MSI offers two versions of its Claw handheld gaming console: the Claw A8, based on the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme SoC, and the Claw 8 AI+, based on the Intel "Lunar Lake" CPU. In the latest gaming benchmarks, with both processors capped at the same power envelopes, the AMD-based Claw A8 delivers a slight win. In a detailed comparison, courtesy of Golden Pig Upgrade, we see the AMD-based Claw handheld competing against the Intel-based model across ten AAA titles in terms of average FPS and 1% lows at 1080p resolution, as well as at 17 W capped TDP and 30 W capped TDP for both processors.

MSI's Claw A8 handheld powered by the Ryzen Z2 Extreme pulled ahead of the Intel-based Claw 8 AI+ in many titles, with Monster Hunter Wilds seeing up to a 27% frame-rate boost, while average gains stayed under 5% in most games. At 1080p and 30 W, it ran about 5.7% faster, rising to 7.4% at 17 W, and its superior 1% lows frame rates delivered noticeably smoother gameplay under stress. Under the hood, the Z2 Extreme built on TSMC's 4 nm node packs eight cores and sixteen threads that boost up to 5.0 GHz, plus a Radeon 890M-equivalent iGPU with 16 RDNA 3.5 CUs, and offers a flexible power envelope from 17 W up to 35 W for either tuned performance or extended battery life. Intel's Lunar Lake is giving a good battle with only eight Xe2 cores, showing that the potential Lunar Lake successor can put up a strong fight with next-gen Xe3 cores.