MSI has announced its two new gaming handhelds, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and the Claw 7 AI+. The two consoles have been in the news for quite some time and now, finally, MSI has made them official with not only improved specifications over the original MSI Claw, but also some design changes that make these new devices more than just a refresh.
As the names suggest, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has an 8-inch screen while the Claw 7 has a 7-inch screen, like the original MSI Claw A1M. And with the official launch announcement comes preorder availability for both versions of the handheld.
Related
Handheld Gaming Consoles to Get if You Can’t Wait for the Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 does not have a release date yet, so these are the best handheld gaming consoles in the meantime.
MSI Claw 8 AI+, Claw 7 AI+: Design and Specifications
Starting with the Claw 8 AI+, MSI has gone with a dual tone design with a Standstorm and black color combo. The Claw 7, however, is an all-black handheld similar to the original Claw A1M. Besides the design and screen sizes, the major differences lie on the inside. But before exploring those, let’s take a look at what’s common between the two handhelds.
Both feature the Intel Core Ultra 285V processor and Arc 140V GPU. They come with 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen 4 x4 storage. The handhelds are kept cool by a dual-fan, dual-heat-pipe system which the company calls Cooler Boost HyperFlow technology.
There are two 2W speakers with DTS sound effects and support for Hi-Res Audio. You get two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one microSD card reader, an audio combo jack, and a power button with a fingerprint sensor. Both run Windows 11 home and support 65W USB Type-C PD 3.0 charging. The face buttons light up and there are RGB rings under the joysticks, but that’s where the similarities end.
Related
The Best Retro Handheld Gaming Consoles in 2024
After a long, dormant period, handheld consoles are on the rise again. A retro handheld is an excellent way to experience nostalgic games on the go.
The larger of the two comes with an 8-inch FHD+ (1920×1200) 16:10 IPS-level touchscreen display capable of 120Hz refresh rate. It has 500 nits typical brightness, support for VRR, and 100% sRGB coverage. The Claw 7 gets a 7-inch FHD (1920×1080) 16:9 display, the same as the Claw A1M.
The wireless connectivity options are a bit different as well, as the Claw 8 gets Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth v5.4, while the Claw 7 goes down to Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Interestingly, the Claw A1M came with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Furthermore, the Amazon listing shows the Claw 8 comes with 1TB while the Claw 7 gets 512GB of storage.
Coming to the battery, the Claw 8 AI+ has more space inside and MSI managed to fit an 80Wh battery with little increase in overall handheld size. In comparison, the Claw 7 comes with a 54.5Wh battery which is the same as the Claw A1M. That’s quite a lot of difference in battery capacity, but it should be noted that the larger battery will power a larger display as well. Still, expect battery game time with the Claw 8 AI+.
MSI Claw 8 AI+, Claw 7 AI+: Price and Availability
Pre-order Claw 8 AI+ on Amazon
Pre-order Claw 8 AI+ on Best Buy
Pre-order Claw 7 AI+ on Amazon
Pre-order Claw 7 AI+ on Best Buy
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ product pages are live on Amazon and Best Buy but the option to pre-order isn’t available (at the time of writing).
The Claw 8 AI+ is priced at $900 while the Claw 7 AI+ comes in at $800. For reference, the Claw A1M launched at a starting price of $700 and went up to $800. The new handhelds are expected to start shipping from December 25, so the listings should be updated soon.
More
The Best Lenovo Legion Go Accessories for a Wholesome Handheld Experience
Spice up your Lenovo Legion Go ownership experience by getting one or more of its accessories for a wholesome experience.