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The MSI Claw EX is the most important handheld since Steam Deck — I still wouldn’t buy one
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus is presented as a significant advance for Windows gaming handhelds, combining strong performance, unusually long battery life and reliable sleep-and-wake behaviour. Its Intel Panther Lake-based hardware and improved design make it the reviewer’s preferred portable PC, but its exceptionally high price and remaining technical shortcomings mean it is not recommended for most buyers.
Priced at $1,800 and expected to be available only in limited US supply, the Claw EX is far more expensive than comparable handhelds. It has an 8-inch, 1920 x 1200 variable-refresh-rate display, comfortable grips and a 785g weight that feels manageable, though the glossy screen suffers from glare, the fan is loud, and its controls and joystick tuning are only average. Some games also show graphical or performance issues, while familiar Windows frustrations remain.
In short
- Powerful, long-lasting Windows handheld with reliable sleep mode.
- $1,800 pricing makes it difficult to justify.
- Strong hardware is undermined by lingering software and control issues.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that the Claw EX represents a meaningful step forward for Windows handheld gaming: it pairs high performance with battery life and sleep-and-wake reliability that make portable PC play substantially more practical. Its large variable-refresh-rate screen, comfortable design and capable new Intel hardware may justify a premium for enthusiasts who value the best available all-round handheld experience and accept occasional software rough edges.
The case against
Critics argue that $1,800 is disproportionate for a device that remains constrained by Windows usability, limited availability and unresolved game compatibility issues. They contend that glare, fan noise, merely average controls and joystick tuning, plus the risk of graphical or performance problems, undermine the case for paying so far above competing handhelds, particularly when less expensive options already provide strong gaming performance.
Explained simply
Gaming handhelds are portable devices with built-in screens and controls that can run PC games. Valve’s Steam Deck helped make them popular, while other manufacturers, including MSI, have made handhelds that run Windows, the operating system used on many desktop PCs.
Windows handhelds can run a wide range of PC games, but their size and battery limits make performance, comfort and ease of use important. MSI’s Claw line is part of a crowded market that includes devices from companies such as Asus and Lenovo.
These devices can cost much more than a games console, and a high price does not guarantee that every game will run smoothly or that the software will be simple to use. Buyers weighing up a handheld therefore have to consider price, battery life, portability and how well it fits the games they want to play.
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