MSI Claw Update: More Screen and Battery, Improved Controls and New Products from Intel

MSI claw It was announced in the early days of 2024 as one of Steam Deck’s many competitors in the handheld console segment. And although it has not been on the market for a year yet, its manufacturer has decided to release two new versions with many improvements: MSI Claw 7 AI+ And Claw 8 AI+.

As you can imagine, the MSI Claw 7 AI+ is an upgrade of the original model, while the Claw 8 AI+ is a variant with a larger screen and other new features under the hood. Both devices retain the familiar design, but the new Sandstorm color in the largest size stands out.

When it comes to specifications, MSI once again relies on Intel for its portable consoles. New Claws are equipped with a processor Core Ultra 7 latest generation, belonging to the Lunar Lake family. In addition, they offer 32 GB LPDDR5X RAM integrated into the chip.

MSI Claw 7 AI+ has 7 inches with Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080), 120Hz refresh rate and 500 nits typical brightness. In the case of MSI Claw 8 AI+, the panel is made of 8 incheswith FHD+ resolution (1920 x 1200) and 16:10 aspect ratio. Of course, it also boasts 120Hz and 500 nits of brightness.

If you’re wondering why both models use the reference “AI+” in their names, it’s for a simple reason. Since these devices are actually minicomputers running Windows 11, the introduction of Intel Lunar Lake chips turns them into Copilot+ PCs with AI capabilities. We don’t know if this is really important for gamers, but MSI didn’t miss the opportunity to proudly announce it.

MSI Claw 7 AI+ and MSI Claw 8 AI+: news and features

The interesting thing about the new 7- and 8-inch MSI Claw models is that they come with updated controls that are more comfortable and precise. The control configuration is the same as the original version, but differs in the introduction Hall effect triggers and improvements to levers, bumpers or buttons on the shoulders and on the guide traverse. Of course, the ABXY keys and programmable buttons on the back are still present.

In terms of performance, MSI claims that the new Claw 7 AI+ and Claw 8 AI+ achieve higher peak frames per second, which is 113% higher than their competitors. Something similar happens with the average FPS, which is 20% higher. In both cases, the manufacturer claims that it achieves this under the same power consumption conditions.

And since we’re talking batteries, the two models MSI announced today come with important new features. Claw 7 AI+ is equipped with a battery 54.5 Wh which is slightly more than the original model’s 53 Wh. The Claw 8 AI+ takes an important step forward with battery power. 80 Wh. It is worth saying that both support fast charging up to 65 W via the USB-C port thanks to compatibility with Power Delivery 3.0.

When it comes to ports and connectivity, there are also some items worth mentioning. Both MSI Claw 7 AI+ and Claw 8 AI+ have a second USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4. Additionally, they retain the power button with fingerprint scanner, 3.5mm headphone jack, and microSD card reader. However, the 7-inch variant takes a step back in terms of wireless connectivity as, unlike the original MSI Claw, it does not support WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, but rather WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Only the 8-inch model is compatible with the latest technology.

Specifications

The new MSI Claw 7 AI+ and Claw 8 AI+ will go on sale on December 25th, but can be pre-ordered today. Their original prices $799 and $899respectively.