Tag: MSI Claw 8 EX AI+

  • MSI Claw 8 AI+ price rivals RTX 5060 gaming laptop

    MSI Claw 8 AI+ price rivals RTX 5060 gaming laptop

    Key Takeaway

    – MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ priced at $1,799
    – Cheaper to buy a Gigabyte Aero X16 laptop + Asus ROG Ally handheld for $1,930
    – RTX 5060 laptop with 32GB RAM is $1,249.99 at Best Buy
    – Asus ROG Ally handheld available for $679.99 on Amazon
    – High price makes the Claw 8 EX AI+ a tough sell against laptop-plus-handheld combo

    When Intel first started showing what the Arc G3 Extreme SoC was capable of, the company warned that the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld console using the SoC would not be cheap. We expressed the same fear in our hands-on video of the console, which is linked at the end. MSI has now officially revealed the price, and the Claw 8 EX AI+ is scary expensive.

    A Price Comparison That Hurts

    In fact, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is so expensive that you can currently buy an RTX 5060 gaming laptop with 32 GB of DDR5 memory and a QHD display alongside a handheld gaming console for the price of one Claw 8 EX AI+.

    The laptop we are talking about is the Gigabyte Aero X16 with a Ryzen AI 7 350, an RTX 5060 laptop GPU, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD, which has now dropped by $150 to $1,249.99 at Best Buy. We gave the Gigabyte Aero X16 a “good” rating of 84% in our review due to its sturdy chassis, pleasing display, expandable RAM, and more.

    Don’t Forget the Handheld

    Moving the discussion to the handheld we mentioned above, you can get the Asus ROG Xbox Ally with a Ryzen Z2 A APU, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage for $679.99 on Amazon.

    So, buying the Gigabyte Aero X16 and the Asus ROG Xbox Ally will cost you a combined $1,930. This is only $130 more than the price of the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+.

    Is The Arc G3 Extreme Worth It?

    So, even if you were intrigued by the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, the handheld looks like a tough sell at $1,799. If one can get a decent gaming laptop and a portable console to play lighter AAA games on the go, all for the price of one MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, is the better performance of the Arc G3 Extreme enough to swoon gamers?

    We are not sure many gamers would see the appeal of the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+. Yes, there exists a subset of users who can shell out $1,799 for the Claw 8 EX AI+ based on the handheld’s performance. But for the Intel Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme to loosen AMD’s chokehold on the Windows handheld gaming console space, Intel and OEMs need to do better. Only a healthy selection of powerful yet affordable handheld consoles will make the kind of difference that Intel is hoping for.

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  • MSI Claw 8 AI+ Impresses, But High Price May Worry AMD

    MSI Claw 8 AI+ Impresses, But High Price May Worry AMD

    Key Takeaway

    – Intel Arc G3 and G3 Extreme SoCs, based on Panther Lake architecture, mark Intel’s serious entry into Windows handheld gaming.
    – The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is a next-gen handheld featuring an 8-inch FHD+ 120Hz display, 32GB RAM, 1TB storage, and an 80Wh battery.
    – Design improvements include more comfortable, Xbox-like controls and a standard M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrades.
    – The Arc G3 Extreme iGPU is the main selling point, with potential to challenge AMD’s dominance in handheld consoles.
    – Price is a major concern, as the powerful components are expected to make the device expensive, potentially “crazy” costly.

    Intel’s Serious Move into Handheld Gaming

    Intel has finnaly decided to take the Windows handheld gaming console space seriously with the launch of the new Intel Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme SoCs. Built specifically for handheld consoles, both Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme are based on the latest Intel Panther Lake architecture and feature Arc B370 and Arc B390 iGPUs. respectively. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ will be one of the first handheld consoles to be powered by the Arc G3 Extreme, and we had a chance to check out the machine at Computex 2026.

    MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Specifications and Design

    The Claw 8 EX AI+ is MSI’s next-gen follow-up to the Intel Lunar Lake-based Claw 8 AI+. The handheld brings a large 8-inch FHD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, 500 nits of brightness, and VRR. There is also 32 GB of LPDDR5x memory, 1 TB of storage, and a large 80 Wh battery on the inside.

    While MSI may have kept the screen practically unchanged, the company did refine the design of the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+. The portable console is more comfortable to hold than last-gen. The curves of the controller area remind us of Xbox controllers, which is a very good thing.

    Thoughtful Upgrades and Performance Potential

    MSI also, thankfully, decided to use the more common M.2 2280 SSD in the Claw 8 EX AI+, which will make it much easier for users to find a suitable replacement drive in the future. So, there are thoughtful upgrades aside from the Arc G3 Extreme. That said, the Intel Arc G3 Extreme is the main selling point of the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, and it has the potential to snatch the Windows handheld consoles away from AMD.

    Potential Pricing Concerns

    If there is one thing that can ruin the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, it is the price. As we know from laptops, Intel Panther Lake chips with the Arc B390 iGPU are not cheap. Add in the cost of 32 GB LPDDR5x and a 1 TB SSD, both of which have gone up considerably from last year, and you can see why we are worried about the price of the Claw 8 EX AI+.

    Sadly, we don’t have any concrete numbers to share at this point. But all things point to the Claw 8 EX AI+ being an expensive machine. Even Intel expects the price to be “crazy”.

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  • New MSI Claw 8: Battery Life & Gaming Performance Details

    New MSI Claw 8: Battery Life & Gaming Performance Details

    Key Takeaway

    – MSI has not officially announced its Claw 8 EX AI+ gaming handheld but has teased a Glacier Blue version of the existing Claw 8 AI+.
    – Hands-on images from Mobile 01 show the Claw 8 EX AI+ retains an 8-inch 1200p/120Hz VRR display and the same I/O as its predecessor.
    – The new handheld reportedly achieves ~80 FPS average in Forza Horizon 6 using multi-frame generation on battery, though graphics settings were undisclosed.
    – It offers up to 4 hours of gaming battery life (similar to the Claw 8 AI+ in Endurance Mode), but does not improve comfort or grip over the current model.
    – MSI will not reveal pricing or availability for the Claw 8 EX AI+ during Computex 2026.

    Next Handheld Teased Quietly

    MSI isn’t making a big public announcement regarding its newest gaming handheld just yet. Instead, the company continues to tease another color variant of an existing product. The Glacier Blue version of the Claw 8 AI+ have been shown on MSI’s global website for more then a month now. This is just a visual refresh of the 8-inch device that we looked at in 2025, which currently cost around $1,881 on Amazon.

    Details Emerge About New Model

    Even without an official statement, different sources are starting to fill in the missing info about the upcoming Claw 8 EX AI+ (CG3EM). To recap, Intel already confirmed the existence of this handheld on May 28. Around that same time, some promotional photos leaked showing what the device looks like. Now, Mobile 01 has published some hands-on shots of the Claw 8 EX AI+ that was on show before Computex 2026. These images give us a clearer picture of the design.

    Performance and Design Observations

    Reportedly, the new Claw 8 EX AI+ is said to achieve about an 80 FPS average in Forza Horizon 6. This is accomplished using multi-frame generation technology while running on battery power. However, Mobile 01 never actually revealed what graphics settings were used for this test. The website also remarked that this new handheld is not much more comfortable or grippy compared to the existing Claw 8 AI+, despite the addition of some controller-style grips that should have improved handling.

    Same Display and Battery Claims

    Setting that minor complaint aside, the images that were shared reiterate that the Claw 8 EX AI+ keeps the exact same I/O as its predecessor. It also retains the same 8-inch display with 1200p resolution and a 120 Hz VRR panel. According to MSI’s own marketing material, the new handheld will be able to last up to 4 hours when you are gaming. For reference, MSI makes the exact same claim about the Claw 8 AI+ as well, but that is only true when operating in Endurance Mode.

    • From the coverage provided by Mobile 01, MSI will not be revealing any pricing information.
    • They also will not be announcing availability for the Claw 8 EX AI+ during the Computex 2026 event.


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  • Intel Arc G3 Extreme Launches with 14 Cores and Arc B390 Graphics

    Intel Arc G3 Extreme Launches with 14 Cores and Arc B390 Graphics

    Key Takeaway

    1. MSI’s upcoming gaming handheld, the Claw 8 EX AI+, is expected to feature the Arc G3 Extreme processor, with a listed price of €1,599.
    2. The Arc G3 Extreme includes a 14-core CPU, 12 MB L3 cache, and is designed as a higher-tier option compared to the standard Arc G3 and other handheld APUs.
    3. Performance claims regarding the Arc G3 Extreme should be approached cautiously, as benchmark data is preliminary and not definitive.
    4. MSI plans to unveil the Claw 8 EX AI+ at Computex 2026 in June.

    Initial Rumors about MSI’s New Gaming Handheld

    Early today, a retail store in Italy founds listed MSI’s next handheld gaming device for about €1,599, featuring a Arc G3 Extreme processor. This new model, known as the Claw 8 EX AI+, is likely to appear alongside the Claw A8 (which costs around $1,299 currently), rather than replacing older models too quickly. It seems MSI plans to introduce this at the upcoming tech exhibition, Computex 2026.

    Details About the Chipset and Benchmark Leaks

    Strangely, the same chipset has been seen on Passmark’s database before its official announcement. Intel might announce an Arc G3 version as an affordable alternative to their G3 Extreme, similar to how AMD launched the Ryzen Z2 and Z2 Extreme back in 2025. The specifications listed on the screenshot imply it’s meant for the Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld, rather than some different device. Also, the Arc G3 Extreme’s core architecture includes the Arc B390, a powerful 12-core iGPU combining Xe3 cores, but Intel currently restricts this to their Core Ultra X 300 series processor.

    Hardware Specifications and Performance Expectations

    The listing additionally specify that the Arc G3 Extreme features a 14-core CPU with 18 MB L2 cache and 12 MB L3 cache. It also has 2 Performance cores combined with 12 Efficient cores, but interestingly, it does not support Hyper-threading. Still, it’s too early to pass final judgment based solely on one benchmark test. Claims that the Arc G3 Extreme will outperform the Ryzen Z2 Extreme and other handheld APUs by a large margin are premature. MSI probably plans to launch the Claw 8 EX AI+ officially at the Computex 2026 event, in June.


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