00:00The MSI CLAW 8EX AI Plus promises to be the next-gen handheld gaming console we've been
00:05waiting for, but there's one problem, price. Now, this is one of the first handhelds hitting
00:11the shelves with Intel's new ArcG3 Extreme processor. I'll get into what that means for
00:16performance later in this video, but more importantly, you'll want to stick around to
00:19find out whether I think this is worth what MSI is asking, or if you're better off getting
00:24something else instead. Let's start with the big redesign here. I think it's safe to say MSI
00:33took some cues from the ASUS ROG Ally X and Frankenstein their own take on what a portable
00:39Xbox should look like. They've added deeper, more flare grips and wedged a large 8-inch display
00:47between it with a bit of an interesting chin at the bottom, which I think gives it a very unique
00:51look.
00:52While the Ally X feels tighter and more locked in when you're holding it,
00:55I like how the CLAW's controllers are still deep, but a little bit wider. Great for those with larger
01:00hands or anyone who prefers a more relaxed grip. The CLAW keeps a distinct advantage over the
01:07competition though with its screen. You're getting the same 8-inch 1920x1200 IPS display that we've seen
01:13on the past few CLAWs. Not only is this display larger than you get on the Ally X, but it
01:19also offers
01:19extra vertical resolution for games that support it. And I think this is the sweet spot for size
01:25and portability, but it does have me wishing for one thing, which I will get into. MSI has also made
01:31some major changes with the controls versus the previous gen CLAW 8. The D-pad is taller and more
01:37concave. The face buttons are also more tactile now. MSI actually added a metal dome plating beneath the
01:44casing, eliminating the mushy feel, which some users have complained about from before. And then there's
01:50something else that you can't see, but I can definitely feel when I'm playing my games. It's
01:54the improved haptics. In past models, the rumble was lacking, but on the 8EX, we've got a brand new
02:00haptic motor. I'm getting significantly stronger, snappier vibrations, which really adds to the immersion.
02:08But guys, I know the real reason that you're even considering the new CLAW 8
02:12is because of what's under the hood, the Intel Arc G3 Extreme and that 32 gigabytes of RAM.
02:19In most games I've been testing, the CLAW 8EX pulls a massive 20 to 30 plus frames per second
02:25advantage over the AMD Z2 Extreme handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally X or the Legion Go.
02:32I'll throw up a few of our benchmark comparisons with the help of our friends from Tom's Hardware
02:37on screen. If you want our deep dive numbers, you can find our full review articles linked down below.
02:42But the main takeaway, this thing absolutely cooks. In more demanding games where you'd
02:49barely be hitting 30 frames per second on the Ally X, the CLAW 8 gets much closer to 50 or
02:54even 60
02:55frames per second. And that is especially true when you plug this in and unlock its full performance.
03:02Intel's claim of 44% faster frames at 35 watts seems to be very accurate, as well as its ability
03:08to get the
03:09same performance as the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, but at half the power consumption.
03:15And that brings me to another very important upgrade. The Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip is surprisingly
03:22efficient, which translates to better real-world battery life. At its max 35 watt TDP, I'm
03:29constantly getting around an extra hour or so of battery life with the CLAW versus the ROG Xbox
03:35Ally X. For more casual games, you can also lower the CLAW to just 8 watts and stretch battery life
03:42to
03:42around 6-7 hours, which is great when you can't plug this in. Standby power drain is also significantly
03:48improved, leaving it in its sleep mode overnight resulted in just a 4-5% battery loss, which makes
03:55this feel much closer to a true handheld console. Now, don't get me wrong, Windows 11 can still be
04:00a very buggy mess on these touchscreen devices, but if you've seen any of my other handheld videos
04:06before, you'll know that I'm always looking at how well these hold up as legitimate desktop PC
04:11replacements, especially now that they're so expensive. Because of everything I've already
04:16talked about, the upgraded processor, the 32 gigabytes of RAM, the dual USB-C, four-type ports at the top,
04:22you can easily hook this up to an external monitor, connect to your peripherals, and get a pretty
04:28speedy mini PC. I realize I'm in the minority here, but this is actually a pretty good device
04:33for productivity. I can have my Chrome tabs open, Lightroom running, a game in the background,
04:38and it still switches between everything pretty smoothly, which isn't something handhelds have been
04:43particularly good at before. That said, when it comes to using this on the go, here's what could be
04:50better. I know a few of us were hoping for a display upgrade this year. As good as this one
04:56is,
04:56we've been seeing the same exact IPS panel for the past couple of claws, and I really would have
05:01loved an OLED option like we're seeing on newer handhelds, including the ROG Xbox Ally X20.
05:07It's a missing luxury for an ultra premium device. Then, of course, there's the aesthetic and physical
05:13footprint of this thing. I know I just praise the ergonomic overhaul, but I've already heard a lot of you
05:19complaining about the color and size. MSI went with a very distinct void purple colorway with
05:25a somewhat sparkly finish. Fun for some, polarizing for others. I can say the same thing about size.
05:32Compared to the ROG Xbox Ally X, which at first I thought was massive when it came out,
05:37this absolutely trumps it. Yeah, just switching back and forth between these two, you definitely
05:42notice how much lighter the ROG Xbox Ally is. One of the main reasons people buy these is to play
05:48them
05:48on the go, but this might be pushing what portable really means. While the grips distribute the weight
05:53well, I definitely notice the fatigue after an extended gaming session, find myself needing to
05:58rest my elbows sooner than I would with the Ally X. These compromises are not ones I'm thrilled with
06:04in context of the Claw 8 EX's $17.99 price tag. It was barely a year ago when I said
06:10a thousand bucks
06:11was pushing it for the ROG Xbox Ally X, and now look where we are. Obviously, component shortages
06:17play a big role here, and MSI isn't the only one feeling the pinch. I mean, even the aging Steam
06:23Deck
06:23OLED got hit by a $300 price increase, and yes, even the less powerful Legion GO S is almost as
06:31expensive
06:31as this. But that doesn't mean I'm comfortable spending almost two grand on a gaming handheld.
06:38I think picking up the ROG Xbox Ally X, or even last year's MSI Claw 8 AI Plus for around
06:44$1,100,
06:45and pairing it with a really nice external monitor, a few new games, and still having some money left
06:50over is probably the way to go for most people until component shortages are smoothed out.
06:58Let's recap. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus. Yes, it delivers the gaming performance upgrade we've been
07:05looking for. It improves power efficiency and combines it with a great balance of screen size
07:09and ergonomics. As someone who's held onto their original ROG Ally from 2023, this is the spec jump
07:15I have been waiting for. However, unlike my original Ally, this falls a little short on portability
07:21and a lot short on affordability. There is something special about getting this kind of performance on
07:27the go. I just wish hardware prices weren't so crazy right now. But I'll throw it back to you guys.
07:32So what do you think? Let me know in the comments. Don't forget, we've got lots of gaming handheld
07:35content on the channel, and I'm constantly petting these devices head to head. So make sure you stay
07:40subscribed to see when our latest videos drop and follow me to see what other cool tech I'm reviewing.
07:44Until the next one, I'll catch you later.
