The handheld gaming PC market has been steadily gaining traction since the launch of the Steam Deck in 2022. However, the top-tier handhelds have been utilizing the same Z1 Extreme chipset for the past two years. The MSI Claw A8, unveiled at Computex 2025, is poised to be the first device to harness the newly announced AMD Z2 Extreme from CES 2025.
The MSI Claw A8 closely resembles the recently released Claw 8 AI, but with some key modifications. MSI has reduced the maximum RAM from 32GB to 24GB of LPDDR5X, operating at 8,000MHz. The display now supports VRR (variable refresh rate), which, despite both being 120Hz FullHD panels, should result in less screen tearing for the A8.
The most significant upgrade is the shift from the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V to the AMD Z2 Extreme. This gaming APU features 8 Zen 5 CPU cores and 16 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores, boasting more Compute Units than the Z1 Extreme's 12, and a half-generation advancement in architecture.
In addition, MSI has introduced an updated MSI Claw 8 AI+ with a fresh colorway and an expanded 2TB SSD. This model, however, continues to be powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V.
The MSI Claw A8 is slated for release later this year, though specific launch details and pricing remain undisclosed. Given the MSI Claw 8 AI+'s price point of $999, the AMD-powered A8 is expected to be on the pricier side.
The AMD Z2 Extreme Race Is On
The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme was quietly introduced at CES in January 2025. Despite the passage of nearly five months, no handheld featuring this new silicon has yet reached the market, leaving the race open for which manufacturer will be the first to launch.
Technically, the Lenovo Legion Go 2, also unveiled at CES 2025, is equipped with the Z2 Extreme, but Lenovo has not provided any hints about its market availability. Instead, they released the Z2 **Go**-powered Lenovo Legion Go S, which is both less powerful and more expensive than its predecessor.
Rumors suggest that the Asus ROG Ally 2 will also adopt the Z2 Extreme, although no official announcement has been made. Speculation is rife that Asus and Microsoft might collaborate on an Xbox-branded version of the Ally 2, which would likely utilize the Z2 Extreme as well.
On the other hand, the Steam Deck 2 will not be using the Z2 Extreme. Valve has stated that the new Z-series chips from AMD do not represent a sufficient generational leap to warrant a new handheld. While this might cast some doubt on the Z2 Extreme's performance, the new Steam Deck alternatives will still offer an improvement over current models, which is a positive development.
