MSI’s New Lunar Lake Gaming Handhelds Now Available for Preorder on Amazon: Claw 8 AI+ at $899 and Claw 7 AI+ at $799

Amazon recently shared some exciting news about MSI’s upcoming gaming handheld, the Claw 8 AI+, which has popped up on their listings courtesy of VideoCardz. With a price tag set at $899, this device will make a mark as the first gaming handheld to pack Intel’s new Lunar Lake CPUs. MSI isn’t stopping there—they’re also gearing up to launch a refreshed version of the Claw 7 AI+, promising an earlier release date.

The Claw 8 AI+ specs, as confirmed by the listing, include the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor. There’s also a buzz about an alternative model featuring the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V chip. Gamers will appreciate the option to choose between 16GB and 32GB LPDDR5X-8553 memory, ensuring smooth gameplay experiences.

Talking performance, the Ultra 7 285V processor boasts clock speeds ranging from 2.2 GHz to a nifty 4.8 GHz. You’ll find 1TB of PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 SSD onboard for storage, with room to expand thanks to a micro SDHC card slot. The device makes use of Arc 14V graphics, equipped with eight Xe2 cores, delivering visually pleasing experiences. Plus, the 8-inch touchscreen isn’t just bigger—it’s rocking a 120Hz refresh rate, 500 nits brightness, and a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels.

Additionally, the Claw 8 AI+ bumps up its battery to a solid 80 Wh. It features two Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports, perfect for connecting external GPUs or just charging up. Running on Windows 11 out of the box, this gaming powerhouse is set to launch on December 25, with top-tier specs pricing right at $899.

Not forgetting the Claw 7 AI+, this version keeps the Intel Ultra 7-258V CPU and 32GB of RAM, though it scales back to 512GB storage. This variant sticks with a 7-inch 1080p display and a 53Wh battery. With an earlier shipping date of December 1, you’ll find it slightly more compact but still powerful. A step up of $100 from the Claw 7 gets you that additional screen size, more storage, and a beefier battery.

Let’s lay out the specifics for those comparing these MSI gaming devices:

• MSI Claw 8 AI+: Comes with Intel Ultra Core 7 258V/256v CPUs, offers 16GB/32GB RAM, provides 1TB storage, Arc 140v Graphics, 8-inch display at 1920 x 1200, 80 Wh battery.
• MSI Claw 7 AI+: Features Intel Ultra Core 7 258V CPU, offers 32GB RAM, provides 512GB storage, Arc 140v Graphics, 7-inch display at 1920 x 1080, 53 Wh battery.
• MSI Claw 7: Bundled with Intel Core Ultra 7 155H/135H CPUs, offers 16GB RAM, gives 512GB storage, Arc Graphics, 7-inch display at 1920 x 1080, 53 Wh battery.

Initially, whispers hinted at a 2025 release for the MSI Claw 8 AI+, but it’s now on deck to hit the shelves just before CES 2025 kicks off.

Beyond MSI, gaming fan expectations are high for devices from Lenovo and Asus, which might debut with AMD’s Ryzen Z2 series. AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which sports Radeon 890M graphics, is claimed to be blazing 75% faster than its Intel Core Ultra 7 285 counterpart—potentially making it worth the wait until 2025 for AMD’s offerings.

As MSI, Lenovo, and Asus line up their best, we’re about to witness a tech showdown. Both Intel’s Lunar Lake and AMD’s Z2 APUs promise leaps in performance and battery life. Until the full scope of their capabilities unfolds, we’ll eagerly await reviews shedding light on which brand comes out on top in this gaming hardware epic.