Tag: Claw A8

  • MSI Claw A8: AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme Handheld Launches in Europe

    MSI Claw A8: AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme Handheld Launches in Europe

    Key Takeaways

    1. MSI launched its first gaming handheld, the Claw A8 BZ2EM, powered by AMD Ryzen, at Computex 2025, with a global release still pending.
    2. The Claw A8 is gradually expanding its availability, recently launching in Cambodia, Taiwan, and now Europe (Austria, Germany, Slovakia).
    3. The pricing for the Claw A8 is set at €975 and €978.90, making it cheaper than the Claw 8 AI+, which is priced at $999.
    4. The Claw A8 features an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chipset with eight Zen 5 CPU cores and a Radeon 890M iGPU, competing with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V in performance.
    5. The Claw A8 includes an M.2 2280 SSD slot, which is not available in the 8-inch version, and comes with 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.


    MSI has officially introduced its first gaming handheld powered by AMD Ryzen back in May at Computex 2025, prior to Asus showcasing its upcoming ROG Ally gadgets. Nevertheless, the firm has yet to announce when the Claw A8 BZ2EM or Claw 8 Ryzen Edition will be available globally. Instead, the company has been gradually expanding the device’s availability to new markets after its initial launch in China at the beginning of July.

    Recent Market Expansions

    To give some background, the Claw A8 made its debut in Cambodia and Taiwan just over a week ago. Now, it has arrived in Europe, starting with Austria, Germany, and Slovakia. Currently, neither Alza nor Smarty.sk have shared any information on when the Claw A8 will start shipping. However, customers can pre-order the new gaming handheld from both retailers, available in Neon Green and Polar Tempest color choices.

    Pricing Details

    In the meantime, the retailers have noted that the Claw A8 is priced a bit lower than the Claw 8 AI+ (currently $999 on Amazon), even though they share similar specifications. Specifically, Alza and Smarty.sk have set the price for MSI’s latest gaming device at €975 and €978.90, respectively, both including 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.

    Key Features

    The primary difference between the Claw A8 and Claw 8 AI+ lies in its AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chipset, which integrates eight Zen 5 CPU cores along with a Radeon 890M iGPU. Early tests suggest that the Ryzen Z2 Extreme performs comparably to the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V found in the Claw 8 AI+, though it underperforms at lower wattages. Additionally, the new MSI Claw offers an M.2 2280 SSD slot, which is absent in its 8-inch version. Here are the complete specifications for the Claw A8:

    In the meantime, the retailers have noted that the Claw A8 is priced a bit lower than the Claw 8 AI+ (currently $999 on Amazon), even though they share similar specifications. Specifically, Alza and Smarty.sk have set the price for MSI’s latest gaming device at €975 and €978.90, respectively, both including 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.

    Distinctive Features

    The primary difference between the Claw A8 and Claw 8 AI+ lies in its AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chipset, which integrates eight Zen 5 CPU cores along with a Radeon 890M iGPU. Early tests suggest that the Ryzen Z2 Extreme performs comparably to the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V found in the Claw 8 AI+, though it underperforms at lower wattages. Additionally, the new MSI Claw offers an M.2 2280 SSD slot, which is absent in its 8-inch version. Here are the complete specifications for the Claw A8:

    Source:
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  • MSI Claw A8: AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme Handheld Now Available

    MSI Claw A8: AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme Handheld Now Available

    Key Takeaways

    1. The MSI Claw A8 has not yet received an official global release date, but it has launched in China.
    2. The Claw A8 is priced at CNY 6,999 in China and is now available for pre-order in Taiwan at TWD 27,900 (approximately $950).
    3. The Claw A8 is powered by AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU, allowing early users to compare it with Intel-based models.
    4. The pricing of the Claw A8 is lower than the Claw 8 AI+, which is listed at $999, despite its enhanced storage capabilities.
    5. The Claw A8 may be priced between the Claw 7 AI+ ($899) and Claw 8 AI+ ($999) when it eventually reaches North America and other markets.


    The latest MSI Claw still hasn’t been given an official release date for the global market. However, VideoCardz has spotted the device popping up in another country, marking its first step into international waters.

    Recent Launch in China

    To give some background, the Claw A8 made its debut in China earlier this month, priced at CNY 6,999. Shortly after that, MSI’s first gaming handheld powered by AMD began shipping, providing early users an opportunity to compare the Claw A8 with its Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU against other options, such as the Intel Lunar Lake-based Claw 8 AI+ (currently listed at $999 on Amazon).

    Pre-Orders in Taiwan

    Currently, the Claw A8 is available for pre-order in Taiwan at TWD 27,900, which roughly translates to about $950. Notably, this pre-order price is lower than that of the Claw 8 AI+ in both its Sandstorm and Polar Tempest versions, with MSI pricing the latter differently due to its enhanced storage capabilities.

    Comparison with Other Models

    In comparison, the new MSI Claw comes at a much higher price than the original 7-inch model and its Lunar Lake-based successor, which are only available in select regions. It seems that when the Claw A8 finally reaches North America and other markets, it will likely be priced between MSI’s two Lunar Lake gaming handhelds. To provide some context, MSI charges $899 for the Claw 7 AI+ and $999 for the Claw 8 AI+ in the US. Sadly, there is no clear indication of when the Claw A8 will leave Asia for other locations.

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  • MSI Claw 8 Ryzen Edition Set to Launch AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme 2025

    MSI Claw 8 Ryzen Edition Set to Launch AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme 2025

    Key Takeaways

    1. MSI’s Claw A8 is the company’s first AMD-based gaming handheld, marking a new direction in their product line.
    2. The Claw A8 is set to launch this summer, with an initial release likely limited to China.
    3. MSI will showcase the Claw A8 at BiliBiliWorld 2025 in Shanghai from July 11 to July 13.
    4. The handheld will debut with the new AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, positioning MSI ahead of competitors.
    5. Competing brands like Asus and Lenovo are also developing their own Ryzen Z2 Extreme handhelds, set for release later this year.


    MSI has shared more information about its upcoming gaming handheld after its debut at Computex 2025 in mid-May. The Claw A8 marks the company’s first venture into AMD-based gaming handhelds, ending months of conjecture about MSI’s decision to adopt Ryzen APUs.

    Release Timeline Unveiled

    Despite providing detailed specs back in May, MSI hadn’t indicated when the Claw A8 BZ2EM would hit the market. Now, known as the Claw 8 Ryzen Edition 2025, it includes impressive hardware components:

    Recently, MSI stated on Weibo that the Claw A8 is set to launch this summer. The company is planning to display this new gaming handheld at BiliBiliWorld 2025 in Shanghai, scheduled from July 11 to July 13. However, at this point, we think the summer launch is likely only for China, with other regions potentially waiting longer.

    AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme Debut

    Moreover, MSI hinted that this handheld will be the first to feature the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme. This means MSI is likely to get ahead of competitors like Asus and Lenovo, who are also working on their own Ryzen Z2 Extreme gaming handhelds, intended to replace the ROG Ally (currently priced at $549.98 – renewed on Amazon) and Legion Go, which are both coming out later this year.

    Source:
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