MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Review: Intel’s First True Handheld Contender

Verdict: A Premium Handheld That Puts Intel Back in the Game

The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is a premium handheld gaming PC built around Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme platform, designed to deliver higher portable performance than AMD-based rivals while adding modern features like a large 8‑inch 120Hz IPS display, Hall effect sticks and an 80Wh battery for serious on-the-go play.

From the first hour of use, the bottom line is clear: this is one of the fastest handhelds you can buy, and it finally shows Intel can compete credibly in portable gaming. The trade-off is cost and bulk. The Claw 8 EX AI+ feels targeted at enthusiasts who prize frame rates, flexibility and future-facing features over price or absolute portability. If you were disappointed by earlier Claw attempts, this model is the course correction; if you want something light and affordable, it is not.

Design, Comfort and Controls: Big Body, Thoughtful Shape

Physically, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is unapologetically large: its 8‑inch display, substantial grips and 786g weight make it noticeably bigger and heavier than some competing handhelds, and you will feel that when carrying or holding it for long sessions. The upside is ergonomics. Deep, outward‑flaring grips fill your palms and spread the weight, making the device easier to support than slimmer, flatter designs, even if your arms still tire over time.

Build quality lands in an odd middle ground. The Claw feels solid enough for daily travel, but the mostly plastic shell does not look or feel as premium as its top-tier positioning suggests. Controls, however, are a highlight: Hall effect analogue sticks, triggers and well-placed shoulder buttons make accurate input feel natural, while two rear paddles give power users extra commands when they need them. The circular D‑pad is fine for general use, but fans of fighting games may prefer something crisper.

Display, Battery and Specs: Heavy on Hardware, Light on OLED

On paper, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ looks stacked. It pairs Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme processor with integrated Arc B390 graphics, 32GB of memory and a 1TB SSD, all fronted by an 8‑inch 1,920 x 1,200 IPS touchscreen running up to 120Hz and backed by an 80Wh battery. MSI also uses the extra chassis volume to fit two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a microSD card slot, giving you serious expandability for a handheld.

The display is both a strength and a compromise. The larger size makes UI text, inventory screens and small HUD elements far easier to read than on smaller rivals. Color and clarity are solid, and the 120Hz refresh keeps fast games looking smooth. That said, at this premium tier the lack of OLED is hard to ignore; handhelds with OLED panels offer deeper blacks and more lively colors, and the Claw’s IPS panel, while sharp, cannot match them. Battery life fares better: over two-and-a-half hours in a gaming-focused benchmark places it between key AMD alternatives, proving its speed doesn’t automatically drain the tank.

Performance and Software: Intel Arrives, SteamOS Steps In

Performance is where the Claw 8 EX AI+ earns its keep. In demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Zero Dawn and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, it was comfortably ahead of two closely matched rivals without upscaling, with the gap especially clear in Horizon Zero Dawn and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Turning on upscaling pushed its lead even further in most cases; only Horizon Zero Dawn saw it fall slightly behind the AMD-powered competition. One line from testing sums it up: “The Arc G3 Extreme is not simply a competitive alternative to AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme; across much of my testing, it was clearly faster and better.”

Endurance is respectable. In a gaming-focused battery benchmark, the Claw lasted over two-and-a-half hours, landing between two leading handheld rivals and showing that its speed does not come at a steep cost to run time. Software remains a split story. Windows 11 still throws up desktop-first prompts and awkward launchers, even with MSI’s Claw Center smoothing some of the edges. The more interesting move is outside Windows: SteamOS has added initial gamepad support for the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, signaling active work to make this handheld feel more native in Valve’s ecosystem and broadening its future software options.

Intel’s Handheld Redemption and Value Judgment

The Claw 8 EX AI+ is notable not only for its hardware, but for what it says about Intel’s handheld strategy. Earlier Intel-powered Claw models struggled to make a convincing case, to the point where MSI briefly switched to AMD for another variant, underscoring how far the balance of power had tilted. This time, Intel and MSI have produced a handheld that can stand toe-to-toe with leading AMD designs and often pull ahead.

Value is the sticking point. Component price pressure has pushed handheld gaming PCs into premium territory, and the Claw 8 EX AI+ sits firmly in the high-end bracket. It does not feel like a bargain, especially given its plastic build and lack of OLED, but its mix of performance, battery life and features goes a long way toward justifying its position. As one assessment puts it, “if price is less of a concern and performance matters more than anything else, the Claw 8 EX AI+ is arguably the best PC gaming handheld today – and Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme plays a big part in that.”