MSI Claw 8 AI+ - Review After 1 Month

Summary

The MSI Claw 8 AI Plus is a powerful, premium handheld gaming device that impresses with its design, performance, and immersive 8-inch screen. Despite its hefty build, offering full-size buttons and Hall effect sticks, the device provides an excellent gaming experience, handling AAA titles smoothly. However, it suffers from frustrating software issues, particularly with MSI's buggy MSI Center and Windows' lack of touch optimization. Overall, while it offers a dream experience for gamers, its software flaws keep it from being perfect, leaving room for improvement.

Takeaways

• 🎮 The MSI Claw 8 AI Plus is a powerful handheld gaming device that has replaced other consoles for the reviewer.
• 💪 The device is heavy at nearly 800g, making it heavier than the Steam Deck OLED and Switch 2, which can cause hand fatigue during long sessions.
• 🛋️ Using pillows on your lap is recommended for a more ergonomic gaming setup to reduce hand and arm fatigue.
• 🖥️ The Claw 8 has an 8-inch 1200p VRR LCD display that provides an immersive gaming experience, even though it is not OLED.
• 🎛️ Full-sized buttons, Hall effect sticks and triggers, and a quality D-pad provide a premium feel and precise controls.
• ⚡ The device delivers excellent performance with Intel's 258V and 140V chipsets, capable of running modern AAA titles at 40+ FPS at native resolutions with medium settings.
• 🔋 Battery life ranges from 3–4 hours at 17–20W settings and can drop to under 2 hours at full 30W performance.
• 🖥️ MSI Center software is slow, buggy, and frustrating, significantly detracting from the overall experience.
• 🪟 Windows offers access to all game libraries and consistent functions like Hibernate, but touch interface limitations and background processes can be frustrating.
• 💰 Despite its high price (~$1300 CAD), the Claw 8 AI Plus delivers a premium build, high-quality controls, and strong gaming performance, making the cost somewhat justifiable.
• ⚠️ Some games, like Halo Infinite, have compatibility issues with Intel chips, and upscaling technology (XCSS) is not universally supported yet.
• 🖤 Overall, the Claw 8 AI Plus is an impressive, premium handheld that excels in performance and design, but MSI software issues remain a significant drawback.

Q & A

What is the overall impression of the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus according to the reviewer?

The reviewer considers the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus an incredible and powerful handheld gaming device that has replaced their other gaming devices, though it's not perfect due to software issues.

How does the weight of the Claw 8 compare to other handhelds?

The Claw 8 weighs almost 800g, making it about 150g heavier than the Steam Deck OLED and 260g heavier than the Switch 2. Its weight is evenly distributed, but long sessions can still cause hand fatigue.

What solutions does the reviewer suggest for reducing hand and arm fatigue while using the Claw 8?

The reviewer recommends placing a couple of pillows on the lap and resting the Claw 8 on top to achieve a more ergonomic setup that reduces both hand and arm fatigue.

What are the key features of the Claw 8's display?

It has an 8-inch 1200p VRR LCD with a 16:9/16:10 aspect ratio. While not OLED, it provides solid color reproduction, sharpness, and immersive gameplay. The VRR ensures smooth performance without noticeable stutters.

How does the Claw 8 perform in terms of gaming power and battery life?

The Claw 8 can play modern AAA titles at over 40 FPS at native resolution and medium settings. Using 17–20W with the 80Wh battery, it provides 3–4 hours of gameplay, while cranking to 30W gives just under 2 hours.

What components contribute to the Claw 8's performance?

Its Intel 258V processor paired with the 140V chipset delivers strong performance, capable of handling demanding games, and reportedly rivals AMD's Z2 Extreme chipset.

What issues does the reviewer highlight about MSI's software?

The reviewer criticizes MSI Center M, describing it as slow, buggy, and unreliable. Even after updates, the software remains frustrating, making it a major drawback of the device.

How does Windows perform on the Claw 8?

Windows is functional but not optimized for touch interfaces, which can cause occasional input issues. However, it provides access to all major game libraries and features like Hibernate for quick game resumption.

What are the reviewer’s thoughts on the Claw 8’s design and build quality?

The Claw 8 feels substantial and premium, with a rigid build, ergonomic curves, ridges for grip, full-sized buttons, Hall effect sticks and triggers, and an aesthetically unique brownish-gray sandlike color.

What is the main limitation preventing the Claw 8 from being a perfect device?

The main limitation is the software experience. MSI's overlay and MSI Center M are sluggish and unreliable, detracting from an otherwise powerful and high-quality handheld.

How does the Claw 8 handle games with ray tracing or demanding graphics?

For games like Doom: The Dark Ages with ray tracing, running at full 17W power can be challenging. Users can lower resolution and settings or increase TDP to 30W for playable performance.

Does the Claw 8 support modern upscaling technologies?

Yes, it supports Intel's XCSS upscaling technology, which is preferred by the reviewer over AMD's FSR. However, not all games yet support the latest versions, requiring occasional third-party upscaling tools.