July 21, 2025 — Pre-orders for the MSI Claw A8 featuring the all-new AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU have officially begun across Europe, with pricing starting at €975. Spotted on retailer sites in countries like Germany and Slovakia, this AMD-powered gaming handheld joins MSI’s growing arsenal of high-performance portable PCs, directly rivaling the Intel-based Claw A8 AI+.
🔥 Ryzen Z2 Extreme Enters the Arena
The Ryzen Z2 Extreme combines Zen 5 and Zen 5c CPU cores with 16 RDNA 3.5 compute units, delivering a major leap in performance over earlier handheld chips. This APU is designed specifically for high-end portable gaming, and early benchmarks suggest it’s ready to challenge the best in class, including Intel’s Lunar Lake and AMD’s own Ryzen Z1 Extreme.
🛠️ MSI Claw A8 (Ryzen Z2 Extreme) – Key Specs at a Glance
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme (Zen 5/5c, RDNA 3.5 GPU) |
| Display | 8″ FHD+ (1920×1200) IPS, 120Hz VRR, 500 nits |
| Memory | Up to 24GB LPDDR5x-8000 (dual-channel) |
| Storage | 1x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD + microSD |
| Battery | 80Wh Li-Polymer, 6-cell with fast charging |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Ports | 2x USB4 (DP & PD 3.0 compatible), 3.5mm combo jack |
| Controls | Hall Effect sticks, RGB buttons, macro support |
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
| Colors | White & Green |
| Price | Starting at €975 |
🆚 AMD vs Intel: MSI Does Both
MSI is one of the few manufacturers offering handhelds with both AMD and Intel architectures, giving consumers the flexibility to choose between the Ryzen Z2 Extreme or Intel Core Ultra 200V (Lunar Lake) configurations. This dual-strategy directly targets Valve’s Steam Deck OLED, ASUS ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and other major competitors in the handheld gaming market.
🛒 Availability
While global launch dates are still under wraps, the European market is getting early access. Pre-orders are currently live in Germany, Slovakia, and are expected to expand across the EU in the coming weeks. The AMD-powered Claw A8 will ship later this year—likely before the November 2025 holiday season.