MSI’s second-generation gaming handheld slips to 2025

While MSI wasn’t ready to dish out all the details when it came to its second-generation gaming handheld back at Computex, the company is now ready to do exactly that.

Slated to be shown off at this year’s IFA conference in Berlin, the gaming handheld is powered by Intel’s latest lot of Core Ultra processors and features a larger 8-inch screen than the original MSI Claw. 

While we’ll have to reserve our full judgment until we have the opportunity to mess with the device first-hand, the early reports when it comes to the performance offered by Intel’s latest silicon suggests that a promising portable may be on the horizon.

According to Intel, the latest Intel Core Ultra processors offered an average improvement in frames per second of 16% relative to AMD-powered counterparts and 68% compared to ARM-based systems. It’s also likely to have an edge when it comes to compatibility, especially over the likes of the Snapdragon-powered Surface Laptop Copilot Plus.

Speaking at the launch of the new chipsets earlier this week,  Intel’s senior vice president and general manager for the company’s client business group Jim Johnston was unafraid to take shots at the competition.

More than just a few additional pixels and better frame-rates, the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus also features a number of design tweaks inspired by user feedback to its predecessor. 

According to MSI, the list here includes “adding an additional Thunderbolt 4-supported USB-C port, enhancing the tactile feel of the LB/RB buttons, increasing battery capacity, and replacing the charger with a lighter wall-mounted charger.”

Given the less-than-stellar reception to the original MSI Claw, that’s probably good news. However, the bad news is that the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus is now expected to launch in early 2025 rather than the end of 2024. At least, that’s the story that an MSI spokesperson has provided to ComputerBase.

Australian pricing and availability for the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus is to be determined. When it does arrive though, it’ll come with a one-month free trial of Xbox Game Pass.