MSI Claw A8: First Next-Gen Gaming Handheld

Next-Gen Power for Handheld Gaming

Since Valve's Steam Deck revolutionized portable gaming in 2022, the handheld PC market has steadily expanded, yet remained constrained by the limitations of the Z1 Extreme chipset. MSI's newly announced Claw A8 at Computex 2025 breaks this trend as the first device featuring AMD's next-generation Z2 Extreme processor revealed earlier at CES 2025.

Subtle Refinements, Major Upgrade

The Claw A8 builds upon MSI's recent Claw 8 AI model with key enhancements. While reducing maximum RAM from 32GB to 24GB of speedy 8,000MHz LPDDR5X, it introduces VRR (variable refresh rate) support to its 120Hz FullHD display - a welcome improvement for smoother visuals.

However, the true game-changer is the transition from Intel's Core Ultra 7 285V to AMD's cutting-edge Z2 Extreme APU. This powerhouse combines 8 Zen 5 CPU cores with 16 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores, offering more compute units and architectural improvements over its predecessor.

Competition Heats Up

MSI also unveiled an updated Claw 8 AI+ with expanded 2TB storage and new color options, retaining the Intel Ultra 7 processor. While pricing remains unconfirmed for the Z2 Extreme-powered A8, expectations point toward premium pricing given the $999 tag of its Intel counterpart.

The race to market for Z2 Extreme devices has become particularly interesting. Five months post-announcement, no handheld has yet shipped with the new chipset. Lenovo's CES-revealed Legion Go 2 technically features the processor, but remains without a release timeline, while Asus's rumored ROG Ally 2 is speculated to adopt the technology, potentially in collaboration with Microsoft.

The Steam Deck Exception

Valve has notably opted out of the Z2 Extreme race, stating the incremental improvements don't justify a Steam Deck 2. While this raises questions about the chip's actual performance gains, the increased competition ultimately benefits consumers through better hardware options across the market segment.