The first test for the MSI Claw A8 has been published – the first handheld with an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip. This will also be installed in an AI version in the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X.
The MSI CLAW A8 is not only a new gaming handheld, but also the first representative with AMD’s brand-new Ryzen Z2 Extreme (Z2E).
The chip is based on the AI 9 HX 370, but has been slimmed down for handhelds: fewer CPU cores, no NPU, with an identical iGPU. This sounds like a cost-saving measure at first, but in practice it should ensure greater efficiency and longer battery life.
Der chinesische YouTuber 会 弹钢琴的疯疯 has already been able to test the new handheld and we have evaluated the video.
Why this is important: The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme will also be installed as “Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme” in the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X . This first test of the MSI Claw A8 gives us the first indication of the gaming performance and efficiency that can be expected from the Xbox handheld.
Design and processing: “Attack mode” enabled
The CLAW A8 Ryzen Edition is not a rebranding, but has been completely redesigned. Instead of round, ergonomic shapes like its predecessor, MSI has now opted for angular geometry and polygonal design elements.
- Is it comfortable to hold? Yes, but with compromises. The grips are well thought out and offer suitable surfaces for all finger zones, but according to the video they don’t come close to the ergonomics of a Steam Deck.
- But the case is 30 grams lighter than the CLAW 8 AI+. The MSI Claw A8 weighs around 760 grams.
Display and speakers: Known good
The 8-inch LCD panel has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, offers 120 hertz, 500 nits of brightness and almost 100 percent sRGB coverage. VRR is also on board. The panel is identical to the CLAW 8 AI+, slightly bluish in color, but solid.
The stereo speakers are still located at the front and offer DTS support and Hi-Res certification. In terms of sound, the YouTuber describes them as clear and loud without being tinny.
Hardware and connections: Excellently equipped
The technical data of the handheld is impressive:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme
- RAM: 24 GB LPDDR5X (8000 MHz)
- SSD: 1 TB PCIe 4.0
- Battery: 80 Wh
- Ports and connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, USB4, 3.5 mm jack, microSD
- eGPU support: basically possible, but driver problems not yet solved
Cooling and fan volume: Two fans, heat pipes and intelligent fan control ensure that the device remains comparatively quiet even at 35 watts TDP
Benchmarks: The performance upgrades are limited
First, the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme at 35 watts TDP was compared with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, the AMD AI 9 HX 370 and the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V in 3DMark TimeSpy and five different games.
A comparison between these processors makes sense because they are all chips that are installed in handheld consoles:
- AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme (Z2E): MSi Claw A8, Lenovo Legion Go 2, Asus ROG Xbox Ally X (AI Z2 Extreme)
- AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Z1E): Lenovo Legion Go, Asus ROG Ally X
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370: Ayaneo 3, Onexplayer G1, GPD Win4 2025
- Intel Core Ultra 7 258V: MSI Claw 8 AI+, Onexplayer X1 Air
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Synthetic benchmark (3DMark TimeSpy at 35W TDP)
In the synthetic benchmark test with 3DMark TimeSpy at 35 watts TDP, the Z2 Extreme achieves around 3600 points for the GPU and around 8800 points for the CPU.
This puts it on a par with the HX 370 in terms of graphics score, although its processor is slightly more powerful. The Z1 Extreme is clearly inferior in both disciplines. Exciting: The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V delivers the better GPU performance, but is weaker in the CPU – here the Z2E is clearly ahead.
Gaming performance
The YouTuber then compared the performance in the following games: Black Myth Wukong, Ghost of Tsushima, Expedition 33, Meta and Dead Cells. Here is a summary of his results:
At 12 watts TDP the new Z2 Extreme shows a noticeable performance increase over the Z1E. The gap is around +10 FPS. Compared to the HX 370, the Z2E is slightly behind, but scores with better energy efficiency as soon as the system power consumption is adjusted. The battery life in this scenario is up to 4 hours.
At 17 watts TDP the picture remains similar: The Z2E is around 6 FPS ahead of the Z1E, but still just behind the HX 370, although it works more efficiently overall. The runtime drops to around 3 hours here.
At 25 watts TDP the Z2E and the HX 370 are almost on a par – both in terms of frame rate and consumption. The battery life here is around 2 hours, which is a decent value for a handheld under full load.
In the range of 7 to 10 watts TDP, which is typically used in indie titles such as Meta or Dead Cells the Z2E is clearly ahead. It beats both the HX 370 and the Z1E, with a battery life of up to 8.5 hours. This is precisely where the greatest efficiency potential of the new chip can be seen.
Against the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (MSI Claw 8 AI+)
A clear trend can be seen here:
At 30 watts TDP the Z2E can narrowly prevail. It achieves around 3 to 4 FPS more than the 258V. Both chips have the same power consumption and the battery life is also similar at around 2 hours.
In the range between 5 and 17 watts the picture tilts in favor of Intel: The 258V is about 2 FPS ahead of the Z2E here and is more economical at the same time. The Z2E requires 1 to 2 watts more at the same FPS level, which is noticeable in longer gaming sessions.
With only 8 watts TDP the 258V plays to its strengths. It is significantly more efficient, achieves an average of around 5 FPS more than the Z2E and also lasts up to 11 hours. For comparison: The MSI Claw A8 with Z2E manages around 8 hours here – also strong, but not quite at the level of the Intel chip.
The 258V from Intel remains the efficiency leader in the low TDP range, especially in resource-saving indie games. The Z2E impresses at medium and high loads with more performance per watt than the HX 370.
Software and control
The MSI software has been improved: You can now set long-term, short-term and immediate performance manually. TDP fine-tuning from 15 to 35 watts in 1-watt increments is possible.
The joysticks and buttons also feel high-quality, although the dead zones on the sticks have not yet been optimized.
Even with the “0” setting, there are quite large areas in which the analog sticks do not register any movement. We are hoping for a firmware update that fixes this problem.
First conclusion: The MSI Claw A8 competes with MSI itself
The MSI Claw 8 AI+, with its large battery, beautiful display and, above all, gaming performance, is one of the best you can currently buy, as long as the price of 1,000 euros doesn’t put you off.
The new MSI Claw A8 is similarly fast, but in terms of efficiency, its predecessor remains at the top. Ultimately, as is so often the case, the price will decide whether the new handheld is worth buying or not. In addition, the MSI Claw A8 will compete with the Xbox handheld from Asus later this year.
If you already own a handheld with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, the upgrade may be worth it for the improved efficiency and larger battery. In terms of gaming performance, however, only a small step forward has been made.
As soon as we get our hands on this handheld, we will test it ourselves and tell you whether we think it’s worth it or not.
