In the next few hours, MSI is set to present a new handheld console at Computex, again “powered” by Intel. The MSI Claw 8 AI should use the Intel Lunar Lake processors that Intel is about to unveil. Of course, the presence of the NPU will ensure that this future console has all the future refinements that Microsoft will soon be serving up… But that’s not really the point. With Lunar Lake, this new Claw could benefit from greatly increased autonomy and, above all, the new Intel Battlemage graphics architecture. The latter promises a 50% performance improvement over its current best iGPU, found in the Meteor Lake units equipping the current version of the MSI handheld console.
There’s still some doubt as to the screen size, since the leaked communication seems to be heading for an 8″ slab, whereas the datasheet mentions 7″. The other piece of information is the adoption of a design (for a special series?) based on Fallout.
An important piece of information concerns the battery. If you’ve been following the latest news from Asus, the update of its ROG Ally X console has enabled the brand to double its battery capacity from 40 to 80 Wh. On the new Claw, capacity is also set to increase, although no figures are available at this time.
With the adoption of Intel’s new Lunar Lake processor, this future console will also benefit from a number of improvements in terms of connectivity. The console should therefore support Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 7. But let’s be objective: only three criteria will determine MSI’s future in its battle with Asus.
First and foremost, the performance of Lunar Lake and its graphics will come under particular scrutiny. In the next few hours, with Intel’s CEO set to speak, we should have some indications. Then there’s the actual availability of the console. And finally, the price will be the key element, given that MSI didn’t really succeed with its previous launch, despite a product full of potential.