MSI Claw A8: The First Next-Gen Handheld Gaming PC

The handheld gaming PC market has seen a surge in popularity since the Steam Deck's launch in 2022. Over the past two years, the top-tier handhelds have predominantly featured the Z1 Extreme chipset. However, the MSI Claw A8, unveiled at Computex 2025, marks a significant shift as the first device to incorporate the newly announced AMD Z2 Extreme chipset from CES 2025.

The MSI Claw A8 shares similarities with the recently launched Claw 8 AI, but with notable specification updates. MSI has adjusted the RAM, reducing it from 32GB to 24GB of LPDDR5X, running at 8,000MHz. Additionally, the display now supports VRR (variable refresh rate), enhancing the gaming experience by reducing screen tearing on its 120Hz FullHD panel.

The most significant upgrade in the MSI Claw A8 is the transition from the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V to the AMD Z2 Extreme. This gaming APU boasts 8 Zen 5 CPU cores and 16 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores, offering more Compute Units than the 12 found in the Z1 Extreme, and an architecture that's half a generation ahead.

Alongside the Claw A8, MSI also introduced an updated MSI Claw 8 AI+ model, featuring a new color scheme and a larger 2TB SSD, yet it retains the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V.

While the MSI Claw A8 is slated for release later this year, specifics regarding the launch window and pricing remain undisclosed. Given the MSI Claw 8 AI+'s price tag of $999, it's reasonable to anticipate that the new AMD-powered version will be similarly priced, if not higher.

The AMD Z2 Extreme Race Is On

The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme made a low-key debut at CES in January 2025. As of now, nearly five months later, no handheld with this new silicon has reached the market, sparking a race among manufacturers to be the first to launch.

Although the Lenovo Legion Go 2, showcased at CES 2025, is equipped with the Z2 Extreme, Lenovo has not provided any timeline for its market entry. Instead, they released the less powerful and more expensive Lenovo Legion Go S, powered by the Z2 Go.

Rumors suggest that the Asus ROG Ally 2 might also feature the Z2 Extreme, although no official announcement has been made. There's also speculation about a potential collaboration between Asus and Microsoft for an Xbox-branded version of the Ally 2, which would likely utilize the same chipset.

One notable exception is the Steam Deck 2, which Valve has confirmed will not use the Z2 Extreme. Valve's decision stems from their belief that the new Z-series chips do not represent a significant enough leap forward to warrant a new model. While this might raise questions about the Z2 Extreme's performance, the introduction of new handhelds with this chipset will still offer improvements over current market options, which is a positive development for gamers.