MSI's next-gen gaming handhelds, the Claw 7 AI+ and Claw 8 AI+, will be released in December with a starting price of $799. That's according to the recently spotted online listings, which have revealed the full specifications of the upcoming handhelds and confirmed many of the rumours we've heard in recent months.
According to VideoCardz, the Claw 8 AI+ will be available in two configurations powered by Intel's Lunar Lake platform. The top-tier model boasts a Core Ultra 7 258V processor with 8 CPU cores (4P+4E), Arc 140V graphics with 8 Xe2-Cores, 1 TB storage, and 32 GB of LPDDR5X-8533 memory. A more affordable option with a Core Ultra 7 256V CPU and 16 GB of RAM will also be available. The Claw 8 AI+ also boasts an 8-inch display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of peak brightness. Moreover, MSI has packed a beefy 80Wh battery into the device. While the Claw 8 AI+ retains a similar design to its predecessor, it's slightly larger and heavier, weighing 794g. Connectivity has also been improved with the addition of two Thunderbolt 4 ports located on the bottom of the device.
MSI is also releasing a refreshed version of the Claw 7, aptly named the Claw 7 AI+ (via VideoCardz). This 7-inch handheld looks more like the original Claw 7 but features the same Lunar Lake platform as its larger sibling, with the top-tier model sporting the Core Ultra 7 258V CPU, Arc 140V graphics, 512 GB of storage, and 32 GB of LPDDR5X-8533 memory. The Claw 7 AI+ also benefits from dual Thunderbolt 4 ports and a similar design language to the Claw 8 AI+. A Core Ultra 7 256V/16 GB version of the Claw 7 AI+ hasn't been spotted, but considering the Claw 8 AI+ has a variant with that SoC, there's a good chance MSI will eventually release one for the smaller handheld.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ are expected to be released next month. The Claw 7 AI+ looks to be the first of the two, with a release on December 1st for $799. The Claw 8 AI+ should come a bit later, on December 25th, priced at $899.
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KitGuru says: Do you believe the new MSI Claw handhelds will get a better reception than the original Claw 7?