MSI has officially announced its next-generation handheld gaming devices, the MSI Claw 7 AI Plus and MSI Claw 8 AI Plus, powered by Intel Lunar Lake processors. The new handhelds come with significant upgrades, including 32GB of RAM and larger batteries, addressing the performance and battery life concerns of their predecessors. The devices are now available for preorder, starting at $799 for the Claw 7 and $899 for the Claw 8, with a release date set for December 25th.

The original MSI Claw, which shipped last spring, received criticism for its battery life and performance. In response, MSI has made substantial changes to the new models. The Claw 8 boasts an 80-watt-hour battery, a significant jump from the original model's 53 watt-hours. The Claw 7, on the other hand, has a smaller increase, with a 54.5 watt-hour battery. Additionally, the Claw 8 features an "easy access" SSD storage slot, which is not available on the Claw 7.

Both devices come with a 120Hz variable refresh rate LCD display, although the Claw 8's 8-inch screen has a slightly higher resolution (1920 x 1200) than the Claw 7's 7-inch screen (1920 x 1080). MSI claims that the handhelds will have a 113 percent higher peak FPS and 20 percent higher average FPS than their competitors "under identical power conditions." While MSI doesn't specify which competitors it's referring to, the previous model was outperformed by the Steam Deck OLED, Asus ROG Ally Z1E, and the Lenovo Legion Go in a review by Sean Hollister.

Beyond the performance and battery life upgrades, the new MSI Claw handhelds feature redesigned Hall effects sticks and triggers, as well as updated bumpers and d-pad. The devices also come with an expanded set of I/O ports, including a second Thunderbolt 4 port, an audio jack, and a microSD card reader.

The launch of the MSI Claw 7 AI Plus and Claw 8 AI Plus marks a significant step forward for handheld gaming, offering improved performance, battery life, and features. With a starting price of $799, the devices are positioned to compete with other popular handheld gaming options. As the gaming industry continues to shift towards more portable and accessible devices, MSI's latest offerings are likely to generate significant interest among gamers and industry observers alike.

With the release date set for December 25th, gamers can now preorder the MSI Claw 7 AI Plus and Claw 8 AI Plus, getting a head start on experiencing the latest advancements in handheld gaming technology. As the market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how MSI's new devices fare against the competition and whether they can establish themselves as top contenders in the handheld gaming space.