Handheld gaming PCs have steadily risen in popularity since the Steam Deck made waves in 2022. For the past two years, most high-performance devices have relied on the same AMD Z1 Extreme chipset. However, that’s about to change. At Computex 2025, MSI unveiled the MSI Claw A8, marking the first handheld to feature the newly announced AMD Z2 Extreme processor—first revealed at CES 2025.
The MSI Claw A8 builds on the foundation of the recently launched Claw 8 AI, with several notable upgrades. While the maximum RAM has been adjusted from 32GB to 24GB, it still uses fast LPDDR5X memory running at 8,000MHz. A significant improvement is the addition of VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support on the display. Both models feature a 120Hz FullHD screen, but the inclusion of VRR on the A8 minimizes screen tearing, delivering a smoother visual experience during fast-paced gameplay.
The biggest upgrade, however, is under the hood. The Claw A8 swaps out the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V for the AMD Z2 Extreme—a powerful gaming APU featuring 8 Zen 5 CPU cores and 16 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores. Compared to the Z1 Extreme’s 12 compute units, the Z2 not only increases GPU core count but also advances the architecture by half a generation, promising noticeably better performance in demanding titles.
In addition to the Claw A8, MSI has introduced an updated Claw 8 AI+ model. This version retains the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V but now comes in a fresh color option and includes a larger 2TB SSD for expanded storage.
While MSI has confirmed the Claw A8 will launch later this year, no exact release date or pricing details have been announced. Given that the Claw 8 AI+ is priced at $999, the AMD-powered A8 is expected to sit in a similar or higher price range.
The AMD Z2 Extreme Race Begins
The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme quietly debuted at CES 2025, and nearly five months later, the handheld market is still waiting for its arrival. The MSI Claw A8 appears to be the first device poised to bring this new silicon to consumers, making it a key contender in the race for next-gen handheld dominance.
Although the Lenovo Legion Go 2 was also announced at CES 2025 with the Z2 Extreme, Lenovo has yet to provide any indication of its release timeline. Instead, they launched the Legion Go S, powered by the less powerful Z2 Go chip, which offered reduced performance at a higher price point than the original Legion Go.
Meanwhile, rumors suggest the upcoming Asus ROG Ally 2 will likely feature the Z2 Extreme, assuming leaks are accurate—though Asus has not officially confirmed the device. There’s also growing speculation that Asus and Microsoft may collaborate on an Xbox-branded variant of the Ally 2, which would likely run on the same Z2 Extreme platform.
One thing is certain: the Steam Deck 2 won’t be joining the Z2 Extreme club. Valve has publicly stated that the latest generation of AMD’s Z-series chips doesn’t offer a substantial enough leap to warrant a new device. While this may raise questions about the performance gains of the Z2 Extreme, it doesn’t diminish the fact that new handhelds like the MSI Claw A8 will deliver a meaningful upgrade over current models—offering gamers more power, better efficiency, and enhanced visuals.
For enthusiasts eager to experience the next evolution in portable gaming, the wait for the Z2 Extreme era is almost over. [ttpp]
