Handheld gaming PCs have been steadily gaining traction ever since the Steam Deck burst onto the scene in 2022. For the past couple of years, the most powerful handhelds have relied on the Z1 Extreme chipset. However, the MSI Claw A8, unveiled at Computex 2025, is set to become the first handheld to harness the power of the Z2 Extreme, which was introduced at CES 2025.
The MSI Claw A8 shares similarities with the recently launched Claw 8 AI, but with a few key changes. MSI has reduced the maximum RAM from 32GB to 24GB of LPDDR5X, running at 8,000MHz. Additionally, the display now supports VRR (variable refresh rate). Although both devices feature 120Hz FullHD panels, the A8 promises reduced screen tearing, enhancing the gaming experience.
The most significant upgrade is the shift 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 12 found in the Z1 Extreme, and an architecture that's half a generation more advanced, the A8 is poised to offer superior performance.
MSI has also introduced an updated version of the MSI Claw 8 AI+ featuring a fresh color scheme and a larger 2TB SSD, yet it retains the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V.
While the MSI Claw A8 is slated for release later this year, MSI has not yet disclosed a specific launch window or price. Given that the MSI Claw 8 AI+ retails at $999, it's safe to assume that this new AMD-powered model won't come cheap.
The AMD Z2 Extreme Race Is On
The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme made a quiet debut at CES in January 2025. Five months later, no handhelds featuring this new silicon have hit the market, sparking a race among manufacturers to be the first to launch.
Technically, the Lenovo Legion Go 2, also unveiled at CES 2025, is powered by the Z2 Extreme, but Lenovo has not provided any timeline for its market entry. Instead, they released the less powerful and more expensive Z2 Go-powered Lenovo Legion Go S.
Rumors suggest that the Asus ROG Ally 2 will also employ the Z2 Extreme, though it has yet to be officially announced. There's also speculation about a collaboration between Asus and Microsoft to create an Xbox-branded version of the Ally 2, likely powered by the Z2 Extreme as well.
However, one handheld definitely not using the Z2 Extreme is the Steam Deck 2. Valve has stated that the next generation of Z-series chips from AMD does not represent a significant enough leap to warrant a new handheld. While this might cast some doubt on the Z2 Extreme's capabilities, new alternatives to the Steam Deck are expected to outperform current models, which is a positive development for gamers.
