Ryzen Z2 Extreme takes on Intel Core Ultra 7 258V in gaming handheld performance showdown

MSI has recently offered the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme variant of its new Claw gaming handheld, the A8. The previously launched 8 AI+, on the other hand, comes with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, which we have found to be a decent performer for handhelds.

Now, Golden Pig Upgrade, a Chinese reviewer, has put the Claw A8 against the 8 AI+. Through a side-by-side comparison, this face-off has shown how well the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V with the Arc 140V stands against the Ryzen Z2 Extreme with the Radeon 890M.

As the charts shared by the reviewer show, the AMD-based gaming handheld has better 1% lows in almost all the games tested. This suggests that the Ryzen Z2 Extreme MSI Claw can offer smoother performance than the version with the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V.

In addition, the average FPS of the Ryzen Z2 Extreme gaming handheld is better in most games tested at both 17 W and 30 W TDPs. When it comes to power efficiency, the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V appears to have a slight advantage, often matching what the Steam Deck offers.

However, overall, the Z2 Extreme gaming handheld offered around 5.7% better performance at 30 W, about 7.4% at 17 W. This makes the Claw A8 a better pick for gaming, but things could change in terms of the value if the price of the Claw 8 AI+ is lowered. Check out the pictures attached below to learn more about how the two compare.