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It’s partially due to this fact that it has a lower starting price than MSI’s handheld.
I eventually conducted both Windows Central’sROG Ally reviewand then later theROG Ally X review.
The ROG Ally X is shorter, thinner, and lighter than the MSI Claw 8 AI+.
Let’s dive in.
I’ll update when I learn more.
Each evening, I unwind by playing my favorite PC games on one of these portable devices.
I’ve included the original white ROG Ally’s info as well.
So you’re more likely to be able to grab one at a really good discount.
That said, there’s no denying that the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is far more expensive.
The ROG Ally X is shorter, thinner, and lighter than the MSI Claw 8 AI+.
For instance, this handheld now sells for$829.99 at Best Buy.
Just expect shorter battery life, less RAM, and a smaller SSD.
Note that gaming handheld prices will likely go up in the U.S. due to recent tariffs.
ROG Ally X offers a 7-inch IPS touchscreen, AMD Z1 Extreme chip, 24GB RAM, and either 1TB or 2TB SSD.
Default Graphics Setting
MSI Claw 8 AI+ Avg.
FPS
Legion Go Avg.
FPS
Ally X Avg.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ has an 8-inch IPS touchscreen, Intel Core Ultra 7 SoC, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD.
FPS*
Ally Avg.
Because of this, motion clarity isn’t perfect, but it is good on both.
I feel more pulled into my games using the larger MSI display.
AAA games can run relatively smoothly on the ROG Ally X if the right settings are in place.
This means the Claw cannot experience stick drift and offers better precision overall.
Otherwise, there isn’t much of a difference between the devices' button responsiveness.
Along the top of either handheld is a power button that doubles as a fingerprint reader.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ got the highest average FPS I’ve ever seen on a handheld when running more intensive games.
The ROG Ally X is smoother and feels better in my hands.
Armoury Crate and MSI Center M are useful, but they can both be a bit limited and clunky.
That all said, MSI Center M is clean and easy to navigate.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+’s large 8-inch screen feels notably larger in person, but the ROG Ally X screen’s glass doesn’t reflect as much grey.
TL;DR: BATTERY LIFE WINNER:We have atie.
This is longer than the 45 minutes that the ROG Ally’s 40Whr musters.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ vs ROG Ally X: Which should I buy?
There are two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a microSD card reader, volume buttons, and a headphone jack on the top of the MSI Claw 8 AI+
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a gaming handheld beast that provides better game performance than its competitors.
It has twice the battery capacity and doubles the storage space of the original ROG Ally.
It comes with 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and a 7-inch touchscreen.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+’s power button doubles as a fingerprint reader, but it doesn’t always work properly.
It’s a great value for the configuration and features that it offers.
The ROG Ally X has a USB-C port, USB4 port, volume buttons, microSD card reader, and headphone jack on the top.
The MSI Claw’s back-side casing isn’t flat.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
It feels more comfortable holding the ROG Ally X.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
There are two small back buttons on the back of the ROG Ally X.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
The MSI Claw 8 AI+’s back buttons get in the way of the grips.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
ASUS Armoury Crate and MSI Center M provide assistance, game launchers, system settings options, and more.
You can adjust the joystick RGB lighting or turn it off.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ has Hall Effect joysticks.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
RGB lighting can also be customized or turned off on ROG Ally X.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
ROG Ally X does not have Hall Effect joysticks.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
ROG Ally X offers more customization options like the ability to manually adjust VRAM.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+’s triggers and bumpers press down in a satisfying way.
MSI Claw 8 AI+ offers better gaming performance overall, and is ideal for people who largely play AAA games.
