New MSI Claw 8 Ryzen Edition receives surprise release before new Asus ROG Ally with global launch incoming
MSI has now released its latest Claw gaming handheld in certain markets after previewing the device earlier this week in China. At the time, the company only revealed that it would be offering the Claw A8 BZ2EM this summer, which it also refers to as the Claw 8 Ryzen Edition in its marketing materials on account of its AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU.
Initially, it appeared that Asus would wait until next week before releasing its new Claw after BiliBiliWorld 2025, where it is confirmed to be making an appearance. However, the Claw 8 Ryzen Edition can now be picked up across certain East Asian and Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, China and Taiwan.
For reference, the Claw 8 Ryzen Edition comes exclusively with a Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU, 24 GB of LPDDR5x-8000 RAM and the 8-inch display from the Claw 8 AI+ (curr. $999 on Amazon). In short, the new Claw is the first AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme-based gaming handheld that anyone can actually buy. By contrast, Asus and Lenovo have not shared specific launch dates for their next-generation ROG Ally and Legion Go releases.
The new model is not much more expensive than existing variants at CNY 6,999 (~$976), either. Unfortunately, MSI has not confirmed pricing for other markets yet. With that being said, the company has now added the Claw 8 Ryzen Edition to its global website, signalling that a wider launch is on the horizon. Please see the table below for more technical details about MSI's first AMD-based gaming handheld.
| MSI Claw A8 BZ2EM | |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme |
| GPU | AMD Radeon 890M |
| RAM | Up to 24 GB LPDDR5x-8000 (dual channel) |
| Display | 8-inch, 1,920 x 1,200, 120 Hz refresh rate, VRR, 100% sRGB, 500 nits |
| Storage | 1x M.2 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4) & 1x microSD card reader |
| Battery | 6-cell, Li-Polymer, 80 Wh |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 & Wi-Fi 6E |
| I/O | 2 x USB4 Type-C, 1x 3.5 mm jack, 2x 2 W speakers, 6-axis IMU vibration motor, fingerprint scanner |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Dimensions | 299.5 x 126.2 x 24 mm |
| Weight | 765 g (estimated) |
Source(s)
JD.com (1) (2) & MSI via Retro Handhelds
