MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ delivers Intel's best handheld, if you can afford it

MSI officially launched the Claw 8 EX AI+ on June 23, and now, two weeks later, early testing is painting a much clearer picture of what Intel's first dedicated handheld gaming platform is capable of. Powered by Intel's new Arc G3 Extreme architecture, the Claw 8 EX AI+ represents the company's strongest challenge yet to AMD's dominance in the handheld gaming market.

At the heart of the device is Intel's latest processor featuring Arc B390 integrated graphics. According to early benchmark results, the chip delivers an average 40% performance improvement over AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme when operating at a 35W TDP. If those results hold up across a wider range of games, Intel may finally have a genuine competitor in a market where AMD has enjoyed a comfortable lead.

The gains aren't just theoretical, either. Reports suggest the Claw 8 EX AI+ is capable of maintaining noticeably smoother frame rates in demanding modern games, helping Intel close the performance gap that last year's Lunar Lake-based handhelds couldn't quite overcome.

MSI has also refined its software experience. Following feedback from owners of the original Claw, the updated Center M software introduces improved performance profiles and support for Xbox Full Screen Mode, allowing users to boot directly into a controller-friendly interface instead of navigating the standard Windows desktop. Players can choose either Center M or the Xbox app as their default launcher, making the experience feel much closer to a dedicated gaming console.

Despite its impressive hardware, pricing remains the biggest hurdle. At $1,799 (around €1,565 / £1,349), the Claw 8 EX AI+ sits firmly in gaming laptop territory. For similar money, buyers could pick up a laptop equipped with an RTX 5060, or even a gaming laptop alongside a Nintendo Switch 2.

It's also worth remembering that, despite its strong showing, the Arc B390 is still an integrated GPU. It's arguably one of the fastest integrated graphics solutions available today, but anyone expecting desktop graphics card performance or console-level horsepower may need to manage their expectations. In the context of rising memory component prices, the near-$1,800 price point may cause the handheld gaming line to lose its inherent appeal to the majority of users.

As always, for the latest news on gaming handhelds, hardware launches, performance analysis, and developments across the PC gaming industry, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.