MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Review

The Claw 8 EX AI+ is the first gaming handheld built on Intel's Panther Lake, using the handheld focused Arc G3 Extreme with a 12 core Xe3 graphics part, 32GB of LPDDR5X and 1TB of storage behind an 8 inch 1920 by 1200 display that runs 48 to 120Hz. It went on sale on June 23, 2026, and the reviewers who tested it reckon it is the quickest handheld yet built, the new bar the rest of the field will be measured against.

On the hardware alone it is impressive. The raw speed is a step beyond the 2025 flagships, the build is clean with Hall effect sticks and triggers that resist drift, and the full Windows library is at your fingertips. If all you want is the fastest thing you can hold in 2026, this is unambiguously it.

Then you see the price. At 1799 direct from MSI, or around 1699 at some retailers, it costs nearly twice a strong 2025 handheld, driven up by a brutal spike in memory prices that MSI passed straight along to buyers. The performance crown is genuine, but it comes nowhere near justifying the outlay for anyone short of the wealthiest enthusiast. Most people should buy a 900 dollar handheld, accept slightly fewer frames, and keep the difference in their pocket.