HANDHELD NEWS – The new MSI Claw model, powered by an Intel APU, won’t come cheap, even compared to its rivals.
About three weeks ago, the first commercial listing for the upcoming MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld PC appeared. It will be the first device to use an Arc G3 Extreme chip, a Panther Lake variant with a 2+8+4 core configuration and a high-performance integrated graphics solution similar to the Intel Arc B390. The handheld PC will feature a 1 TB SSD and 32 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, as confirmed by previous and recent listings.
A European retailer previously listed the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ for €1,599, equivalent to approximately 575,000 forints. However, according to the latest listing, the device will likely be significantly more expensive than expected, even if the prices are only temporary placeholders. The Australian retailer Scorptec is offering the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and its Launch Pack model starting at 2,749 Australian dollars. The standard and launch pack editions are identical devices, but the launch pack includes additional accessories: a Claw keychain, a tempered glass screen protector, Claw grip covers, and a Travel Case III.
Other than that, the models are identical, and users will receive the same purple handheld PC featuring an 8-inch (20.32 cm) display with FHD+ resolution, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and an 80 Wh battery. With GST (the Australian equivalent of VAT) included, the price was nearly $1,959 AUD, but without tax, it drops to $1,780 AUD. The Launch Pack edition is priced at $2,849 AUD, or approximately $2,030 AUD without GST.
This aligns with an earlier leaked product listing from an EU retailer and confirms that the newer model “may” cost twice as much as the MSI Claw 8 AI+. The latter launched with a price tag of $899, but due to higher DRAM and SSD prices, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ will likely not be released at a price around $1,000. We expect the price to exceed $1,500, but that’s just speculation.
Source: WCCFTech
