MSI CLAW 8 AI+ A2VM GAMING HANDHELD

Handheld gaming devices are the only way you can get me to play my PC games nowadays.

- Dayna Eileen

Naturally, I was curious about the MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM after missing out on the original Claw, and falling so in love with my ROG Ally X. The Claw 8 certainly has its place in the handheld market, but whether or not it is the handheld for you really depends on your needs.

The appeal of a Windows handheld is that you aren't locked to just your Steam library. That is what held me back from bringing the Steam Deck into my home full-time. This means my options fell to the likes of the ROG Ally family, The Lenovo Legion range, or the MSI Claw lineup. I have to say, out of all the handhelds that have come across my desk, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is the most striking design-wise.

Something about the brushed-bronze with a screen that covers most of the massive body just screams premium to me. RGB lighting surrounds both thumb sticks and ABXY buttons, though I usually keep those off for battery's sake. Vents score the back and bottom of the front of the device, and there are two back buttons, volume buttons, as well as all the buttons you would find on an Xbox controller, plus one dedicated to the MSI Center.

The display on the MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM handheld is truly the standout feature. It boasts a full 8-inch screen—larger than both the Ally X and Steam Deck OLED, and, although not directly comparable, even bigger than the Nintendo Switch OLED. That extra inch of screen real estate makes a noticeable difference. I usually use my handhelds docked, but with the MSI Claw 8, I found myself enjoying it even in handheld mode.