The device in my hands feels like the standard all new handheld gaming PCs will be judged by

From my time playing around with the new Panther Lake-powered MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ I’ve found some seriously extreme things about this handheld gaming PC. Mostly that’s a good thing, but it being 2026—and the fact I’m talking about a new gaming handheld mere days after the Steam Deck price hike—you can probably already guess what the not-so-good extreme thing is…

• It’s powered by the new Intel G3 Extreme processor
• It’s extremely quiet
• It’s battery life is extreme
• It feels extremely good in the hands
• And the price is obviously extreme

Yeah, that. There isn’t yet a final price for the handheld yet, and there is likely only going to be one model at launch towards the end of June, but we’ve been told today at a pre-Computex hands-on event with the Claw that we’re looking at $1500. So long as MSI can maintain production costs and keep it at that price point. Which is maybe a tiny bit concerning.

It is worth re-iterating that the Steam Deck has just had a hoofing great price hike itself, and has still somehow sold out of its entire stock for North America. Not that I’m making excuses for that eye-watering price, but if Valve’s ageing handheld—and a far weaker setup at that—is going to set you back around $1,000 maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that a system that looks to be the benchmark by which all other handheld gaming PCs are rated is going to cost a chunk more.

Now I’ve got that one negative out of the way let’s get onto the more positive stuff… and there’s a lot of it.

MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ specs

The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is using the top chip in the new G3 range of dedicated handheld Intel chips, the G3 Extreme. That means you’re getting the full 14-core processing array, along with the 12 Xe core Arc B390 iGPU. While there is a more affordable 10 Xe core version in the straight G3 chip, MSI is not looking at using that just yet.

I asked the question and was told: “So far we’re starting with the G3 Extreme and we’re going to be sticking with this one in our first wave.”

Those 14 cores breakdown into just a single pair of Cougar Cove Performance cores, with eight Darmont Efficient cores, and a further four low power E-cores capable of operating on their own while leaving the rest of the more power-hungry cores turned off.

Which is the right way to structure it, if you ask me. I don’t need a ton of high-performance CPU cores in my handheld. I get that it’s fun to do the whole ‘I used my handheld as a full desktop computer’ thing, but if I’ve got a handheld I want it to be doing mobile stuff with a great battery life, and power budget saved by not spooling up some beefy cores will be my personal preference.

Along with that you’re getting 32 GB of LPDDR5x-8533 and a 1 TB SSD. That SSD is of the standard 2280 variety, which means users have a greater number of options to choose from if they wish to upgrade the storage down the line. Though it bears saying that, owing to the limitations of the chassis, you’re only able to use single-sided SSDs in there.

In terms of the I/O, there’s a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports on the top, with a MicroSD card reader, fingerprint reading powerbutton, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. You’re also getting new “HD haptic” linear resonant actuator (LRA) modules to deliver a new, more accurate, quieter, and lower powered vibration motor in the handles.

There are some things that notably haven’t changed from the previous version of the MSI Claw, namely the screen, the Hall effect triggers and sticks, and the 80 Whr battery. So, you’re still getting a 1200p IPS-level panel, with a peak luminance of 500 nits and support for VRR, from 48 Hz to 120 Hz.

MSI is also sticking with Windows, too. It’s obviously going to have the Xbox mode of the Xbox Ally X, with MSI creating a lightweight quick settings screen that mimics what Asus has done with its Armoury Crate software. So, it will be a more tailored handheld experience, but SteamOS it is not.

Though MSI has tested SteamOS after Intel recommended giving the Claw a whirl with alternative operating systems, but I’m told “with SteamOS, there are still technical barriers.” With my own experience of trying Valve’s Linux OS out on various non-Asus, non-Lenovo, non-Valve handhelds, I would have to agree. MSI has tested other Linux operating systems in the labs, but when I ask if they’re working okay I’m told they’re “workable, but just for engineers”.

MSI is also testing out TMR sticks in the labs, but the results of those experiments have come too late to get into this version of the Claw at least.

Even though it is using the same big ol’ battery, the new Claw is a little lighter than the old one, coming in at 785 g versus 795 g for the old version. Which actually surprised me. Having picked it up and played around with it, it feels so much lighter than that in the hand. It’s well balanced, and the flared grips, closer to that of the ROG Xbox Ally X and the Xbox Controller it’s based on, make it feel far more comfortable than the previous device when you’re actually holding it.

MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ battery life

“I promise you battery life that should be more impressive than the current Lunar Lake one we have right now,” the MSI product manager for the new Claw tells us. “Thanks to Intel technology support for that.”

Given the previous version was pretty impressive in that regard I cannot wait to see what the battery life is when we actually get one in our hands for proper testing outside of the MSI HQ in Taipei where I’m currently pawing at the device. MSI isn’t giving out a specific battery life figure itself, but the Lunar Lake version just about topped two hours in the PC Mark gaming battery life test.

And one Intel rep I spoke to had been playing 007 First Light on his flight over to Taipei and hadn’t thought about plugging it in until around four hours into the game.

There is a new Endurance mode, which drops the CPU cores down to just 8 W, leaving the whole thing with around a 17 W TDP. Of course, if you want to push it you can get the G3 Extreme up to 45 W if you want to run it in console mode plugged into the wall.

MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ performance

It’s quick. That’s something which should surprise no-one given how well the Arc B390 Panther Lake iGPU has performed in 12 Xe core laptops. I wasn’t allowed to benchmark it per se, but was able to mess around with Hogwarts, F1 25, and Battlefield 6. At its native 1200p resolution—especially with XeSS frame generation doing its thing—you’re going to be able to match its 120 Hz refresh rate in those first two at least.

BF 6 is a bit tougher on the GPU, but you’ll still be able to top 60 fps at 1080p with some judicious use of XeSS, though without frame gen as yet.

I did have the Claw 8 EX AI+ running at 4K on a TV in MSI’s office, with F1 25 running at between 80 and 90 fps, but I will say the use of frame generation, while necessary, wasn’t doing good things for the visual stability or a smooth experience.

MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ hands-on verdict

I’m into it.

I’m into the Void Purple colourway MSI is going with for this initial release. I’m into the performance of Panther Lake, especially with a smartly specced out G3 chip, which prioritises the iGPU over jamming in more P-cores. I’m into the style and feel of the device in the hand. And I’m definitely into the battery life, too.

I worry about the price, and given the potential power/battery life balance of the 10 Xe version of the Intel G3 series, I’m a little disappointed that MSI is resolutely sticking to just a single expensive SKU. It’s also a shame the Claw doesn’t seem to be particularly supportive of Linux, but that may well just be a G3 thing.

Having played around with the device, and its quick settings/Xbox mode layout, it’s still far more finicky than the standard Big Picture Mode experience you’ll get with a simple Bazzite installation. I do reckon you’ll quickly get used to it and its foibles, however.

But I’ve come away from my time with it impressed by what MSI and Intel have created here. There are other G3-powered handhelds I’ll get my mitts on over the next few days at Computex, with Acer and OneXPlayer both having other machines here in Taipei, but while the first two MSI Claw devices felt very much like the company was partnering with Intel in a more experimental way, this is the first of its handhelds that really feels like a finished, premium product to me.

But that’s just based on a few hours playing with the thing and chatting with MSI and Intel folk about the device and its design. The real proof will be when we get it home and start properly messing around with it.