Login to Continue Learning
MSI’s AMD-based Claw A8 handheld appears to outperform the one with Intel Lunar Lake, as shown by multiple game benchmarks. The direct comparison between Claw A8 and Claw 8 AI+ highlights better performance per watt from the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip compared to Intel Lunar Lake, along with superior 1% lows.
AMD’s Zen 5-based Ryzen Z2 lineup is dominating benchmark charts. In a recent comparison of two of MSI’s best gaming handhelds—Claw A8 and Claw 8 AI+—the Ryzen Z2 Extreme showed notably higher performance on the Claw A8 compared to the Claw 8 AI+. The Claw 8 AI+ uses an 8-core/8-thread chip, while the Z2 Extreme offers 8 cores and 16 threads with clocks up to 5.0 GHz.
The charts demonstrate that in many games, the Claw A8 provided better frame rates, reaching up to a 27% uplift in titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, though differences remained under 5% in most cases. Overall performance is noticeable, especially when switching from 30W to 17W.
Additionally, the 1% lows are smoother on the AMD-based handheld. Both gaming handhelds, priced competitively around $900-$1000, offer comparable performance metrics.
Performance differences at various wattages:
– @30W: +5.7% Faster
– @17W: +7.4% Faster
The improvements on the MSI Claw A8 make it a compelling choice for gamers, especially with its higher TDP range up to 35W. However, Lunar Lake still performs impressively and could offer similar or better value if priced competitively.
Until now, most handheld manufacturers have opted for custom Ryzen APUs and Strix Point chips, but the Ryzen Z2 lineup provides solutions for every budget (4-core to 8-core APUs). In contrast, Intel Lunar Lake offers only 8-core options.
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
Which gaming handheld showed better performance per watt according to the benchmarks mentioned in the content?
Please login or register to take the quiz and earn points!
