After spending all week gawking at the new MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, I think Im finally ready to bid adieu to my beloved Steam Deck

Date:
Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:25:20 +0000

Description:
Im finally willing to admit the Steam Deck has expended its usefulness now
Ive tried the MSI 8 Claw EX AI+

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter MSI s Claw 8 EX AI+ was far
from the only handheld gaming PC on display at Computex 2026, but it was certainly my pick for the one to watch.

In its gorgeous, vibrant Void Purple colorway, its a treat for the eyes, and marked improvements to ergonomics and performance make for an exciting proposition when it releases later this year in June. Over the week, I had
the opportunity to go hands-on with the new handheld across a variety of games, including Hogwarts Legacy , F1 25 , and Lego Batman: Legacy of the
Dark Knight , and it suffices to say Im impressed. With Intel s new Arc G3 chip in tow, the future looks bright for the Claw 8 EX AI+, provided MSI can stick the landing on pricing but thats a big if. Latest Videos From Watch
full video here: The next generation is here Intels mobile chipset is the backbone of several new handhelds (including the Acer Predator Atlas 8 ) announced at Computex, offering up to 14 CPU cores, and an Arc B390
integrated GPU with 12Xe cores specs that really pay off in performance.

When reviewing the recently released Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, my Steam Deck was practically wheezing during densely populated or
fast-moving sequences, even on the lowest settings. You may laugh, but as I noted in my review, its a surprisingly visually impressive game, and it was only when trying it out on the MSI 8 Claw EX AI+ that I was really able to appreciate what a difference the more powerful hardware makes. Movement was wonderfully fluid, and judging by my brief time with the handhelds and comments from Intel, you can expect improvements to battery life, too. You
may like MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ with Intel Arc G3 Extreme inside revealed at Computex 2026 2026 is the year of handheld gaming, and Computex reveals are proof alone MSI Stealth 16 AI+ review: a remarkably portable gaming laptop with oodles of performance and battery life

The performance boost largely comes from the frame rate-boosting XeSS 3 Multi-Frame generation tech that the Intel Arc iGPU can tap into, resulting
in liquid-smooth gameplay even under pressure. We didnt get to run our usual collection of benchmarks on the MSI 8 Claw EX AI+ h, but Im eager to see how the numbers stack up once we have a model in our hands for longer testing.

Ive been hanging on to my original Steam Deck for dear life, and had hoped it would be able to see me through for at least another year or two (read:
cope), but having tried the MSI 8 Claw EX AI+ theres no doubt Ill be missing out if I dont hop on this next wave of devices. Get daily insight,
inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. (Image credit: Future) Like a glove Speaking of hands, the Claw 8 EX AI+ sees noteworthy improvements in
the ergonomics department. Following suit from the the Asus ROG Ally Xbox X s controller-esque textured grips, this drastic design overhaul also brings drift-resistant Hall-effect sticks and triggers and a more clicky, satisfying D-Pad.

I have quite small hands, and I find they get fatigued really quickly while playing on my Steam Deck (and even my Nintendo Switch 2 ) but the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ was noticeably more comfortable to hold. I didnt get the chance to
play it in bed as I do at home that would have been a pretty weird thing to do in a demo space but I hope even with my elbows propped up, itll still be pretty easy on the wrists.

MSI has clearly paid attention to user feedback, as haptics now feel more immersive and offer greater depth, with what MSI describes as a high-end linear motor simulating the on-screen action, versus the weaker rumble in previous models. What to read next The 17 best Steam Deck games 2025 The Lenovo Legion Go S drops to its lowest-ever price, offering another option to anyone sick of Steam Deck stock issues Due to rising memory and storage costs the Steam Deck now costs 40% more

The Void Purple colorway may not be for everyone nor will the RGB lighting-encircled joysticks, but I personally thought it toed the line between svelte tech and gamer aesthetic quite well.

Its a slight shame that the touchscreen display didnt see any real upgrades but still, its 120Hz 8-inch VRR specs are nothing to sniff at, and its plenty bright and beautiful for gaming on the go. (Image credit: MSI) Enough to move the needle? Considering the previous model, the MSI Claw 8 AI+, only hit the market in 2025, I was a little skeptical when I heard a new variant would be arriving so soon plus with still-unconfirmed pricing rumored to be in the realms of $1,500, it was looking like a hard sell right up until the point I had it in my hands.

Price hikes are one thing; even the Steam Deck OLED cant claim affordability following an almost 50% price hike a few weeks ago (thanks, RAMmageddeon), while Lenovos Legion Go 2 Ryzen Z3 Extreme 2TB also got a similar
astronomical price hike back in April . Who knows how much this will launch at, let alone whether that pricing will be sustainable in the near future.

Well have to wait and see when June arrives what the future looks like for PC gaming handheld pricing and in my case, perhaps Steam Deck resale value, because I could well be front in line to score MSIs powerful and performant
PC handheld. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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