The new MSI Claw 8 AI+ handheld gaming PC now has an official release date and it’s just weeks away. That follows initial uncertainty following its official announcement, with retailers like Amazon and the manufacturer itself all providing conflicting launch dates. However, it now looks like this new 8-inch handheld and its smaller, 7-inch companion will both launch on the same date.
This new MSI handheld looks set to compete with the best handheld gaming PCs once it ships, with initial Claw 8 AI+ benchmarks from the company suggesting that it provides a 20% performance uplift compared to the Asus ROG Ally X. If that’s true, this Intel powered handheld will more than handle 1080p gaming performance on its 1200p, 120Hz display.
Thankfully, we won’t have too long to wait until we see for ourselves. In a listing on MSI’s own store, the company confirms that the release and shipping date for the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is set for January 15, 2025 in the United States. MSI’s store also provides a listing for the MSI Claw 7 AI+, the 7-inch alternative to the 8-inch Claw 8 AI+, which also shares the same January 15 launch date.
That date is both earlier and later than other rumored launch dates, which ranged from early December to early February across several earlier Claw launch leaks for both handhelds. Even official information from MSI conflicted with these dates, with Videocardz sharing leaked slides that showed a December 25 shipping date.
While MSI hasn’t made an official statement, the January 15 date on its store is the clearest sign yet that these new handhelds are launching in just a few weeks time. However, those dates only reflect a launch date for the US, with a wider launch date unclear at this time.
It’s been three months since our initial MSI Claw 8 AI+ hands on, but since then, we’ve had some clear signs that the Intel Lunar Lake handheld will be a powerhouse, using a Core Ultra 7 285V APU featuring integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics, along with 32GB of RAM.
On paper, this new Windows handheld looks set to be a winner, but as we saw with the first MSI Claw, the devil will be in the detail. Initial MSI Claw reviews weren’t positive, but it looks like MSI has learned its lesson, with early noise about the Claw 8 AI+ seeming much more positive this time around, pitching it strongly to compete against more established handhelds, such as the Steam Deck OLED, at the top end of the market.
If you want to get your hands on this intriguing Windows-powered handheld, you can check out our MSI Claw 8 AI+ guide, which includes all the latest information on specs and performance.