MSI Claw 8 AI Review: Big Specs, Bigger Personality, Mixed Results

Here’s where things start to get spicy.

1. The AI Optimization Hype

You thought smart fridges were cool? Meet AI that adjusts in-game performance, balancing frame rates and system heat like some omnipotent gaming deity. The catch? Half the time, it feels like the AI is trying to second-guess your moves. It doesn’t always get it right, leaving you wondering if the optimization is optimized.

2. Gaming Performance

Can it run Elden Ring? Yes. Can it run Elden Ring without dropping frames faster than your buddy rage-quits an online match? Sometimes. The Ryzen 7 chip does a commendable job keeping things smooth for AAA titles, but under heavy load, the fan screams like it’s auditioning for its role in a wind tunnel. Bring headphones.

3. Battery Life

Ah, yes, the Achilles’ heel of every handheld gaming device. MSI promises “up to 6 hours of typical use,” but let’s be real. No gamer is spending six hours playing Tetris. Boot up something graphically demanding, and suddenly, you’re watching that battery percentage drop like stocks on Black Monday.

The 8-Inch Screen Debate

We need to talk about the screen. The 8-inch 1080p panel with 120Hz refresh rate is nice and all, but it’s not groundbreaking. Colors are vibrant, and they hold up well under most lighting conditions. But if you were expecting OLED-level greatness, keep dreaming. It’s just… okay. A solid B+ for effort, but we’ve seen sharper displays on less expensive handhelds.

A Community of Half-Convincing Fans

MSI has this whole “build a community around it” vibe that feels half-baked. You’ve got forums full of users singing its praises (“This thing is life-changing!”), but also just as many shaking their heads at software glitches and unfulfilled promises (“Is the AI optimization broken, or is it me?”).

Pro tip for MSI fans out there: Invest in a cooling stand. Apparently, “desktop mode” is the only way to keep this machine from turning into a literal hand warmer.

Final Verdict

The MSI Claw 8 AI is like that kid in school who’s trying way too hard to be cool. It’s not that they don’t have the potential to shine; it’s just that they’re tripping over their flashy new shoes while trying to dunk on their friends. Yes, the hardware is powerful, and the AI features are intriguing (when they work), but at this price point, we expected better battery life and a more refined experience for comfort and build quality.

If you’re a hardcore handheld gamer who needs to try the latest thing, go ahead and splurge. But for everyone else? Maybe wait for MSI Claw 2.0 or grab yourself a Steam Deck. Either way, you’re saving yourself some squinty-eyed menu tweaking when the AI doesn’t know what it’s doing.