Tech'Forget Switch 2 as this new powerful handheld AI PC is available for preorder now'MSI is looking to bounce back from the first Claw model with an AI-powered new model, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ here's why it could be worth a look as a Switch alternativedailystarBookmarkShareTechByLloyd CoombesGaming Editor11:50, 17 JAN 2025BookmarkCould the MSI Claw 8 AI rival the Switch 2?In case you missed it yesterday, Nintendo has finally revealed the Nintendo Switch 2 with a video focusing on the hardware. While we've previously waxed lyrical about the Steam Deck OLED, the handheld PC movement has gathered plenty of momentum in recent years which means the Switch 2 is launching into a very different space than its predecessor. One of the offerings coming for the crown is the MSI Claw 8 AI+. While it may have one of the least sexy names in tech, it could be a genuine contender to the handheld PC throne thanks to fantastic performance and access to PC and Android games. You can preorder this Switch 2 rival now The Claw 8 is MSI's latest effort in the handheld gaming PC space Let's get the awkward part out of the way first the first MSI Claw was profoundly disappointing. The console was priced too high, and had worse performance than some of its cheaper rivals. MSI has gone back to the drawing board, however, and might have struck gold. The console will pack the latest Lunar Lake chip from Intel, and has 32GB of RAM and a 120Hz screen. It's probably overkill for playing your Steam library's indie game collection, but something you can't play on Steam Deck like, say, Destiny 2, it could really find an audience. It's a huge system, but wants to be just as useful as a PC as it is a games console. To that end, there are a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, and better cooling. Could you use it as a mini PC? Maybe! It also has Microsoft's Copilot+ AI features, and MSI says it has a 113% higher peak FPS and an average 20% higher FPS under identical power conditions. That means to be seen, but with Windows 11 running natively and support for Android games too, it could be a 'one-stop-shop' for PC gamers on the go. UK gamers can preorder it from Currys now for 899, and it launches on February 11. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.More On