Since the launch of the Steam Deck in 2022, handheld gaming PCs have been gaining more attention. For the past two years, the top-tier handhelds have all been equipped with the Z1 Extreme chipset. However, the MSI Claw A8, unveiled at Computex 2025, is set to be the first to harness the power of the newly announced Z2 Extreme from CES 2025.
The MSI Claw A8 shares similarities with the recently released Claw 8 AI, but there are notable differences in its specifications. MSI has reduced the maximum RAM from 32GB to 24GB of LPDDR5X, running at a brisk 8,000MHz. Additionally, the display now features VRR (variable refresh rate) support. While both devices sport 120Hz FullHD panels, the A8's VRR technology means less screen tearing, enhancing the gaming experience.
The most significant upgrade is the transition from the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V to the AMD Z2 Extreme. This gaming APU boasts 8 Zen 5 CPU cores and 16 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores. With more Compute Units than the Z1 Extreme's 12, and a half-generation upgrade in architecture, the Z2 Extreme promises a substantial performance boost.
Alongside the Claw A8, MSI also introduced an updated MSI Claw 8 AI+ model with a new color scheme and a larger 2TB SSD. This version, however, continues to be powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V.
The MSI Claw A8 is slated for release later this year, though specifics on launch dates and pricing remain undisclosed. Given the MSI Claw 8 AI+'s price point of $999, the AMD-powered A8 is likely to be on the pricier side.
The AMD Z2 Extreme Race Is On
The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme was quietly announced at CES in January 2025. Five months on, no handheld with this new silicon has hit the market, leaving us eager to see which manufacturer will be the first to launch.
While the Lenovo Legion Go 2, introduced at CES 2025, is technically equipped with the Z2 Extreme, Lenovo has not provided any release information. Instead, they released the Z2 Go-powered Lenovo Legion Go S, which is less powerful and more expensive than its predecessor.
Rumors suggest that the Asus ROG Ally 2 will also utilize the Z2 Extreme, although it has not been officially announced yet. There's also talk of a collaboration between Asus and Microsoft to create an Xbox-branded version of the Ally 2, which would presumably also feature the Z2 Extreme.
One handheld that won't be using the Z2 Extreme is the Steam Deck 2. Valve has stated that the new Z-series chips from AMD do not offer a significant enough leap in performance to warrant a new device. While this might raise questions about the Z2 Extreme's capabilities, the new handhelds with this chip will still provide a performance edge over current models, which is a positive development for gamers.
