MSI Claw 8 AI+ Beats ROG Ally X with 20% Performance Boost

MSI has shown off the first benchmarks for its Claw 8 AI+ handheld gaming device that showcases significant performance gains over the competition in the ROG Ally X ahead of its launch in the coming weeks. The benchmarks released by MSI include a performance gain of 20% vs. the ROG Ally X at the same power used. That said, while these results stem from MSI’s own internal testing, they give a compelling idea that the Claw 8 AI+ will outpace the ROG Ally X, thanks to its newest Intel Lunar Lake CPU.

MSI Claw 8 AI+ Benchmarks: 20% Performance Boost Over ROG Ally X With Intel Lunar Lake Chip

The Claw 8 AI+ also features the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, an 8-core/8-thread APU, while the ROG Ally X is also the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme based on the AMD Zen 4 architecture. This new Intel chip should yield impressive performance improvement, especially in some of the most demanding games. MSI’s charts show the Claw 8 AI+ was tested through a total of 22 titles, including intensive games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Far Cry 6, and Call of Duty Black Ops 6. In most, the Claw 8 AI+ produced frame rates above 30 fps, and in less demanding titles, topped well over 100 fps.

The processor has a 17W power consumption benchmark, making it adjustable from 8W to 30W for the true performance/power trade-off. Using these settings the Claw 8 AI+ consistently beats the ROG Ally X, with an average performance uplift of 20% and up to 113% in Metro 2033. The gap is broader within older games, as the Claw 8 AI+ gets 5-15% ahead.

Other than its performance, the Claw 8 AI+ supports excellent connectivity options such as Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4. This model also features 32GB of LPDDR5X memory clocked in at 8533 MT/s, making it one of if not the most RAM-rich handhelds out there. The device sports the same 80Wh battery life seen with the ROG Ally X which will allow for some serious gaming time. With pricing of $799 or $699 for a 7-inch version, the Claw 8 AI+ with its competitively priced combination of power, performance, and value, is poised to be a formidable opponent in the handheld gaming arena.

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