The MSI Claw EX: A Game-Changer in Handheld PCs, But Not Worth the Investment
As a dedicated handheld gaming enthusiast, I’ve got a collection of portable gaming PCs lined up at home, and the MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus has quickly become my go-to device. With its next-gen Intel chip and refined MSI design, the Claw EX stands out as the most powerful handheld that genuinely feels portable. It boasts the longest battery life in its class and is the first Windows handheld I can rely on to sleep and wake without issues.
Similar to the Steam Deck, when I hit the power button, my game resumes right where I left off. However, unlike the Steam Deck, it can hibernate for days without draining much battery.
When it comes to performance and battery life, you might wish for the best of both worlds, but that’s not quite the case here. This handheld comes with a hefty price tag of $1,800, and finding one at that price can be a challenge.
While it marks a significant advancement in handheld gaming, it’s not without its flaws. The Claw EX does offer comfortable grips, and its manta-ray wings help distribute its weight, making the 1.73-pound (785g) device feel lighter than the 1.58-pound (715g) Xbox Ally X when held for extended periods.
For a handheld at this price, I expected an exceptional OLED display, but I find the Claw EX’s 8-inch 1920 x 1200 48-120Hz VRR screen preferable to the smaller 7-inch 1080p screen of the Allys. The only downside is glare; the ultra-glossy screen didn’t perform well during my summer road trip.
The controls are decent, but the fan can be noisy (though it’s more of a whoosh than a whine), and the grips can vibrate in my hands when the speakers are cranked up, causing sound to resonate inside the device.
The Claw EX excels in performance and battery life, but it occasionally falls short. I’ve always enjoyed the term “potato graphics” to describe games that look rough due to underpowered hardware. Fortunately, the Claw EX doesn’t deliver that experience when launching demanding PC games.
As demonstrated during its launch, the Claw EX produces sharper visuals than the Steam Deck, and it outperforms the Xbox Ally X and the previous MSI Claw 8 in handling demanding games at their native resolutions. In my tests, I’ve seen about 40 percent more performance than the Xbox Ally X at 1080p, which can be the difference between playing at full resolution or settling for less.
With some upscaling, I’ve been able to enjoy games that previously suffered from poor graphics. I could swing lightsabers in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and whip my way through Indiana Jones and the Great Circle with smooth frame rates while watching K-dramas with my partner.
However, I encountered issues with Intel’s drivers not cooperating with certain games. For instance, while exploring the Great Pyramid in Indiana Jones, the Intel chip failed to maintain the wattage I set, leading to freezing and even system hangs. Jedi: Survivor also exhibited strange stuttering in some areas, despite better resolution and frame rates compared to the Xbox Ally X. A recent Intel update did help with some graphical issues, but not all.
The Claw EX’s battery life is another strong point. It features an 80 watt-hour battery, and the Intel chip manages to extend that life beyond what competitors offer. For example, to achieve a smooth 70fps at 720p in Cyberpunk 2077, the Xbox Ally X and older Claw models require around 30 watts, draining their batteries in about 2.5 hours. The Claw EX, however, can deliver that same performance with just 21 watts, giving you an extra hour of playtime.
In a more casual test with Balatro, a 2D magic poker game, I activated the Claw EX’s “Endurance” mode and set the screen to 48Hz, reducing the power draw to just 6.5 watts, which allowed for an impressive 12 hours of gameplay on a single charge. It’s rare to find such battery longevity for indie games alongside the performance needed for AAA titles from one device.
However, this advantage has its drawbacks. When the battery dips below 15 percent while playing demanding games, performance takes a hit. The chip can’t maintain its 25W performance mode and drops to 15W, and it doesn’t immediately return to full performance after plugging it back in.
While the Claw EX is the first Windows handheld that reliably sleeps and wakes, it still suffers from typical Windows issues. I’ve often launched games only to be met with a black screen, realizing the game was running in the background. I find it frustrating to have to hold down the Task Switcher button to fix a game that didn’t launch properly or to exit to desktop mode to update Intel drivers, which should ideally be automatic.
I was taken aback when Windows informed me that I couldn’t access the handheld’s control panel due to needing administrative privileges. Thankfully, a reboot resolved that issue.
I find myself reaching for the Claw EX over other handhelds, not just because I’m borrowing it from Intel, but because I’m willing to overlook its quirks for the sake of avoiding potato graphics. At $1,800, though, I’d think twice.
