MSI Claw 8 EX AI+: Gaming Handheld's Eye-Watering Price Tag

MSI's new gaming handheld, the Claw 8 EX AI+, has arrived with a daunting $1,800 price point, making premium competitors seem affordable. This cost is largely driven by the current AI component shortages, pushing prices higher even for existing hardware. The handheld is powered by Intel's new Arc G3 Extreme chips, paired with 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of SSD storage, all displayed on an 8-inch 120Hz IPS touchscreen. It also features a substantial 80-watt-hour battery and a robust selection of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connectors.

The device runs Windows 11, offering flexibility but also presenting challenges with constant system and application updates, which can disrupt gameplay sessions. MSI's own Claw Center software, intended to unify the user experience, suffers from bugs that can interfere with controls. Despite these interface issues, the Claw 8 EX AI+ delivers exceptional performance, outperforming many rivals, particularly when utilizing Intel's XeSS upscaling technology. However, its battery life can be as short as 90 minutes during demanding AAA gaming, though endurance modes offer significantly longer playtimes for less intensive titles.