The MSI Claw EX is the most important handheld since Steam Deck — I still wouldn’t buy one
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus represents a significant leap in portable gaming PC design, according to The Verge’s handheld reviewer. Equipped with a next-generation Intel processor and refined hardware design, the device stands out as the most powerful handheld that achieves genuine portability without sacrificing performance.
The Claw EX distinguishes itself through several key improvements: it boasts the longest battery life of any handheld gaming device, and it’s the first Windows-based handheld that reliably handles sleep and wake functionality. The reviewer, who maintains an extensive collection of portable gaming devices, now prioritizes the Claw EX over alternatives, suggesting a meaningful shift in the portable gaming landscape.
When compared to the Steam Deck, the Claw EX demonstrates notable advantages. Both devices preserve game state when powered down, allowing users to resume exactly where they left off. However, the Claw EX extends this capability further, supporting multi-day hibernation periods that the Steam Deck cannot match—a practical advantage for users who take extended breaks from gaming.
The comparison to Steam Deck carries particular weight given that device’s revolutionary impact on the handheld gaming market. The Verge frames the Claw EX as potentially marking another inflection point, describing it as “a preview of a potato-free portable future”—suggesting that portable gaming hardware may finally escape the performance compromises that previously defined the category.
Despite these technical strengths and the reviewer’s obvious enthusiasm, the headline paradoxically states “I still wouldn’t buy one,” indicating that performance and design excellence alone don’t guarantee a consumer recommendation. This suggests unaddressed concerns around factors not fully elaborated in the provided excerpts, such as pricing, software ecosystem, or overall value proposition.