"MSI Claw A8: First Next-Gen Handheld Gaming PC Unveiled"

Since the launch of the Steam Deck in 2022, handheld gaming PCs have been gaining traction. However, for the past two years, the top-tier handhelds have relied on the Z1 Extreme chipset. The MSI Claw A8, unveiled at Computex 2025, is set to break this trend by being the first handheld to feature the newly announced AMD Z2 Extreme chipset from CES 2025.

The MSI Claw A8 bears similarities to the recently released Claw 8 AI, but with notable changes in its specifications. MSI has reduced the maximum RAM from 32GB to 24GB of LPDDR5X, operating at a speed of 8,000MHz. Additionally, the display now supports VRR (variable refresh rate), which means that while both the Claw A8 and Claw 8 AI feature 120Hz FullHD panels, the A8 will reduce instances of screen tearing.

The most significant upgrade in the MSI Claw A8 is the switch from the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V to the AMD Z2 Extreme. This gaming APU boasts 8 Zen 5 CPU cores and 16 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores. The GPU includes more Compute Units than the 12 found in the Z1 Extreme and benefits from a half-generation advancement in architecture.

Alongside the Claw A8, MSI has introduced an updated version of the MSI Claw 8 AI+ with a fresh color scheme and an upgraded 2TB SSD. Despite these enhancements, this model continues to be powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V.

While the MSI Claw A8 is expected to launch later this year, specific release details and pricing remain undisclosed. Given the $999 price tag of the MSI Claw 8 AI+, it's likely that the AMD-powered Claw A8 will also command a premium price.

The AMD Z2 Extreme Race Is On

The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme was quietly unveiled at CES in January 2025. Despite the passage of nearly five months, no handheld featuring this new silicon has yet reached the market, leaving the race open to see which manufacturer will be the first to release a device with the Z2 Extreme.

Although the Lenovo Legion Go 2, also showcased at CES 2025, is equipped with the Z2 Extreme, Lenovo has not provided any indication of when it might become available. Instead, they released the Z2 Go-powered Lenovo Legion Go S, which is less powerful yet more expensive than the original Legion Go.

Rumors suggest that the Asus ROG Ally 2 will likely adopt the Z2 Extreme, although no official announcement has been made. There's also speculation about a collaboration between Asus and Microsoft to create an Xbox-branded version of the Ally 2, which would also use the Z2 Extreme.

However, one device that won't be using the Z2 Extreme is the Steam Deck 2. Valve has stated that the new Z-series chips from AMD do not offer a significant enough leap in performance to warrant a new handheld. While this casts some doubt on the Z2 Extreme's capabilities, the introduction of new Steam Deck alternatives powered by this chip will still provide a performance boost over current market offerings, which is a positive development.