MSI Claw 8 AI+ Review: Display, Controls & Gaming

Designed for serious gamers, the MSI Claw 8 delivers smooth multitasking and strong visual output in a portable shell

Hardware by Nakiro on Jul 04, 2025

The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is the latest entrant in the handheld gaming market. At roughly three months since its release and currently retailing for $899, this device aims to blend powerful hardware with a portable form factor.

Users can expect a combination of Intel's newest architecture, integrated AI features, and a high-refresh-rate touchscreen, all within a compact chassis. Below, we will explore the Claw 8's packaging, design, performance, and overall experience.

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Hardware, Storage, and Connectivity

Under the hood, the Claw 8 houses Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V processor, featuring four high-performance cores and four efficiency cores. The high-performance cores handle gaming and demanding applications, while the efficiency cores manage lighter tasks, such as web browsing and messaging. A dedicated NPU delivers AI acceleration, enabling features such as XCSS upscaling.

Integrated alongside the CPU is the Intel Arc Battle Mage GPU 140V, optimized for power efficiency. You'll also find 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM running at an impressive 8533 MT/s, which serves both the system and the GPU, as it lacks dedicated VRAM. Storage is provided in the form of a 1TB M.2 SSD (2230 form factor), which can be upgraded by the user due to its serviceable internal layout.

For wireless connectivity, the Claw 8 supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, including Bluetooth LE for low-latency, low-energy connections when paired with compatible peripherals. According to several reports, the 80Wh battery has good durability and can sometimes rival or even surpass competing handhelds in practical use.

Display of the MSI Claw 8 AI+

The Claw 8's main feature is its 8" IPS touchscreen with a native resolution of 1920x1200. This FullHD+ panel can provide up to 500 nits of brightness at a refresh rate of 120 Hz when using adaptive sync. Even without HDR enabled, the screen's colors and smooth action make gaming and movie viewing more enjoyable. The slight decrease in pixel density compared to rivals is negligible at this size, and you won't notice any lack of clarity during gameplay.

Physical Design and Ports

Measuring 11.77 "×4.96 "×0.94" and weighing just under 800g, the Claw 8 feels well-balanced in hand. MSI's signature sandstone color sets it apart from more common black finishes, and we found its textured backrest comfortable during extended sessions.

On either side, you get two Thunderbolt 4 ports, each capable of 40Gbits/s data transfer, multiple display outputs, and eGPU connectivity. A single Thunderbolt 4 port can drive a 4K 120hz monitor via Display Stream Compression. A microSD card reader, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a fingerprint-enabled power button for secure and speedy logins are among the additional ports.

Ergonomics and Controls

Hall effect sensors in the Claw 8's triggers and thumbsticks guarantee precise input that doesn't deteriorate with time. The D-pad is snappy despite its modest protrusion, and the bumpers feel crisp. You'll also find four shortcut buttons—View, Menu, M, and Quick Settings—positioned around the screen edges to navigate UI elements swiftly. At the rear, dual macro pads offer extra custom inputs, though it's rarely needed.

Comfort-wise, the larger grips might feel bulky for some, especially compared to more compact handhelds, but we experienced minimal fatigue. The ribbed texture on the back provides a fine grip, while haptics add a subtle sensation that enhances immersion without being overbearing.

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Audio and Cooling

The handheld comes with a High-volume, distortion-free sound via front-firing stereo speakers. To showcase their quality, we tested them using a range of in-game audio tracks and movie snippets, and the results were consistently immersive.

MSI's Interflow thermal design—with dual fans and strategically placed vents—remains virtually silent even under load. During extended gaming, temperatures stay in check without audible distractions.

User Interface and Software

MSI's CenterM serves as the primary front end, letting you browse libraries across multiple platforms (hidden by default to maintain a clean look). Alternatively, Playnite integration is available for a unified game list. You can select hardware profiles—AI Engine, Endurance, or Manual—to balance performance and battery life. We achieved the best frame rates using Manual mode at a fixed 30W TDP.

CenterM also provides desktop and gamepad modes, key mapping, system updates, noise cancellation, and battery calibration tools. Quick Settings offers on-the-fly adjustments to brightness, audio, and CPU/GPU tuning and even integrates the Xbox Game Bar.

Gaming Performance

All benchmarks were conducted at a 30W TDP setting. In God of War , balanced FSR2 yielded 50–60fps, while the original preset hovered around 40–70fps depending on scene complexity. The Callisto Protocol reached 50–90fps with FSR2 Performance mode, dropping to 40–70fps on medium settings.

In Cyberpunk 2077, XCSS on balanced mode provided 50–70fps on low presets and 30–40fps on medium presets with ray-traced reflections enabled. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle ran at 30–60fps with native TAA upscaling, maintaining 30fps even in dense jungle scenes and peaking at 60fps indoors. Jedi: Survivor delivered 30–60fps on medium settings with FSR2 Ultra Performance.

From testing, ray tracing is currently impractical on handheld hardware, so it is disabled for smoother gameplay. Complete user control over TDP (beyond preset options) would be ideal, but even the existing 8W, 17W, and 30W profiles allow for reasonable flexibility.

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Pros and Cons

Among the highlights of the Claw 8 are its stunning 8" 120Hz IPS touchscreen that renders vivid color and fluid motion, the efficient Core Ultra 7 258V processor with a dedicated NPU for AI tasks, and 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM at 8533MT/s that serves both system needs and integrated graphics without dedicated VRAM.

You also benefit from dual Thunderbolt 4 ports that enable eGPU setups and 4K120hz external displays, a whisper-quiet dual‑fan Interflow thermal design, clear front-firing speakers with no distortion even at high volume, and durable Hall effect sensors in all analog controls that resist wear over time.

Despite these strengths, the Claw 8 is hindered by Windows 11's inconsistent handheld interface, which lacks reliance on Steam Big Picture Mode or CenterM, as well as occasional software issues such as input freezes, system lockups, and erratic RGB lighting.

The 16:10 aspect ratio, although unique, isn't universally supported in all games, resulting in black bars or UI clipping. Compared to more well-known techniques like FSR, XCSS upscaling support is still restricted, and its price of over $899 puts it in the gaming laptop range without a dedicated GPU.

Value Proposition

As of this writing, the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus stands as the most powerful handheld gaming device available. Its combination of Core Ultra 7 258V and Arc Battle Mage GPU delivers impressive performance within a 30W envelope. The bright, high-refresh-rate display, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, and robust cooling system make it versatile for gaming, productivity, and media playback.

However, the reliance on Windows 11 introduces occasional software unreliability, and its price of nearly $900 places it alongside thin-and-light gaming laptops. If you can justify the investment and are comfortable navigating Windows on a handheld form factor, you'll find a competent device. Still, before treating it as a must-have, it is advised to wait for additional firmware development or a minor price reduction, such as approximately $799.

All things considered, the Claw 8 offers desktop-like capabilities while on the go, making it a significant advancement in portable gaming. Better software and more games that work with it might make it the standard for portable PC gaming.

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