MSI Claw A8: Next-Gen Handheld Gaming PC Unveiled

Handheld gaming PCs have steadily gained traction since the Steam Deck revolutionized the market in 2022. However, for two years, most powerful handhelds relied on the same Z1 Extreme chipset. The MSI Claw A8, unveiled at Computex 2025, marks the first device featuring AMD's new Z2 Extreme processor announced earlier at CES 2025.

MSI Claw A8 Upgrades Over Previous Model

While similar to the recent Claw 8 AI, the A8 introduces key refinements. MSI reduced maximum RAM from 32GB to 24GB of LPDDR5X running at 8,000MHz but added VRR (variable refresh rate) support to the 120Hz FullHD display, minimizing screen tearing.

The major upgrade comes from replacing Intel's Core Ultra 7 285V with AMD's Z2 Extreme—an 8-core Zen 5 APU with 16 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores. This delivers more compute units than the Z1 Extreme while advancing GPU architecture.

MSI also revealed an updated Claw 8 AI+ with a 2TB SSD and new color options, retaining Intel's Core Ultra 7 285V.

The A8 is expected later this year, though MSI hasn't confirmed pricing or exact availability. Given the $999 Claw 8 AI+, this AMD-powered alternative likely won't be budget-friendly.

The Race for Z2 Extreme Dominance

AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme debuted quietly at CES 2025, yet five months later, no handheld featuring it has launched.

Lenovo's Legion Go 2, also announced at CES, uses the Z2 Extreme but lacks a release timeline. Meanwhile, the available Legion Go S features a weaker Z2 Go chip at a higher price than its predecessor.

Speculation suggests Asus' ROG Ally 2 will adopt the Z2 Extreme, possibly in collaboration with Microsoft for an Xbox-branded version.

Notably, Valve confirmed the Steam Deck 2 won't use the Z2 Extreme, citing insufficient performance gains. While this raises questions about the chip's capabilities, competing handhelds will still push performance beyond current offerings.