MSI’s Claw 8 EX AI+ challenges Asus’s dominance with superior performance but faces criticism over price and software stability, signalling a potential shift in the competitive landscape of Windows 11 gaming handhelds.
After two weeks with MSI’s Claw 8 EX AI+, it is clear that Asus no longer has the Windows 11 handheld market to itself. XDA says the new MSI machine is the first portable it has used in some time that can plausibly challenge the ROG Xbox Ally X as an all-round gaming handheld, largely because Intel’s latest Arc G3 Extreme silicon appears to deliver a sizeable performance jump in modern titles. The same account also makes clear that this is not a straightforward victory for MSI: the Claw is expensive, awkwardly styled and still held back by software that feels unfinished.
Performance is the headline feature. XDA reports that MSI’s handheld, which uses Intel’s Panther Lake platform and a 12-core Xe3-based design, can outperform AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme in the ROG Xbox Ally X by a wide margin in selected games. In testing with Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced, the Claw reportedly reached roughly 50-65fps with AI-assisted power management enabled, while the Asus device sat closer to 30-35fps on battery and around 40fps when plugged in. Similar gains were noted in Cyberpunk 2077 and Forza Horizon 6. Windows Central and other recent comparisons also describe the Claw 8 AI+ family as the faster handheld overall, though they pair that judgement with the warning that price and software maturity remain decisive factors for buyers.
The hardware itself is also a mixed improvement. XDA says the Claw 8 EX AI+ is comfortable to hold, with grippy side arms, responsive buttons and sturdier triggers than expected, even if the prominent lower display section gives the device an unusual appearance. The 8-inch screen is larger than the 7-inch panel in the ROG Xbox Ally X, and that extra space is immediately noticeable in use. Other reviews have reached similar conclusions, praising MSI’s larger display and improved ergonomics while noting that the device is heavier and less refined than Asus’ rival.
The drawbacks, however, are difficult to ignore. XDA puts the Claw 8 EX AI+’s price at $1,800, compared with $1,000 for the ROG Xbox Ally X, a gap that is hard to justify on performance alone. It also says MSI’s Center M software is unstable, with overlay bugs, game crashes and sleep-wake failures undermining the experience. That chimes with broader reviews, which generally agree that the machine has strong hardware but an immature software layer. For now, MSI has built a credible rival to Asus’ handheld, but not yet a better one overall.
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