A new handheld device, perceived as a potential challenger to the Steam Deck, was released several months ago, yet continues to remain unavailable for purchase due to tariffs - raising questions about another competitor faltering in the market.
The MSI Claw 8 AI and its upgraded version, the MSI Claw 8 AI+, have been generating quite a buzz in the gaming community. However, securing these handheld gaming PCs has proven to be a challenge due to their inconsistent availability.
Pricing and Availability
The official MSI US digital store lists the MSI Claw 8 AI for $999.99, but it is currently out of stock and only offers notifications for restocks. Meanwhile, Best Buy also offers the device at the same price point, but some users have managed to purchase it despite its out-of-stock status.
On the other hand, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is available for sale at Walmart, although this is through a third-party seller, and the price is set at $1,249. In the US, Best Buy offers very limited availability for the MSI Claw 8 AI+, with a stable price of $999.99. However, third-party sellers on Walmart and Amazon often list the device at inflated prices around $1,249 or it is out of stock altogether.
Performance
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ has been praised by reviewers as the best Windows handheld gaming PC they've ever used, running all games without raising the fan noise. This impressive performance is attributed to Intel's Lunar Lake processors' efficiency bump for mobile processors.
However, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is not without its downsides. Primarily, these issues are software-related and can be addressed with patches.
Comparison with Other Models
The original ROG Ally with AMD's Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor can handle the reviewer's favourite games with some tweaks. However, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ stands out due to its superior performance and the absence of significant fan noise.
The MSI Claw 8 AI is a Windows-based PC gaming handheld, while the anticipated AMD-based ROG Xbox Ally X is expected to have a similar premium price point.
Price Increase and Variants
Tariffs have led to a price increase of $100 for both the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and the Claw 7 AI+. The MSI Claw 8 AI was initially supposed to launch with a 2TB variant for more game storage, but it currently only offers a $25 price hike to replace the unique "Sandstorm" shade of the original. There is also a white recolor of the MSI Claw 8 AI+, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM Polar Tempest Edition, which comes with a higher price tag.
Conclusion
Despite the challenges in securing these devices and their higher price points due to tariffs, the MSI Claw 8 AI and MSI Claw 8 AI+ have impressed reviewers with their performance. However, the reviewer expresses disappointment that the MSI Claw 8 AI+ redeemed its predecessors' missteps for ultimately no reason. Nonetheless, the anticipation for the AMD-based ROG Xbox Ally X remains high, despite its presumed similar price point.
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