The new MSI Claw portables are 'inspired by wind-sculpted rocks' and feature Intel Lunar Lake. They might be worth a closer look.

The new Claw 7 AI or Claw 8 AI could be worth a glance if you like the idea of MSI Claw but aren't impressed with its software and power.

The 7- and 8" handheld gaming PCs were officially announced today. They have upgraded batteries, and because they are Windows devices, they come with Copilot+. The 'AI' in the name is explained by this, but it's still not clear how Copilot can help the average handheld gaming user. The larger model is "inspired" by wind-sculpted rocks in the desert and comes with a khaki color scheme.

Videocardz reports that the 1 TB Ultra 7 with 32 GB RAM in khaki is currently selling for $899. The black 512GB Ultra 7 with 32GB RAM is currently selling for $799.

The cheaper model is now priced at the same as the Asus ROG Ally X which we consider to be the best handheld gaming computer. The original Amazon listing of the new Claw models remains live, despite being "temporarily unavailable".

In terms of stats, this is the first major hand-held to ship with Intel Lunar Lake. The results are pretty impressive. In our Ultra 7 testing, the same CPU that is found in the handhelds, we found that it performed extremely well. It even managed mid-30 fps when playing Cyberpunk on medium settings. This is a pretty impressive performance. It also has a good battery life considering its size.

Although AMD's Strix Point integrated GPU is superior on paper, the 258V performed well in our preliminary tests. We'll need to test the Claw models in person to confirm that they can deliver this performance over time, but early indications are promising.

MSI's statement on the device's performance states: "Running at 17W to extend battery life, the MSI Claw AI+ & Claw7 AI+ still outperforms competitors, boasting an impressive 113% higher FPS peak and an average FPS of 20% higher under identical power conditions."

The software of MSI Claw has been criticized heavily, but the new line includes a "brand new, updated MSI Center M, offering a more user-friendly interface". This is supposed to make the device easier for users to navigate. Its low price and great navigation are what keep the Steam Deck a viable handheld option years later.

The new Claw devices have two Thunderbolt 4 port and MSI touts it as "a perfect Mini PC with Copilot+ abilities". This could help justify the price. It can also play Android games with its App Player Software, so you could crack packs in the Pokemon Trading Card Game app or attack others in Clash of Clans without having to grab your smartphone.

Preorders for the device are expected to begin rolling out in stores soon, but I haven't been able to find one yet.

As it has been for the MSI Claw in the past, MSI makes some interesting choices and I am looking forward to how this performs in real-life.