Preorders Open on Amazon for MSI’s New Lunar Lake Gaming Handhelds: Claw 8 AI+ Priced at $899 and Claw 7 AI+ at $799

Amazon is already teasing what could be an exciting addition to the handheld gaming scene. According to details shared by VideoCardz, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is listed for $899, complete with specs that gamers are sure to drool over. It’s gearing up to become the first portable gaming device to boast Intel’s upcoming Lunar Lake CPUs. Alongside it, MSI also plans to drop a refreshed version of the Claw 7 AI+, which should be shipping even sooner.

The Claw 8 AI+ listing gives us a sneak peek at some core components like the CPU and RAM. The device is expected to flex the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, though it’s also said there will be a variant running the Core Ultra 7 256V. Gamers can choose between two RAM options with LPDDR5X-8553, offering either 16GB or 32GB.

The Ultra 7 258V processor offers a clock speed ranging from 2.2 GHz up to a snappy 4.8 GHz. When it comes to storage, both versions of the handheld won’t leave you wanting, each starting with a beefy 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 SSD and expandable via a micro SDHC card. For graphics, the device packs Arc 14V graphics using eight Xe2 cores. On the outside, you’ll find an 8-inch touchscreen display rocking a resolution of 1920 x 1200, a vibrant 120Hz refresh rate, and 500 nits brightness that’s sure to make your gaming visuals pop.

Power-wise, the handheld steps up with an 80 Wh battery. It’s ready for connectivity with two Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports, perfect for anything from charging to docking with additional gadgets or an external GPU. Running on Windows 11 out of the box, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ seems packed for performance. With December 25 set for release, the top-end model will set you back $899.

In case you’re wondering about the Claw 7 AI+, it’ll be another solid contender in MSI’s lineup. This updated version carries the same Intel Ultra 7-258V CPU and 32GB of RAM but opts for 512GB of storage, a slightly smaller 7-inch 1080p display, and a 53Wh battery. If you’re comparing specs, the Claw 8 is a larger device both in size and resolution, with more storage and a bigger battery. The Claw 7 AI+ will be available before the Claw 8, starting from December 1.

When we put the MSI Claw handhelds side by side, you’ll note subtle but important differences. The Claw 8 AI+ holds the edge with its more substantial screen size and battery capacity, despite being heavier than its sibling models.

The timeline for the Claw 8 AI+ launch shifted a bit earlier, now locked in for a release just ahead of CES 2025, rather than its originally projected early 2025 debut.

Looking beyond MSI, other players in the gaming handheld space are also making moves. For instance, the successors to the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus Ally X are rumored to be packing AMD’s forthcoming Ryzen Z2 or Z2 Extreme, targeting a 2025 release. AMD claims its Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, paired with Radeon 890M graphics, could outpace Intel’s Core Ultra 7 285 CPU in gaming by a hefty 75%. This performance lead is another reason to keep an eye on the horizon and perhaps hold out for a bit before settling your next gaming tech purchase.

As the end of the year draws closer, we can expect a surge of new handheld gaming devices to hit the market. These will likely feature either the Intel Lunar Lake or AMD Z2 series APUs. Until these gadgets are in people’s hands, emerging details on their performance, battery life, and user experience will remain the hot topic of anticipation.