A few handhelds have gone through my hands in the past few years. The OG Steam Deck (and SteamOS, of course) is close to my heart, but after a few weeks with the MSI Claw 8 AI+, boy, I feel like my mind has changed about Windows OS handhelds.
Powerful Specs Don’t Lie
It’s hard to ignore the specs that come with the MSI Claw 8 AI+ model that I was able to try out for a couple of weeks. It’s built with an Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 Processor 258V with Intel® Arc™ Graphics, comes with 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and has up to 1TB of SSD storage.
Put together, you’ve got a powerful handheld that could virtually run everything you’d want to play. And this is partly true with some tweaking of your graphics and power output settings.
I had no issues playing Hogwarts Legacy or Diablo IV. I played slightly less resource-heavy titles like Starsand Island and Coral Island and easily got them to run smoothly.
I even played Monster Hunter Wilds with a stable frame rate, which says A LOT about this device, to be honest. And to be fair, I have all these games installed in the handheld, and I still have some to spare for storage-heavy titles, haha!
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ Is Portable Despite its Size
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ has a full 8-inch FHD screen, it weighs around 395 grams, so it isn’t what you’d call totally pocket friendly. But despite the size, it still feels very portable.
It’s easy to slip into a sling or tote bag and the weight doesn’t feel too heavy on the arms when holding up while gaming outside.
What I like the most is that the screen is large and vibrant, so even if you’re gaming with a handheld, you still get that immersive visual experience due to the screen’s 120Hz refresh rate and up to 500 nits of brightness.
Custom Performance with Windows OS and MSI Center M
I used to think that SteamOS was the GOAT when it came to gaming handhelds. But the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has made me think otherwise. With the powerful Intel Arc Graphics processor, the operating system feels very responsive and doesn’t have much lag.
Windows OS also gives you the benefits of having a really customizable experience, allowing the handheld to perform as a portable PC. You can run programs and browsers with ease. Plus, you don’t have to worry too much if your game isn’t on Steam, you can download other installers like Battlenet, HoYoverse, and more, and still run them seamlessly.
Combined with MSI Center M, which allows you to change settings like power output, fan control, even shifting from keyboard to gamepad mode, it’s really like having a small computer in your hands.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ Final Thoughts and Gaming Experience
I gotta say that I feel a genuine sadness in having to return this review unit. The MSI Claw 8 AI+ overturned what I used to think about Windows OS and Intel CPUs on handhelds.
My experience – being able to run Monster Hunter Wilds (at 40-50 FPS, what the heck), storing several large games with enough memory to spare, plus having an incredibly responsive and lag-free screen and operating system – has cemented my positive thoughts about this device.
I’ve also noticed close to no issues with heating, I appreciate the multiple USB-C ports for charging and connecting to peripherals, and the Micro SD card reader is a nice, convenient addition.
But we have to admit that the specs of the MSI Claw 8 AI+ are already top-of-the-line, so you should be expecting this much performance from a handheld that costs you Php 59,995 or around $975 USD.
There’s also the issue of battery capacity. Even though this handheld already has an 80Whr battery, resource-heavy titles like MH Wilds or Diablo IV can only be run for around 2 hours max. Even with adjusted TDP settings.
So, I suggest always bringing a large-capacity power bank or fast charger to keep on with gaming. 🙂
Overall, I would definitely recommend the MSI Claw 8 AI+ for those who have the budget. It’s definitely not the cheapest handheld, but it’s also not the most expensive.
It performs very well for its price, and can easily be turned into a portable PC, should you need it for tasks other than gaming.
Anyway, I’m excited to know if MSI is planning to release an updated version of the MSI Claw this Computex 2026. There have been rumors, and I can’t wait to try their upcoming handhelds in the future.
If you want to know more, or interested to purchase, you can check out the official website. 🙂
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