MSI Claw 8 AI+ gaming handheld set to ship in January to rival the Steam Deck

The new MSI Claw 8 AI+ handheld gaming PC now has an official release date and it’s just weeks away. That follows initial uncertainty following its official announcement, with retailers like Amazon and the manufacturer itself all providing conflicting launch dates. However, it now looks like this new 8-inch handheld and its smaller, 7-inch companion will both launch on the same date.

This new MSI handheld looks set to compete with the best handheld gaming PCs once it ships, with initial Claw 8 AI+ benchmarks from the company suggesting that it provides a 20% performance uplift compared to the Asus ROG Ally X. If that’s true, this Intel powered handheld will more than handle 1080p gaming performance on its 1200p, 120Hz display.