MSI has launched its first Ryzen-based handheld, powered by AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU under the hood, at Computex . While serving as an AMD alternative to the established Lunar Lake options, the MSI Claw A8 shares many similarities with them. This includes dimensions, weight, audio, sensors, storage, and even the display. The company has not yet detailed pricing and availability, but we expect to hear more shortly.
Under the hood, the Claw A8 sports the Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU with eight cores (3x Zen 5 + 5x Zen 5c) and 16 threads. This configuration is largely similar to the Ryzen AI 7 Pro 360, but packs a more powerful RDNA 3.5-based graphics engine with 16 Compute Units ( Radeon 890M). This is complemented by 24GB of soldered LPDDR5x-8000 memory. This is slightly lower than the typical 32GB LPDDR5x-8533 we've seen with Lunar Lake-powered Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ options. The default configuration comes with a 1TB M.2 2280 SSD, which should be upgradable.
In terms of the display, MSI has opted for an 8-inch 1080p IPS panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate and VRR functionality, covering 100% of the sRGB color space. This is oddly similar to the Claw 8 AI+, and we wouldn't be surprised if MSI is using identical displays.
Specifications | MSI Claw A8 | MSI Claw 8 AI+ | MSI Claw 7 AI+ |
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V |
Memory | 24GB LPDDR5x-8000 (Integrated) | 32GB LPDDR5x-8533 (integrated) | 32GB LPDDR5x-8533 (integrated) |
Storage | 1x NVMe M.2 2280 SSD Gen4 x4 | Up to 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD Easy Access | 1x NVMe M.2 2230 SSD Gen4 x4 |
Graphics | AMD Radeon 890M GPU (Integrated) | Intel Arc 140 GPU (integrated) | Intel Arc 140 GPU (integrated) |
Display | 8-inch FHD+ (1920x1200), 16:10 Touchscreen, 120Hz, 100% sRGB, 500nits, VRR, IPS-level | 8-inch FHD+ (1920x1200), 16:10 Touchscreen, 120Hz, 100% sRGB, 500nits, VRR, IPS-level | 7-inch FHD (1920x1080), Touchscreen, 120Hz, 100% sRGB, 500nits, VRR, IPS-level |
Audio | 2x 2W speakers, DTS, supports Hi-Res Audio | 2x 2W speakers, DTS, supports Hi-Res Audio | 2x 2W speakers, DTS, supports Hi-Res Audio |
Sensors | 6-axis IMU, vibration motor | 6-axis IMU, vibration motor | 6-axis IMU, vibration motor |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.34 |
Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4/DP/USB Type-C PD 3.0, 1x microSD slot, 1x 3.5mm combo jack, 1x power button with fingerprint sensor | 2x Thunderbolt 4/DP/USB Type-C PD 3.0, 1x microSD slot, 1x 3.5mm combo jack, 1x power button with fingerprint sensor | 2x Thunderbolt 4/DP/USB Type-C PD 3.0, 1x microSD slot, 1x 3.5mm combo jack, 1x power button with fingerprint sensor |
Battery | 80Whr 6-cell Li-Po | 80Whr 6-cell Li-Po | 54.5Whr 6-cell Li-Po |
Dimensions (W x D x H) | 299.5 x 126.2 x 24mm | 299 x 126 x 24mm | 290 x 117 x 21.2mm |
Weight | 765g | 795g | 675g |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
With a 6-cell setup, the battery offers a substantial 80Wh capacity, which should be enough for several hours of gameplay. The Claw A8 is equipped with two USB4 Type-C ports, one 3.5mm combo jack port, one microSD slot, and a power button with a built-in fingerprint sensor. Wireless connectivity is powered by Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, as the Z2 Extreme lacks support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 available on Lunar Lake.
Performance will be interesting to see, as based on our testing , Intel's Arc 140V outperforms the Radeon 890M in gaming. Lunar Lake is also more efficient and might be the better choice for longer gaming sessions. Pricing will be a crucial factor since, despite its apparent advantages, Lunar Lake SoCs are likely more expensive due to advanced manufacturing (TSMC N3B) and packaging (Foveros 3D). As a point of reference, the 1TB configuration of the Claw 8 AI+ had a debut price of $899, though it currently retails for $999 or more.
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