As the first Z2 Extreme-powered handheld, people have been eager to see how well this AMD chip performs in the MSI Claw A8, especially since it will be featured in the upcoming Legion Go 2 and ROG Xbox Ally X from Lenovo and ASUS, respectively. New benchmarks show in more detail just how well it compares to the Core Ultra 7 258V that powers the last-gen MSI Claw 8 AI+.

Unfortunately, the Claw A8 is still not available in the U.S., but it has been on the market elsewhere for a little while now. The device’s first hands-on benchmarks suggested that the Core Ultra processor holds its own versus the Z2E, and new testing confirms this, now with a range of gaming benchmarks to compare.

MSI Claw A8 (Ryzen Z2 Extreme) vs MSI Claw 8 AI+ (Core Ultra 7 258V)

Sourced from reviewer ‘Golden Pig Upgrade’ on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, 1080p benchmarks provide a closer look at how the MSI Claw A8 compares to the MSI Claw 8 AI+ for gaming.

MSI Claw A8 vs MSI Claw 8 AI+ 1080p 17W benchmarks, source: Golden Pig Upgrade

MSI Claw A8 vs MSI Claw 8 AI+ 1080p 30W benchmarks, source: Golden Pig Upgrade

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We can see that the Z2 Extreme outperforms its predecessor across the board at 17W, but it’s not by a whole lot in terms of the framerate gains. Resident Evil Village, Elden Ring, and Monster Hunter Wilds see some of the best growth, around 13-14%. MH Wilds does have shockingly bad 1% lows, similar to what we saw on the Steam Deck, but that’s the fault of the game’s optimization. At 30W, the Intel-powered 8 AI+ evens out in some games, even taking the slight lead. The Z2E still has some big wins, however – Assassin’s Creed Shadows in particular enjoys a 20% higher average FPS.

Overall, there doesn’t seem to be much reason to upgrade from the 8 AI+ to the new Claw A8. We’ve already noted that the Z2 Extreme lacking FSR 4 support feels like a missing opportunity, especially as more and more games start to support it. This would have been a real selling point for upcoming AAA titles if the Z2E wants to carry handhelds for a whole generation. So, yes, the Z2 Extreme is the faster chip, but it might not be the generational upgrade you had hoped for.

The MSI Claw 8 AI+ retails for $1,000 in the U.S. It’s not yet known how much the Claw A8 will cost in the region, but based on European pricing, we expect a similar ballpark figure, or around $950 if we directly convert it.

About the Author

Charlie Noon

Charlie is the Affiliate manager for PC Guide. He has a vast understanding of most PC hardware and consumer essentials, using his knowledge to provide the best products and the biggest deals.