MSI's Claw 8 utilizes AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU to deliver powerful gaming performance, but reduces the memory by 8 GB.
MSI Claw 8 with Ryzen Z2 Extreme Showcased at Computex, Featuring 24 GB LPDDR5X RAM
The new MSI Claw 8 gaming handheld looks a bit different from the Claw 8 AI+ from the outside. Surely, it's almost identical in layout, but they gave it a slightly different grip than the latter. There are some more differences in appearance, which we will talk about later, but let's take a look at the specs of the new one.
MSI calls it Claw 8 BZ2EM, which indicates the processor inside the handheld. The Claw 8 runs on the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU, which is AMD's brand-new custom chip for handhelds. It's somewhat of a cut-down version of the Strix Point and brings 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture; four cores are based on Zen 5, and the other four on Zen 5c.
The iGPU remains the same as on the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, i.e., Radeon 890M, which is one of the fastest iGPUs on mobile platforms. Surely, we have Strix Halo, but those chips are quite expensive to be deployed in a handheld at the moment. Considering the Radeon 890M is comparable to some budget GPUs, it's going to be excellent for playing games.
The MSI Claw 8 brings lower VRAM capacity compared to the Claw 8 AI+ (24 GB vs 32 GB), and while the latter brings 8533 MT/s LPDDR5X memory, the newer A8 brings 8000 MT/s speed. The rest of the specs are mostly identical to the Claw 8 AI+, including display, connectivity, and battery. MSI has unveiled most of the specs, where we can see some subtle differences between the two, like weight and wireless connectivity.
The Claw 8 comes with an 8-inch IPS-level display, boasting a 1920x1200p resolution with VRR and touchscreen. The display can reach up to 500 nits in brightness, which is exactly what we see on the Claw 8 AI+. Moreover, the cooling solution is also the same, both featuring the Cooler Boost HyperFlow with dual fans and dual pipes.
Connectivity includes 2x USB4 ports with 40 Gbps of bandwidth, Wi-Fi 6E for wireless internet, and Bluetooth 5.3 for peripheral connectivity. The console is 30g lighter than the MSI Claw 8 AI+, which also received a new version called Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition, featuring a white exterior. Both Claw 8 BZ2EM and Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition will be available in various colors, but the exact date of availability and pricing haven't been disclosed yet.
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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