Arc G3-powered MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld goes up for pre-order

MSI’s new Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld gaming system is now available to pre‑order in the UK, following its debut at Computex earlier this month. The updated model is powered by Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme processor, offering improved performance and efficiency compared to the original Claw.

The Claw 8 EX AI+ is built around an 8‑inch Full HD+ touchscreen with up to 120Hz refresh rate. MSI has redesigned the chassis with larger ergonomic grips, Hall Effect triggers and thumbsticks, refined bumpers and a more responsive D‑pad to improve comfort and precision during longer sessions. The company has also added a new linear haptic motor for faster, more detailed feedback.

In the table below, you can see the full specs for the handheld:

Model Name	Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM
Processor	Intel® Arc™ G3 Extreme processor
Operating System	Windows 11 Home
Memory	LPDDR5x onboard, up to 32GB, dual channel
Display	8″ FHD+ (1920 x 1200), Touchscreen, 48–120Hz VRR, 100% sRGB (Typical), 500nits (Typical), IPS‑Level panel
Graphics	Intel® Arc™ GPU B390
Storage Slot	1 x NVMe M.2 2280 SSD by PCIe Gen 4 x4
Sensor	6‑Axis IMU, Vibration Motor
Communication	Intel® Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth v6
Audio	2 × 2W Speakers 1 × Audio combo jack DTS Audio Processing Hi‑Res Audio ready
I/O Port	2 x Thunderbolt™ 4 (DisplayPort™ / Power Delivery 3.0) 1 x microSD Card Reader 1 x Audio Combo Jack
Security	Fingerprint sensor on the power button
Battery	4‑Cell, Li‑Polymer, 80Whr
Dimension	296–321 x 130 x 25–48 mm
Weight	785 g
Color	Void Purple

Intel’s latest Arc architecture powers the handheld, with support for XeSS 3 upscaling and Multi‑Frame Generation to boost frame rates in supported games. Efficiency gains from the new chip should also deliver decent battery life improvements compared to previous models.

The handheld ships in a new Void Purple finish and includes MSI’s updated software suite, featuring Xbox Mode, redesigned quick settings and streamlined performance controls.

Alongside the standalone device, MSI is offering a Claw 8 EX AI+ Launch Pack Bundle in the UK, which includes a carry case, keychain, grip caps and a tempered glass screen protector. Pre‑orders are now live at Scan, with the handheld priced at £1,399.99 or £1,449.98 for the bundle. Additional UK retail availability will be confirmed at a later date.

KitGuru Says: It will be interesting to see how well these perform once stock lands. So far, Ryzen Z1 and Z2-based handhelds have been the most popular, but Intel's new Arc G3 processors have an opportunity to shake things up. 

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