AMD should be scared: MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld console looks mighty impressive but price can spoil the fun
Intel has finally decided to take the Windows handheld gaming console space seriously with the launch of the new Intel Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme SoCs. Built specifically for handheld consoles, both Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme are based on the latest Intel Panther Lake architecture and feature Arc B370 and Arc B390 iGPUs. respectively. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ will be one of the first handheld consoles to be powered by the Arc G3 Extreme, and we had a chance to check out the machine at Computex 2026.
The Claw 8 EX AI+ is MSI’s next-gen follow-up to the Intel Lunar Lake-based Claw 8 AI+. The handheld brings a large 8-inch FHD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, 500 nits of brightness, and VRR. There is also 32 GB of LPDDR5x memory, 1 TB of storage, and a large 80 Wh battery on the inside.
While MSI may have kept the screen practically unchanged, the company did refine the design of the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+. The portable console is more comfortable to hold than last-gen. The curves of the controller area remind us of Xbox controllers, which is a very good thing.
MSI also, thankfully, decided to use the more common M.2 2280 SSD in the Claw 8 EX AI+, which will make it much easier for users to find a suitable replacement drive in the future. So, there are thoughtful upgrades aside from the Arc G3 Extreme. That said, the Intel Arc G3 Extreme is the main selling point of the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, and it has the potential to snatch the Windows handheld consoles away from AMD.
We highly recommend checking out our full video, which is linked below, to see the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and the Arc G3 Extreme in action.
MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ price
If there is one thing that can ruin the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, it is the price. As we know from laptops, Intel Panther Lake chips with the Arc B390 iGPU are not cheap. Add in the cost of 32 GB LPDDR5x and a 1 TB SSD, both of which have gone up considerably from last year, and you can see why we are worried about the price of the Claw 8 EX AI+.
Sadly, we don’t have any concrete numbers to share at this point. But all things point to the Claw 8 EX AI+ being an expensive machine. Even Intel expects the price to be “crazy”.
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