MSI is showing real ambition in the handheld gaming market with the new Claw A8, introduced at Computex 2025. Based on benchmark results from the Chinese reviewer Golden Pig Upgrade, the device posts a significant performance gain over its predecessor, the Claw 8 AI+, especially when running AAA games at a low 17W power draw.
Ryzen Z2 Extreme Proves Itself in the Low-Power Range
Across a suite of 10 games, the Claw A8, powered by the Ryzen Z2 Extreme "Strix Point" chip, led in both average FPS and frame-rate stability. Games such as Far Cry 6, Monster Hunter Wilds, Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077 all came out well ahead of the Claw 8 AI+. That underscores AMD's advantage in the handheld gaming segment.
Still, Intel held the edge in a few titles. Hitman 3 is one example, where the Core Ultra 7 258V came out slightly ahead of the Claw A8. In Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord and F1 24, Intel also showed better 1% lows, which helps keep the experience steadier.
Hardware Comparison and the 30W Power Level
At the higher 30W power level, the benchmark results show little change in the gap between the two devices. Intel won in 5 titles, but AMD still held the lead in most of the lineup.
On the hardware side, the Ryzen Z2 Extreme uses 3 high-performance Zen 5 cores + 5 power-efficient Zen 5c cores, paired with a Radeon 890M 16 CU RDNA 3.5 GPU. The Core Ultra 7 258V, meanwhile, integrates 4 Lion Cove cores + 5 Skymont cores and an Arc Xe2 8-core GPU.
That design difference leaves the Claw A8 at a disadvantage in a handheld environment where battery life is limited.
Pricing and Potential in the Handheld Gaming Market
At 900 - 1.000 USD, both the Claw A8 and the Claw 8 AI+ are reasonably priced for their performance. However, the Claw A8 still rates higher thanks to its ability to sustain high FPS in the 15 - 20W range, along with a 35W TDP ceiling when connected to AC power, which shows exceptional flexibility.
Amid fierce competition from the ASUS ROG Ally, the Steam Deck and the Lenovo Legion Go, MSI's Claw A8 is not only keeping pace but may also set a new standard for handheld gaming in 2025.
Overall, the MSI Claw A8 with the Ryzen Z2 Extreme delivers strong performance while keeping power consumption in check for a handheld device. Although the Intel Core Ultra 7 still wins in some games, AMD maintains its clear lead. This is one of the most anticipated handheld gaming devices of the year.
