Alright, so MSI rolled up to Computex with this cool new gaming handheld, the Claw A8 BZ2EM. It’s packing an AMD chip, which is a bit of a twist since MSI used to be all about Intel’s Core Ultra processors. But hey, now they’re cozy with both Intel and AMD. Mixing things up, I guess.
So, about this Claw A8 – it’s got this AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor and AMD Radeon graphics. The display? It’s an 8-inch, 1920 x 1200, 120 Hz deal with VRR and stuff. Sounds fancy. It’s also maxing out at 24GB of LPDDR5x-8000 RAM, which sounds like techy mumbo jumbo that basically means it’s fast. Storage? There’s one NVMe M.2 2280 SSD. And it’s wireless, rocking Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Did I mention the 80 WHr battery? Same juice as the Asus Ally X, supposedly. I don’t really keep track of battery specs, but maybe someone finds that interesting.
A neat thing about the Claw is the controller setup – it’s got that Xbox vibe going on. The right thumbstick is tucked under the buttons. Kinda cool. They’re using Hall Effect joysticks, which are supposed to help with stick drift, whatever that is. Bigger grips, too. Sounds comfier.
Then there’s this memory thing. Okay, MSI’s hinting at 24GB of RAM, but nobody knows where it’ll land. Asus did something similar with the ROG Ally X (does everyone have an Ally X now?). Anyway, the CPU and GPU share memory, which I assume is advantageous?
Ports aplenty at the top – headphone jack, microSD card reader, a couple of USB 4 Type-C ports. That’s more holes and slots than my office desk. They’ve even got a fingerprint reader in this snazzy power button.
Oh, and the MSI Center software got a makeover to fit into the Xbox Game Bar setup. It’s still on Windows 11 though – not sure how that plays out on these handhelds. Pricing and release – or maybe just the price – is under wraps. Classic.
MSI didn’t just show up with the Claw. They’ve got new Crosshair laptops too. They’re mid-range but bumped up to Nvidia RTX 5060 and 5070. The 18-inch models have Intel and AMD versions, kinda like Intel’s in AI models while AMD’s in the A-series. More initials than I care to remember.
There are other bits: they’ve got RTX 5070/5060 GPUs and some other gaming stuff, like 90 WHr batteries and 2560 x 1600 screens at 240 Hz. And guess what? Prices start at $1,699 over at Costco for some of these configs.
Lastly, there’s a revamp for the Cyborg line with Intel and AMD chips. Different sizes, 15 and 17 inches, transparent edges, and still no word on when they’re landing. Pricing’s all over – some starting at $1,149 at Costco, some higher at Best Buy. Too many options already.
And a quick nod to MSI’s productivity laptop collabs, like something with AMG Motorsport and a Prestige 13 AI+ edition with a traditional art twist. Because gaming and fine art go hand in hand… apparently.
