The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ arrives with a staggering £1400 price tag and a bold promise to redefine handheld gaming. Powered by Intel's brand-new Arc G3 Extreme APU and backed by a massive 80Wh battery and a 120Hz display, on paper it certainly looks like a portable powerhouse. But with the shadow of Windows 11 looming over the handheld form factor, does this incredible hardware actually deliver a cohesive gaming experience, or is it severely let down by its own operating system?

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:09 Core specs
01:57 Performance analysis
03:38 The screen + battery
05:14 Speakers (with soundtest!)
06:14 Controls, vibration motor, Hall effect!
07:35 Quick-fire other thoughts
10:42 The software…
12:36 Can Linux fix it?
15:25 Closing thoughts

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Arc G3 Extreme APU (14 Cores: 2P, 8E, 4LPE).
• Graphics: Intel B390 GPU (Shared TDP with CPU).
• RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5x.
• Display: 8-inch IPS, 1920×1200, 120Hz.
• Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD.
• Battery: 80Wh with 65W USB-C Charging (Dual Type-C ports).
• Controls: Hall Effect analog sticks & Triggers
• Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE213, Bluetooth v6
• Operating System: Windows 11

Closing Thoughts

The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is a device of extreme highs and frustrating lows. On the hardware front, the new Intel Arc G3 Extreme APU is an absolute marvel. It intelligently balances power between the CPU and the new B390 GPU, allowing us to run Cyberpunk 2077 on the High preset at 80fps using Performance XeSS upscaling. Paired with a massive 80Wh battery, crisp speakers, and Hall Effect analog sticks that guarantee no stick drift, it fundamentally redefines the performance limits of a handheld. You even get full performance on battery down to 10% charge.

However, a gaming handheld is only as good as its software, and this is where the Claw lands flat on its face. Windows 11 completely ruins the portable experience. The device routinely woke up from sleep on its own (I even had it hotbox itself in my backpack on multiple occasions) and basic reboots were constantly delayed by aggressive background updates and who knows what else. The mix of Xbox, MSI Command Center, and standard Windows overlays creates a convoluted user experience.

We attempted to fix the software woes by installing CachyOS Handheld Edition (Linux). While this miraculously solved the sleep issues and standby battery drain, the Intel Arc G3 Extreme platform is simply too new. The Linux drivers cannot yet match the gaming performance of Windows 11. Until the Linux drivers mature, you are stuck fighting Windows on a £1,400 device, preventing this powerful handheld from getting the recommendation the hardware deserves.

You can buy the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ for £1400 HERE.

Pros:

• Intel Arc G3 Extreme delivers top-tier handheld performance.
• Massive 80Wh battery allows for 2+ hours of heavy AAA gaming with maxed out TDP or 6+ hours on lighter titles.
• Hall Effect analog sticks completely eliminate the risk of stick drift.
• Surprisingly crisp, loud internal speakers with a decent amount of body.
• Delivers full gaming performance on battery power.

Cons:

• Windows 11 experience is poor (randomly wakes from sleep, excessive background updates).
• The 1920×1200 IPS screen isn't bright enough for outdoor use and drains battery faster.
• Very expensive at £1400.
• Linux gaming drivers for the new APU are currently too immature to match Windows 11 performance.
• Bulky design with protruding analog sticks makes it difficult to pack in a bag.
• Handles get noticeably warm during long sessions, causing sweaty palms.

KitGuru says: The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ features revolutionary hardware and incredible gaming performance, but it is fundamentally crippled by a frustrating Windows 11 experience and an eyebrow-raising price tag.

The post MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Handheld Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Acer has announced the Predator Atlas 7 gaming handheld alongside Project DualPlay Mini, an 8-inch concept device that transforms into a mini-laptop. 

Powered by up to an Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor and Intel Arc B390 graphics, the Predator Atlas 7 pairs its internals with a 7-inch FHD 120Hz VRR touchscreen offering 500nits peak brightness. Acer includes up to an 80Wh battery alongside a dual-fan cooling setup, combining a 0.1mm 89-blade metal AeroBlade fan with a secondary plastic fan. Physical controls include optional tunnelling magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks, Hall-effect triggers, and a power-button fingerprint sensor for Windows Hello logins. Connectivity options cover dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, UHS-II microSD expansion, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4.

Alongside the Atlas 7, Acer showcased Project DualPlay Mini, an 8-inch conceptual device featuring a flip-and-swivel mechanism. This layout converts the unit between a traditional handheld and a mini-laptop mode with a backlit physical keyboard. Powering the concept is an Intel processor cooled by a dual-fan structure, featuring Morse code detailing on the back cover to celebrate Acer's 50th anniversary.

Regional rollout for the Predator Atlas 7 starts in EMEA and North America in Q4 2026. Acer also confirmed the larger 8-inch Predator Atlas 8, originally shown at Computex 2026, arrives in both regions this month.

KitGuru says: If you wanted a smaller variant of the Atlas 8, the Atlas 7 brings a similar feature set in a more compact form factor. As for the DualPlay Mini, it's an interesting concept, but like many others, we might never see it hitting stores.

The post Acer reveals Predator Atlas 7 handheld alongside Project DualPlay Mini concept first appeared on KitGuru.

MSI has been very active with its hardware game bundles throughout 2026. This week, the company has introduced another one – bundling Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters with purchases of the MSI Claw handheld.

The offer covers three models, including the Claw A8, Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+. Buyers can claim the game by registering their handheld through MSI’s Member Center. The promotion runs from August 28th to September 30th, and keys can be redeemed until October 14th.

Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters continues the series’ over‑the‑top football style, mixing story content with competitive online play. Matches lean into the anime flair the franchise is known for, with dramatic special moves and a large roster of characters drawn from across the Tsubasa universe.

KitGuru says: Are you thinking about buying an MSI Claw soon? 

The post MSI bundles Captain Tsubasa 2 with Claw handhelds first appeared on KitGuru.

Microsoft has introduced a new “XBOX Handheld” logo on several of its official game pages, appearing alongside existing platform badges in the “Ways to play” section.

According to Notebookcheck, the new badge has been spotted on store pages for upcoming titles like Gears of War: E-Day, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and State of Decay 3. It specifically displays the text “XBOX Handheld” rather than “Xbox on handhelds”. Microsoft included the Asus-made ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X on these official pages, suggesting the label functions as a compatibility programme to verify which games run properly on portable Windows PCs.

This addition comes amid ongoing reports surrounding a first-party Xbox handheld device. Rumours previously claimed that Microsoft had delayed or canceled the project, but the new logo suggests that Microsoft still wants to invest in this segment. While the new logo does not officially confirm a dedicated first-party device, at least it points toward a more cohesive ecosystem for handheld gaming.

KitGuru says: Seeing Microsoft streamline its handheld compatibility labels is a smart move for Windows portable users, even if it doesn't give us concrete confirmation of a dedicated first-party Xbox handheld just yet.

The post New “XBOX Handheld” logo spotted on official Microsoft game pages first appeared on KitGuru.

Yesterday, Intel officially announced its new Arc G Series processors, designed specifically for a new generation of PC gaming handhelds. Now, Acer has revealed itself as one of the first OEMs adopting the new processors, which will ship later this year inside of the new Predator Atlas 8 handheld.

The Predator Atlas 8 is a new Windows‑based gaming handheld built that can be configured with either the new Arc G3 processor, or the more powerful G3 Extreme, mimicking the Ryzen Z line-up. These processors include up to Arc B390-level graphics, along with hardware support for features like ray tracing and XeSS 3 AI upscaling. Through Intel's optimisations, the handheld should offer an excellent balance between performance and power-draw for longer play sessions.

Cooling is handled by Acer’s Predator AeroBlade system, which debuts the first metal fan used in a handheld device. The 89‑blade, 0.1mm‑thick AeroBlade fan works alongside a secondary plastic fan and Vortex Flow internal tuning to improve airflow and maintain sustained performance under load.

The handheld features an 8‑inch WUXGA touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate, VRR, 500‑nit brightness and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus with DXC for added durability and reduced glare. Audio comes from dual speakers with DTS:X Ultra, along with a dual-microphone array for comms during multiplayer gaming.

We don't have pricing yet but we expect to see the Predator Atlas 8 up close at Computex. The handhelds are planned to launch in October 2026.

KitGuru Says: It will be interesting to see how Intel's new Arc G processors perform when the time comes.

The post Acer unveils Predator Atlas 8 gaming handheld powered by Intel Arc G processors first appeared on KitGuru.