– MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ priced at $1,799.99 (MSI Store) and $1,699 (Newegg).
– Significantly more expensive than the previous MSI Claw 8 AI+ model ($1,119).
– Features Intel Arc B390 GPU, making it one of the most powerful handhelds available.
– Includes an 80 Wh battery, 120 Hz 8-inch display, Hall-effect triggers/sticks, and Thunderbolt 4 ports.
– Price increase attributed to the DRAM crisis; device costs as much as a mid-range gaming laptop.
Pricing Finally Revealed
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ was officially unveiled at Computex in early June, though MSI had not yet confirmed any pricing details at launch. Finally, the MSI Store confirms the price, but its anything but affordable. Thats because the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ with Intel Arc G3 Extreme, 32 GB of LPDDR5x-8,533 RAM, and a 1 TB SSD costs $1,799.99.
Retailers such as Newegg list the same model for $1,699. This makes the new model significantly more expensive than the older MSI Claw 8 AI+ ($1,119 on Amazon), which features an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V with 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD. The higher list price is likely due in no small part to the DRAM crisis. Those willing to pay the price of a mid-range gaming laptop for a gaming handheld should at least recieve top-notch specs.
Display and Controls Excellence
Because with the Intel Arc B390, the device is among the most powerful handhelds on the market. The 8-inch display offers a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and a decent brightness of 500 nits; it can fully display the sRGB color space. The triggers and analog sticks use Hall-effect sensors to prevent stick drift.
MSI has equipped the device with an exceptionally large 80 Wh battery, which can be charged via USB-C at up to 65 watts. The Windows handheld can be easily transformed into a desktop PC via the two Thunderbolt 4 ports when connected to a docking station.
Connectivity and Portability
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, a microSD Express slot, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and 2 x 2-watt stereo speakers round out the features of this 784-gram gaming handheld.
- Intel Arc B390 processor
- 32 GB LPDDR5x-8,533 RAM
- 1 TB SSD
- 8-inch display, 120 Hz, 500 nits
- 80 Wh battery, 65W USB-C charging
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0
- MicroSD Express slot
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- 2 x 2-watt stereo speakers
- Weight: 784 grams