Handheld gaming PCs have steadily gained traction ever since the Steam Deck burst onto the scene in 2022. However, for the past two years, the most powerful handhelds have relied on the same Z1 Extreme chipset. The MSI Claw A8, unveiled at Computex 2025, appears to be the first device powered by the Z2 Extreme, which was announced at CES 2025.
The MSI Claw A8 bears similarities to the recently launched Claw 8 AI, though several specifications have been updated. MSI has reduced the maximum RAM from 32GB to 24GB of LPDDR5X, running at 8,000MHz. Additionally, the display now supports VRR (variable refresh rate). While both screens are 120Hz Full HD panels, the A8 will experience less screen tearing.
Naturally, the most significant upgrade is the shift from the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V to the AMD Z2 Extreme. This gaming APU packs 8 Zen 5 CPU cores and 16 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores. Its GPU not only has more Compute Units than the 12 found in the Z1 Extreme but also advances the architecture by half a generation.
MSI has also introduced a refreshed version of the MSI Claw 8 AI+ with a new color option and a larger 2TB SSD. That model, however, continues to use the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V.
The MSI Claw A8 is expected to launch later this year, though MSI has not shared a specific release window or pricing. Given that the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is priced at $999, this new AMD-powered version is unlikely to come cheap.
The Race for the AMD Z2 Extreme Heats Up
The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme made a quiet debut at CES in January 2025. Nearly five months later, we still haven't seen a handheld with this new chip hit the market. Now, it's a waiting game to see which manufacturer will be first to deliver.
Technically, the Lenovo Legion Go 2, also introduced at CES 2025, is equipped with the Z2 Extreme. However, Lenovo has given no indication of when it might actually go on sale. Instead, we received the Z2 Go-powered Lenovo Legion Go S, which was both less powerful and more expensive than the original Legion Go.
If the rumors hold true, the anticipated Asus ROG Ally 2 will likely feature the Z2 Extreme as well—though Asus has yet to make an official announcement. There's also widespread speculation that Asus and Microsoft are collaborating on an Xbox-branded version of the Ally 2, which would also likely run on the Z2 Extreme.
That said, we already know one handheld that won't be adopting the Z2 Extreme: the Steam Deck 2. Valve has publicly stated that AMD's latest Z-series chips do not represent a sufficient generational leap to justify a new device. While this does raise questions about the Z2 Extreme's performance, new Steam Deck alternatives will at least offer a modest improvement over current models—and that's certainly a step in the right direction.
