Preorders Begin on Amazon for MSI’s New Lunar Lake-Powered Gaming Handhelds: Claw 8 AI+ at $899 and Claw 7 AI+ at $799

Amazon’s latest listing reveals the much-anticipated MSI Claw 8 AI+ gaming handheld priced at $899, featuring cutting-edge specs including upcoming Intel Lunar Lake CPUs. Alongside this, MSI has planned a refresh of its Claw 7 AI+ model, promising an earlier release.

From the details, the Claw 8 AI+ will be powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, with another option featuring the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V. Buyers can choose between 16GB and 32GB of LPDDR5X-8553 RAM. This device offers a CPU speed cap ranging from 2.2 GHz up to an impressive 4.8 GHz. Both models come equipped with a 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 SSD for storage, and there’s the opportunity to expand capacity using a micro SDHC card. The integrated Arc 14V graphics harnesses eight Xe2 cores, and all visuals are delivered on a generous 8-inch touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate, 500 nits brightness, and a resolution of 1920 x 1200.

In terms of battery life, the Claw 8 AI+ steps up to an 80 Wh unit. Connectivity is seamless with two Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports that accommodate both charging and accessory docking, including eGPUs. Running on Windows 11, this handheld will be available December 25, topping out at a price of $899 for its highest configuration.

Not far behind, the revamped MSI Claw 7 AI+ will also run the Intel Ultra 7-258V CPU paired with 32GB RAM, though with a slightly smaller 512GB storage. This version boasts a 7-inch 1080p display and a 53Wh battery. Shipping starts December 1, and for just a $100 price gap, you get the Claw 8 AI+ which offers a larger screen, more storage space, and an improved battery. Naturally, with these enhancements, the Claw 8 AI+ is a bit heftier compared to the Claw 7 models.

To break it down, here’s how the MSI Claw series stacks up against each other:

• Claw 8 AI+: Intel Ultra Core 7 258V/256V, 16GB/32GB RAM, 1TB storage, Arc 140v Graphics, 8" display, 80Wh battery,
• Claw 7 AI+: Similar CPU, 32GB RAM, 512GB storage, Arc 140v Graphics, 7" display, 53Wh battery,
• Claw 7: Older CPU options, 16GB RAM, similar storage, older graphics, and display specs to Claw 7 AI+.

The initial timeline suggested a 2025 release for the Claw 8 AI+, but now it looks set to debut just before CES 2025.

Looking ahead, we previously mentioned the potential successors to the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally, which might feature an AMD Ryzen Z2 or the Z2 Extreme CPU, slated for a 2025 launch. AMD boasts that its Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, paired with Radeon 890M graphics, is 75% quicker than Intel’s Core Ultra 7 285 in gaming scenarios. With such promises, it could be worth lingering before jumping into a purchase.

The market is on the brink of an influx of new gaming handhelds, each model potentially adopting either the Intel Lunar Lake or the AMD Z2 series APUs. All eyes will be on these devices as customers crave insights into performance, battery longevity, and overall usability—a complete picture we’ll have as soon as these models hit the shelves.