Handheld gaming PCs have been steadily gaining traction since the Steam Deck burst onto the scene in 2022. Over the past two years, the top-tier handhelds have all been powered by the same Z1 Extreme chipset. However, the MSI Claw A8, unveiled at Computex 2025, is set to break the mold as the first device to feature the newly announced AMD Z2 Extreme chipset from CES 2025.
The MSI Claw A8 bears a resemblance to the recently launched Claw 8 AI, but with some notable specification adjustments. MSI has opted to reduce the maximum RAM from 32GB to 24GB of LPDDR5X, running at a brisk 8,000MHz. Additionally, the display now supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which, while maintaining the 120Hz FullHD panel, promises to minimize screen tearing for a smoother gaming experience.
The most significant upgrade in the MSI Claw A8 is the transition from the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V to the AMD Z2 Extreme. This gaming APU boasts 8 Zen 5 CPU cores and 16 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores. With more Compute Units than the 12 found in the Z1 Extreme and an enhanced architecture, the Z2 Extreme promises a substantial performance boost.
Alongside the Claw A8, MSI also introduced an updated version of the MSI Claw 8 AI+, featuring a fresh color scheme and a larger 2TB SSD. This model continues to be powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V.
While the MSI Claw A8 is slated for release later this year, specific launch details and pricing remain under wraps. Given that the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is priced at $999, the new AMD-powered version is expected to carry a premium price tag.
The AMD Z2 Extreme Race Is On
The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme made a quiet debut at CES in January 2025. Despite the passage of nearly five months, no handheld with this new silicon has yet reached the market, sparking a race to see which manufacturer will be the first to launch.
Although the Lenovo Legion Go 2, also revealed at CES 2025, is technically equipped with the Z2 Extreme, Lenovo has remained tight-lipped about its market entry. Instead, they released the less powerful and more expensive Lenovo Legion Go S, powered by the Z2 Go.
Rumors suggest that the Asus ROG Ally 2 might also adopt the Z2 Extreme, although no official announcement has been made. There's also speculation about a potential collaboration between Asus and Microsoft for an Xbox-branded version of the Ally 2, which would likely utilize the Z2 Extreme.
On the other hand, Valve has confirmed that the Steam Deck 2 will not use the Z2 Extreme, stating that the new Z-series chips from AMD do not represent a significant enough leap to warrant a new handheld. While this might cast some doubt on the Z2 Extreme's capabilities, the new generation of handhelds will still offer improved performance over current models, which is a positive development for gamers.
