Europe sees the preorder availability of the MSI Claw A8, a portable gaming PC; its astronomical price tag hardly suffices to describe it.
The MSI Claw A8, a new handheld gaming PC, made its debut at Computex earlier this year. Since then, it has been the subject of much anticipation, particularly as it faces competition from the upcoming Xbox ROG Ally X. However, the MSI Claw A8's availability outside of China and its official release date in the United States remain unclear.
Initially, the MSI Claw A8 was priced similarly to the Intel-powered Claw 8 AI when it first hit the market, approaching €1,000 ($1,175). This high price tag has been criticised by some tech analysts, who consider it overpriced. The marketing strategy for the MSI Claw A8 has also been criticised for being poor.
In contrast, the MSI Claw 8 AI+, while more powerful and better equipped, has settled at a lower, albeit still high, price of $899/£899. This is significantly more affordable than the MSI Claw A8, especially when compared to the cheapest Steam Deck, which can be bought for less than half that amount.
The MSI Claw A8 uses the AMD Z2 Extreme instead of an Intel chip, a decision that could potentially set it apart from its competitors. However, with the Xbox ROG Ally X expected to be released by the end of the year, boasting similar hardware and a rumoured price of €899, MSI may need to match its price to compete effectively.
As of late July 2025, pre-orders for the MSI Claw A8 have been made available at some European retailers, although it's possible that these listings could be placeholders. The device has already launched in China for approximately $970 (6,999 RMB).
MSI continues to provide minimal information for their handheld gaming PCs, even to the press, which has added to the uncertainty surrounding the MSI Claw A8's release. U.S. customers should monitor for updates directly from MSI or major retailers, as there is currently no official release date announced for the MSI Claw A8 in the United States.
There is also a potential for tariffs to interfere for U.S. customers buying the MSI Claw A8, adding another layer of complexity to its potential launch in North America.
In conclusion, the MSI Claw A8, a premium handheld gaming PC, is currently priced higher than its predecessor and other competitors in the market. Its availability outside of China and official release date in the United States remain unclear, adding to the anticipation and uncertainty surrounding this new device.
- The MSI Claw A8, despite using the AMD Z2 Extreme, might face direct competition from the Xbox ROG Ally X, which is expected to release with similar hardware and a rumored price of €899.
- The criticism towards the MSI Claw A8's high price tag of approaching €1,000 and the perceived poor marketing strategy has been vocal among some tech analysts.
- Although more powerful and better equipped, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has been priced at a lower, albeit still high, amount of $899, making it significantly more affordable than the MSI Claw A8.
- As of late July 2025, pre-orders for the MSI Claw A8 have been available at some European retailers, while its availability outside of China and official release date in the United States continue to remain unclear.
