MSI Claw 8 AI+ could have launched with cheaper Intel Core Ultra 5 228V variant
The MSI Claw has been one of the odder additions to the high-end gaming handheld space. Initially, the Claw arrived as a 7-inch model that drew heavy inspiration from the Asus ROG Ally (curr. $399.99 - refurbished on Amazon). However, MSI opted for Intel's Core Ultra 5 135H and Core Ultra 7 155H processors, rather than AMD's tried and tested Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000 or Ryzen Z1 platforms.
The lacklustre GPU performance and power efficiency of Intel's Meteor Lake architecture effectively ended the Claw 7 AV1M in its tracks. Following a wave of scathing reviews, MSI promptly showcased the Claw 8 AI+ with newer Intel Lunar Lake processors and teased an updated 7-inch variant using the same architecture.
Officially, MSI sells the Claw 7 AI+ AV2M and Claw 8 AI+ AV2M exclusively with the Core Ultra 7 258V. As a result, the pair also ship with 32 GB of RAM and Intel's comparatively. powerful Arc 140V iGPU. A recent post on Reddit suggests that MSI had additional plans for its Claw refresh that may have been dropped at the last minute.
Somehow, Redditor u/sozuoka obtained what they describe as a 'Claw 8 prototype' based around Intel's Core Ultra 5 228V, a lesser-seen option that includes 32 GB of RAM but lower CPU clock speeds and a third less L3 cache than the Core Ultra 7 258V. Also, while the Core Ultra 5 228V and Core Ultra 7 258V share the same CPU cores, the former ships with a nominally weaker Arc 130V iGPU than the latter.
Allegedly, the Core Ultra 5 228V outperforms the Core Ultra 7 155H by around 20% even in a prototype unit. The prototype appears to be in a fully working state too, begging the question of why it has not reached retail status as a cheaper option. Potentially, there may have been too small of a performance gap between the Arc 130V and Arc 140V to justify two releases. The high price that the Claw 8 AI+ AV2M commands in the UK and the US definitely left the door open for a cheaper model variant to sit below it, though.
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