gaming tests at 17 W with graphics set to 1080p/low, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ either matches or surpasses the performance of both the Asus Rog Ally X and the Lenovo Legion Go in games like Ghost of Tsushima (33 FPS) and Black Myth: Wukong (23 FPS). Notably, the Claw 8 AI+ outperforms the Rog Ally X in Cyberpunk 2077 by 9% (48 vs 44 FPS), by 19.5% in Red Dead Redemption 2 (49 vs 41 FPS), and a remarkable 46% in F1 23 (51 vs 35 FPS).
Enhancements with FSR/XeSS
Additionally, using FSR/XeSS improves the low frame rates in demanding titles like Black Myth: Wukong, allowing the Claw 8 AI+ to achieve 51 FPS. Cyberpunk 2077 also sees an increase to 60 FPS with image reconstruction turned on.
Under a 30 W load, maintaining the same resolution, graphics, and FSR/XeSS settings, all three handheld devices see slight performance enhancements. For example, Claw 8 AI+, Rog Ally X, and the Legion Go can run Black Myth: Wukong at approximately 60 FPS. The Claw 8 AI+ also edges out the competition slightly in Ghost of Tsushima and Baldur’s Gate 3.
Battery Life Comparison
In terms of battery longevity, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and the Rog Ally X have similar performance. Both systems are equipped with a large 80 Wh battery, allowing for extended use under light load. For instance, the Claw 8 AI+ can last 14 hours and 29 minutes while streaming YouTube, whereas the Rog Ally X manages 15 hours and 17 minutes.
Moreover, the Claw 8 AI+ not only competes well but also lasts longer than the Rog Ally X during gameplay. While playing Cyberpunk 2077, the Claw 8 AI+ lasts an additional 19 minutes. However, the Rog Ally X takes the lead when it comes to Street Fighter 6.
Pricing and Value
Overall, MSI has successfully narrowed the performance gap that previously existed between its portable console and the Asus Rog Ally. However, the Claw 8 AI+ comes at a much higher price, which might be a significant drawback for handheld gamers at this time.
While the MSI Claw 8 AI+ features a large 8-inch IPS display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 32 GB of LPDDR5x-8533 memory, the $899 price tag is quite steep when compared to its rivals. Currently, you can purchase the Lenovo Legion Go with 16 GB of RAM and a 144 Hz display for only $549.99 on Amazon. The Rog Ally with Ryzen Z1 Extreme and 2 TB of storage costs $749.99, while the Rog Ally X is available for $799 with 24 GB of RAM.
Until MSI lowers the price, which is likely to happen eventually, it’s tough to recommend the Claw 8 AI+ despite its impressive capabilities.
Source: Link
