The fastest Intel-based gaming handheld will cost at least $1780 for the standard edition and slightly above $1,800 for the launch pack edition.
MSI Claw EX AI+ Standard Edition Lists for $1780 While the Launch Pack Edition at $1846 at an Australian Retailer
Roughly three weeks ago, we spotted the first-ever retail listing of the upcoming MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld. This is also going to be the first-ever gaming handheld to utilize the Arc G3 Extreme chip, a Panther Lake variant, that brings the 2+8+4 core arrangement, and a strong integrated graphics equivalent to the Intel Arc B390. The handheld will feature 1 TB SSD storage and 32 GB LPDDR5X RAM, as confirmed by the previous and latest listings.
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld was previously listed at an EU retailer for 1599 Euros, which translates to around US$1854. According to the latest listing as well, it appears that the handheld will likely cost much more than expected, even though the prices appear to be a placeholder. As spotted by Videocardz, the Australian retailer Scorptec listed the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and its Launch Pack model, starting at AU$2,749. Both the Standard and Launch Pack editions are identical machines, but the latter will bring additional stuff like a Claw keychain, tempered glass screen protector, claw grip caps, and travel case III.
Apart from these, there are no differences in the editions and the users will get the same void-purple gaming handheld that boasts the 8-inch display, featuring FHD+ resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, and an 80 Whr battery. The handheld was listed at nearly US$1959 including the GST, but excluding the TAX, the price drops to US$1780. The Launch pack edition was listed at AU$2,849, which comes out to be around US$2,030 and US$1,846 without the GST.
This coincides with the previous leaked listing on an EU retailer and confirms that the newer model "could" be twice as expensive as the MSI Claw 8 AI+ handheld. The latter launched at $899, but given the state of the market, due to higher DRAM and SSD prices, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ isn't launching for around a thousand bucks. We expect the price to be over $1,500, but this is just our speculation.
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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