MSI Claw 8 AI+ – The Intel Handheld That Shattered My Expectations

Hey you, welcome to MiddlingPicks.

This is not a review of MSI Claw 8 AI+. I had to speak up now while the iron is hot and be the champion of this device, and granted, bow to the magic they've conjured up at Intel. This is a hands-on overview of this wonderful behemoth. Here I share with you my shocking discoveries that may excite and keep you up at night (in a positive way). Let's go.

From Steam Deck to MSI Claw – A Journey Through Handhelds

I’ve been around the block when it comes to handheld gaming. From the Steam Deck, to the GPD Win 4 6800U, to the GPD Win Mini 7840U—I’ve spent hours optimizing, tweaking, undervolting (when possible), cruising through BIOS settings and listening to what The Phawx had to say on youtube. AMD’s 4nm handheld chips have been my home base, offering great power at reasonable efficiency.

And then, MSI decided to shake things up.

The MSI Claw 8 AI+ dropped with Intel’s new 3nm Core Ultra platform and Arc graphics, making it the first of its kind in the handheld space. I went into this switch with cautious optimism, but what I’ve discovered absolutely shocked me—in ways I never expected.

Silent, Like It’s Hiding Something

First thing’s first: noise levels.

I’m used to handhelds sounding like mini jet engines. The ROG Ally have dual-fan setup, which is great, but they still let you know they’re working. The GPD Win 4 and Win Mini? Let’s just say whisper mode is a fantasy.

But the MSI Claw 8 AI+?

It’s eerily silent.

Playing Spider-Man 2, I had to double-check if the fans were even on. The cooling system here is something else—expertly tuned, no aggressive fan ramping, no high-pitched whines, just a smooth, almost silent operation. Even at 30W TDP, it remains cool and quiet, making it the most pleasant gaming experience I’ve had on a handheld.

The Intel Efficiency Surprise

I expected Intel’s platform to be power-hungry—after all, AMD has dominated the efficiency game for a reason. But Intel’s new architecture proved me wrong.

At the same CPU TDP settings, the Claw 8 consistently draws lower total system power than AMD’s Ryzen handhelds. Less power draw + same performance = longer battery life.

Pair that with an 80Wh battery, makes 30W feels like the sweet spot for balancing performance, efficiency, and thermal control.

AI Optimization – A Blessing or a Curse?

MSI is pushing AI-driven power management, but… let’s just say, I’m not a fan.

Spider-Man 2 is the perfect example of why.

With AI optimization on, the game stutters unpredictably, as the system constantly adjusts power dynamically. This might sound great in theory—only using power when needed—but in real-time, fast-moving, streaming-heavy games, it’s a mess.

Set TDP manually, and suddenly, everything stabilizes. No more erratic power shifts, no more dropped frames—just pure consistency. Frame times are smooth like they do it on Bazzite.

Ray Tracing on a Handheld… Are You Kidding?

Here’s where my mind truly got blown.

I’ve never taken ray tracing on a handheld seriously—it’s always been a luxury feature reserved for high-end gaming PCs. But then I turned it on in Spider-Man 2.

High ray tracing preset.

Expected result? Unplayable slideshow.

Actual result?

With the Claw 8 at 30W TDP, setting to medium graphics preset, 1200p, XESS balanced, no frame gen, High ray tracing preset: the game is playable at between 35 and 45 FPS swinging between buildings. (FPS still tanks when spiderman goes into Central Park, but this is true with or without raytracing).

Mind Blown.

I simply don’t understand how this was made possible. I’ve tested enough portable hardware to know that ray tracing is supposed to be a system-killer—but here, it just works. Smooth reflections, enhanced lighting, playable on a handheld.

This aligns with ETA Prime's prior observation in his youtube video, but for me to experience it firsthand? Game changer.

Final Thoughts – And What’s Next?

This isn’t a review—just my raw, unfiltered impressions so far. The MSI Claw 8 AI+ has completely shattered my expectations in multiple ways:

• It’s the quietest handheld I’ve ever used.

• Intel’s platform is shockingly efficient.

• AI optimization is frustrating—manual TDP settings are better.

• It runs super cool and stable at 30W, for hours on end.

• Ray tracing actually works—no, seriously.

For now?

I can confidently say this handheld is a no-regret buy. It's justifiably amazing.

What’s been your experience with the MSI Claw 8 AI+?