A day after both Acer and OneXPlayer introduced gaming handhelds powered by Intel’s new Arc G3 Extreme chip, MSI is joining in on the fun. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ was officially announced ahead of Computex 2026, confirming many of the leaks and rumors we’ve seen recently.
MSI’s latest handheld with Arc G3 Extreme looks to dethrone the stranglehold that AMD handhelds have on the market. As for the other specs, we were able to compile a pretty complete list of what the Claw 8 EX AI+ will offer, courtesy of The Verge and mobile01. You can check out everything we’ve been able to find so far in the spec table below, but it matches up fairly similarly to the already-announced handhelds.
MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus Specs
| Hardware | |
| CPU | Intel Arc G3 Extreme |
|---|---|
| GPU | Intel Arc B390 |
| RAM | 32GB LPDDR5X |
| Cooling | Cooler Boost HyperFlow |
| Display | |
| Screen Size | 8-inch |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| PPI | 283.02 |
| Additional Details | VRR |
| Storage | |
| Internal Storage | 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe |
| Battery | |
| Additional Details | Power Delivery 3.0 |
| Connectivity | |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Ports | 3.5mm Audio Jack, microSD, 2x Thunderbolt 4 |
| Video Out | Yes |
| Controls | |
| Sticks | Hall Effect |
| Triggers | Hall Effect |
| Shoulder Layout | Stacked |
| D-Pad | Bottom Left |
| Audio | |
| Speakers | Stereo |
| Speaker Location | Front-facing |
| Headphone Jack | Yes |
| Audio Notes | “6-axis High-end Linear Motor” for Haptics |
| Physical | |
| Form Factor | Horizontal |
| Software | |
| Operating System | Windows |
However, and arguably just as importantly, the Claw 8 EX AI Plus shows that MSI isn’t willing to leave an old design behind in favor of something new and different. With every iteration, MSI has also introduced a new design, all in the name of aiming to provide a better ergonomic experience.
Some, like Stubbs, much prefer the grip of the original Claw A1M, while others like the style of the Claw 8 AI+. More recently, the Claw A8 offered yet another take, providing better rear grips, but MSI missed the memo that hard corners digging into your palms isn’t the greatest feeling.
This time around, MSI is seemingly taking a more “ROG Xbox Ally” approach, with grips that look much more comfortable. Some have noted, however, that this new design makes the 8-inch, 120Hz, IPS panel look like a Switch 2 with some Mobapad grips on either side.
Others also keenly pointed out that the Claw 8 EX AI Plus is also very reminiscent of the TJD T80, although not quite as over-the-top. Just to jog your memory, the T80 is an Android handheld introduced in 2024, powered by either the Allwinner A523 or the RockChip RK3588S.
One major problem wasn’t the design or even the processors; it was that pricing started at $200 for the 4GB/128GB model, and ramped up to $400 if you wanted double the RAM and storage. Thankfully, while the extra screen hanging out at the bottom might be bothersome, the Claw 8 EX AI Plus doesn’t give off the same vibes as the T80.
There are still a few missing details regarding MSI’s forthcoming handheld, such as battery life, potential configuration options, and of course, the price. Given the current state of the market, which just saw the beloved Steam Deck get priced into outer space, don’t be surprised if the Claw 8 EX AI Plus comes in around the $2,000 mark.
