MSI Claw EX Pushes Performance Frontiers Amid High Price Tag
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The new handheld featuring Intel's Panther Lake chip marks a significant leap in power and battery life, though its $1,800 cost remains a barrier.
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus represents a pivotal shift in the handheld PC market, signaling that Intel is closing the performance gap with its competitors, as The Verge first reported. According to the outlet, the device is the first Windows handheld that reliably handles sleep and wake functions, allowing users to resume games instantly similar to the Steam Deck, while maintaining battery charge over several days of hibernation.
Performance gains are driven by a next-gen Intel Panther Lake chip. In benchmarks conducted by The Verge, the Claw EX demonstrated significant leads over the Xbox Ally X (powered by the AMD Z2 Extreme) and the previous MSI Claw 8 (powered by Intel Lunar Lake). Specifically, at 1080p, the Claw EX showed approximately 40 percent more performance than the Xbox Ally X. In titles such as *Cyberpunk 2077* and *Forza Horizon 6*, this power allows for native resolution gameplay rather than lower settings.
Detailed benchmarks from The Verge highlight these disparities across various power modes:
* **Cyberpunk 2077 (30-watt TDP):** The Claw EX reached 71 FPS, compared to 50 FPS for both the MSI Claw 8 and the Xbox Ally X. * **DX: Mankind Divided (Plugged in maximum):** The Claw EX hit 115 FPS, while the MSI Claw 8 and Xbox Ally X recorded 66 and 63 FPS, respectively. * **HZD Remastered (Plugged in maximum):** The Claw EX achieved 50 FPS, beating the MSI Claw 8 (38 FPS) and Xbox Ally X (37 FPS).
Beyond raw specs, the device features an 8-inch 1920 x 1200 48-120Hz VRR screen and drift-resistant magnetic joysticks. The Verge notes that the 1.73-pound device utilizes "manta-ray-wings" grips to distribute weight, making it feel more comfortable than the 1.58-pound Xbox Ally X.
However, these advancements come with a steep cost. The handheld is priced at $1,800, and Anne Lee of MSI indicated to The Verge that U.S. supply will be limited when it arrives this month. Despite the performance leap, The Verge reported issues including a loud fan, an ultra-glossy screen prone to glare, and graphical glitches in certain games.