The MSI Claw stands out as a unique entry in the premium gaming handheld market. It first launched as a 7-inch device, heavily inspired by the Asus ROG Ally (currently priced at $399.99 – refurbished on Amazon). However, instead of using AMD’s reliable Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000, or Ryzen Z1 platforms, MSI chose to implement Intel’s Core Ultra 5 135H and Core Ultra 7 155H processors.
Performance Issues
Intel’s Meteor Lake architecture led to underwhelming GPU performance and power efficiency, which hindered the Claw 7 AV1M’s success. After receiving a slew of negative reviews, MSI quickly introduced the Claw 8 AI+, featuring the newer Intel Lunar Lake processors, and hinted at an updated 7-inch model based on the same technology.
Specifications Update
MSI officially markets the Claw 7 AI+ AV2M and Claw 8 AI+ AV2M with the Core Ultra 7 258V exclusively. Consequently, both models come equipped with 32 GB of RAM and Intel’s relatively powerful Arc 140V integrated GPU. An intriguing post on Reddit mentioned that MSI might have had extra plans for the Claw refresh that were potentially scrapped at the last moment.
Prototype Discovery
Interestingly, a Reddit user named u/sozuoka claimed to have discovered a ‘Claw 8 prototype’ that features Intel’s Core Ultra 5 228V. This option is less common and includes 32 GB of RAM but has lower CPU clock speeds and a third less L3 cache compared to the Core Ultra 7 258V. While the two processors share the same CPU cores, the Core Ultra 5 228V comes with a somewhat weaker Arc 130V integrated GPU compared to the Core Ultra 7 258V.
Reports suggest that the Core Ultra 5 228V may outperform the Core Ultra 7 155H by approximately 20%, even in its prototype form. The prototype is said to be fully functional, raising questions about its absence from retail markets as a more affordable alternative. It’s possible that the performance difference between the Arc 130V and Arc 140V was too minimal to warrant two separate product launches. The high price of the Claw 8 AI+ AV2M in both the UK and the US certainly leaves room for a lower-cost model to be introduced.
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