MSI Claw AI+ Launch Chaos: Can It Redeem Its Reputation?

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  • MSI announced its new Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ gaming handhelds last year.
  • We received a press release telling us that both devices were supposed to have launched by now, but neither one is available at retailers.
  • Some retailers are showing that the device can be preordered starting sometime in February.
  • The original MSI Claw didn’t offer as good of performance as ROG Ally and Legion Go.
  • OPINION: I really want to give MSI Claw AI+ a chance, but these failures to launch aren’t helping the handheld’s reputation.

In December, I shared news about the release of MSI’s Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+ gaming handhelds, following a press release from MSI. However, upon checking, it turned out that these devices were only listed on their official website and Best Buy, but they weren’t actually available for purchase at the time.

A short time passed, and MSI subsequently announced that the devices were set to debut on January 15th. However, we are now ten days beyond that date, and these handhelds have yet to go on sale anywhere.

It seems that according to Amazon, B&H Photo, and a report by VideoCardz, the MSI Claw AI+ is expected to start preorders on February 4. However, Newegg suggests that preorders will only open on February 12. Despite this, it’s worth noting that neither Best Buy nor the official MSI website has announced any preorder dates yet. Given this, I would place more trust in the preorder dates from these retailers.

This isn’t helping MSI Claw’s reputation

I’m eager to see if MSI can make amends in their gaming handheld sector, but their botched launch of the Claw AI+ isn’t helping their cause at all.

If you’ve been following portable news closely, it’s probably no secret that the initial MSI Claw fell short in terms of performance compared to the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. Unlike these AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme-equipped devices, the Claw relies on an Intel Core Ultra Series 1 AI processor, which struggled to match its peers.

It has come to light that the latest versions of the Claw AI+, equipped with Series 2 Intel Core Ultra processors, are said to deliver superior performance and longer battery life compared to the initial model. This upgrade is believed to be responsible for these improvements, as evidenced in this Laptop Mag review.

Despite the persistent delays in the launch date and lack of communication about these delays, I find myself losing faith in the MSI handhelds. Frankly, as days pass, my curiosity shifts towards the upcoming Legion Go S and Acer Nitro Blaze handhelds. It seems that the market is brimming with options for portable PC gaming devices this year, making the MSI Claw AI+ one of many contenders in need of a streamlined launch strategy.

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2025-01-24 22:39