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In a market increasingly filled with portable gaming options, MSI‘s second attempt at a handheld gaming PC shows significant promise. The MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM represents a substantial evolution from its predecessor, offering meaningful improvements in nearly every aspect. From its vibrant display to its impressive performance credentials, this device aims to carve out its place in the competitive handheld gaming landscape. Our comprehensive review explores how this Intel-powered device stands up to daily gaming demands and whether it justifies its premium price point.
Display: Bigger and Better
The Claw 8 AI+ features an upgraded 8-inch IPS touchscreen with a sharp 1920×1200 resolution. This 16:10 aspect ratio provides additional vertical space that enhances both gaming experiences and productivity tasks. The increase from the previous 7-inch model is immediately noticeable and welcome. Performance is where this display truly shines. With a 120Hz refresh rate and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support, gameplay feels remarkably smooth and responsive. Whether navigating fast-paced action sequences or exploring vast open worlds, the screen maintains fluid visuals without stuttering.
The display reaches an impressive 500 nits of brightness, making it suitable for various lighting conditions, including outdoor use. Color reproduction is commendable, delivering rich and vibrant hues that bring games to life. While it doesn’t offer the deep blacks characteristic of OLED panels, the contrast proves sufficient for most gaming scenarios.
The touchscreen functionality is responsive and accurate, consistently registering taps and gestures. However, when navigating Windows 11, increasing the display zoom settings may improve touch target accessibility.
Design: Comfort Meets Functionality
MSI has crafted the Claw 8 AI+ with a distinctive two-tone black and sandstone chassis that gives it a modern aesthetic. Despite its plastic construction, the device feels robust and well-built. The matte finish effectively resists fingerprints, maintaining a clean appearance during extended gaming sessions. Ergonomics were clearly a priority, as the device’s grips are designed to fit comfortably in hand with outlines mirroring modern game controllers. This design choice pays dividends during prolonged gaming sessions, reducing hand fatigue significantly.
The device employs Hall Effect analog sticks and triggers, offering precise and durable input methods. The triggers provide satisfying resistance throughout their range, eliminating dead zones and enhancing overall responsiveness during gameplay.
Connectivity options are generous with two Thunderbolt 4 ports enabling versatile connections to external displays and GPUs. A thoughtful design touch includes raised dots over the SD card reader and ports to help locate them in low-light environments. Customizable RGB lighting on the analog sticks and ABXY buttons adds a personal touch, allowing gamers to create their preferred aesthetic.
Performance: Intel Power in Your Hands
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ demonstrates impressive capabilities when handling modern titles at reasonable frame rates, often outperforming AMD-powered competitors. This performance edge comes courtesy of its Intel Core Ultra 7-258V CPU paired with an Arc 140V GPU.
Flexibility is a key strength, with the device offering multiple power modes to balance performance against battery life. The thermal design, dubbed Cooler Boost HyperFlow, effectively maintains sustained clock speeds without generating excessive noise, preventing performance throttling during extended play sessions.
In our testing, Monster Hunter Wilds—a game known for challenging weaker handheld GPUs—achieved playable performance. At native 1920×1200 resolution with lowest settings and Ultra Performance upscaling (AMD FSR 3), the game averaged around 30 FPS. Reducing resolution and enabling frame generation pushed performance to approximately 48-52 FPS.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii performed admirably, delivering over 50 FPS at native resolution with low graphics settings and Intel XeSS upscaling. While some combat encounters saw frame rates dip into the low 50s, the experience remained smooth and satisfying, averaging 53-55 FPS overall. Dynasty Warriors: Origins ran at around 30 FPS at native resolution with low graphics settings. While not ideal for a musou game, lowering the resolution further improved performance to deliver a smoother button-mashing experience.
Battery Life and Software Control: Options for Every Need
The Claw 8 AI+ offers flexible power management through multiple settings:
- AI Engine Mode, which delivers approximately 3-3.5 hours of gaming
- Endurance Mode, extending use beyond 4 hours for less demanding tasks or games
- Manual Mode, allowing TDP adjustments (8W/17W/30W) for maximum performance at the cost of reduced battery life (1.5-2.5 hours)
The device supports 64W charging via its Thunderbolt 4 ports, enabling a full recharge in just over two hours to minimize downtime between gaming sessions.
The MSI Center M software serves as the central hub for managing both your gaming library and system settings. It launches automatically at startup, presenting installed games and providing quick access to performance modes, RGB lighting customization, and controller configurations. The interface is clean and user-friendly, particularly on the 8-inch touchscreen.
Key features include:
- Game launcher integration for platforms like Steam, Xbox Game Pass, and Epic Games Store
- Various performance modes, including an AI-driven option that adjusts settings based on usage patterns
- Mystic Light RGB customization for the analog sticks and buttons
- A semi-transparent quick settings overlay for on-the-fly adjustments without exiting games
The AI Engine intelligently manages system resources, dynamically adjusting performance and power consumption based on current activity to optimize battery life without compromising gaming quality. While convenient, some users may prefer manual control for more precise tuning.
Verdict
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM demonstrates how much difference a thoughtful second iteration can make in the handheld gaming space. It effectively addresses key complaints from the original Claw by delivering a brighter, smoother display, stronger performance, and improved thermal management. The flexible power modes paired with an 80Wh battery allow users to choose between maximum performance or extended play sessions depending on their needs.
The device’s ergonomic grip and responsive Hall Effect controls make it comfortable to hold for long periods, while the streamlined MSI Center M software simplifies game and settings management. The attention to detail—from responsive triggers to dual Thunderbolt 4 connectivity—creates a polished overall experience.
At RM4,299.00, the price point may give some potential buyers pause, and it’s not the lightest device in its category. However, for those seeking a Windows handheld capable of handling modern games without excessive compromises, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ deserves serious consideration.
