MSI has unveiled a new Claw 8 handheld gaming PC ahead of the Computex 2026 show, and this model swaps out its predecessors’ Intel Lunar Lake mobile chip for a specialized handheld processor. MSI describes the Claw 8 EX AI Plus as being the “world’s first” handheld to contain the recently announced Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor, which features an array of Xe3 GPU cores to run games.
And it’s using Intel’s custom Arc G3 Extreme handheld gaming chip.
And it’s using Intel’s custom Arc G3 Extreme handheld gaming chip.
We should note that the Acer Predator Atlas 8 and OneXPlayer 3 gaming handhelds are also expected to launch with these chips, but MSI may be the first out of the gate. The Claw 8 EX AI Plus also has a single NVME M.2 SSD slot for gaming and data storage, and supports up to 32GB of dual-channel LPDDR5x memory, though MSI hasn’t specified whatRAM configurations will be available. The launch date and price also haven’t been announced yet, but the previous MSI Claw 8 AI Plus was $1,000 when it launched last year.
What we do know is that the new MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus features an eight-inch 1920 x 1200 touchscreen that runs at up to 120Hz. It also has a new chassis design with updated grips that aim to be more comfortable during long gaming sessions, alongside Hall-Effect triggers and sticks that offer more precise control. MSI says a new high-end linear motor has been introduced for faster and improved haptic feedback and “improved power efficiency” — though it didn’t mention how long you can expect the battery to last.
Only one color option seems to be available, which MSI describes as “Void Purple.” We’ll have to wait and see how it fares for actual gaming performance, but it can’t be worse than MSI’s disastrous first attempt at delivering a powerful gaming handheld.
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