Rationale - Tech Reviews

The MSI Claw 8 AI+ Is Actually Good! (Unboxing & Gameplay)

I might be a bit late to the party on this one, but as it turns out, taking my time to look at the MSI Claw 8 AI+ may have actually worked in my favor. Now that the initial launch dust has fully settled, I’m unboxing it, taking a complete product tour of the chassis, and testing real-world performance across Forza Horizon 6 and Arknights: Endfield. With Intel having already rolled out their newer Arc G3 architectures, this Lunar Lake-based Claw 8 AI+ technically sits as a previous-generation device. However, being a bit behind the curve means we get to see the hardware at its absolute best. Intel XeSS upscaling has matured significantly since its early days, making a massive difference in real-world frame rates today. Pair that optimized software with an 8-inch screen—which I genuinely think is the absolute perfect sweet spot for a handheld form factor—and the experience is surprisingly solid. If you are looking to pick up a Windows gaming handheld this year but have absolutely zero desire to pay post-RAMpocalypse price premiums for the absolute newest cutting-edge hadrware, looking at slightly older models like this might be the smartest value play. What do you think? Is it worth grabbing a mature, previous-gen device to save some cash, or are you holding out? Let me know in the comments! 👕 SPECIAL SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Today's video is supported by SNK ATK Design Lab. High-spec technical apparel engineered right here in Manila for creative professionals. Check out their latest small-batch functional gear drops at https://snkatk.co/ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 02:16 Unboxing 03:12 Product Tour 05:53 Turn On 08:20 Game Test: Forza Horizon 6 11:35 Game Test: Arknights Endfield 12:44 Ending Thoughts