MSI’s new Claw 8 EX AI+ is exactly the kind of handheld I want to slot between my weary fingers. The Intel-based gaming PC has the ergonomics of the now-$790 Steam Deck and still promises performance and efficiency that AMD’s offerings lack. It’s too bad that it may cost a depressing amount of money.
This device has big shoes to fill, considering the number of similar devices available today. But even in preproduction, when the hardware and software are not finalized, this PC, built for your palms, excels in performance and comfort. It’s light enough, at 1.7 pounds, that I didn’t need to strain to hold it aloft. Its display is large enough that you’re not squinting at the characters on-screen. It hits target frame rates and performance, finally giving me the sense that handhelds are coming into their own. © Kyle Barr / Gizmodo Of course, for that privilege, the device may cost close to $1,500. MSI hasn’t revealed specific pricing yet, but the Taiwan-based PC and peripheral company, alongside Intel, has independently confirmed that we could be in for a pricey device. I haven’t had enough testing time to properly evaluate whether the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is worth the cost, though. I’m not sure any gaming handheld is worth that much. Anyway, I also spent several hours with all four newly announced handhelds sporting Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme chip. There’s the OneXPlayer 3 and OneXPlayer X2, with the latter sporting an optional keyboard attachment and removable controls like the now-$2,000 Lenovo Legion Go 2 (are you sensing a theme here?). There’s also the Acer Predator Atlas 8, which packs a similar 8-inch display to MSI’s Claw 8 Ex AI. Based purely on controls of these preproduction units, I would still prefer the Claw. © Kyle Barr / Gizmodo © Kyle Barr / Gizmodo I came to Computex 2026 with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X taking up space in my bag. I also had a DBrand Killswitch case wrapped around it, which makes the device feel bulkier and heavier than it normally does. While the Claw 8 Ex weighs about 0.2 pounds more than the Ally, it’s thinner thanks to the lack of full Xbox-controller-like grips. MSI seems to have nailed the ergonomics this time. My hands slotted into each grip with ease, comforted by the textured plastic on each side.
