Save £100 on the MSI Claw A8 Handheld with Ryzen Z2 Extreme at Cyberpower

Cyberpower is currently offering a significant £100 discount on the MSI Claw A8 handheld gaming PC, bringing its price down to a more palatable £599.99. This deal makes MSI’s latest portable Windows machine, powered by AMD’s new Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, considerably more attractive. If you’ve been eyeing a powerful handheld that can run PC games on the go, now might be the time to pull the trigger.

MSI Claw A8: Ryzen Z2 Extreme Under the Hood

The star of the MSI Claw A8 is undoubtedly the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU. This chip boasts 8 cores and 16 threads based on AMD’s Zen 5 architecture, paired with RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics. While early benchmarks for the Z2 Extreme in the Claw A8 show it performing admirably, it’s not quite matching the raw power of some competitors in the premium handheld space. We’re seeing performance that lands it comfortably above devices using older chips, but it still requires some settings adjustments for demanding AAA titles. For instance, Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p often hovers around 30-40 FPS on medium settings, which is playable but not always ideal. The 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD are standard for this tier, ensuring quick load times and smooth multitasking.

Ryzen Z2 Extreme vs. Competition

Compared to the ASUS ROG Ally with its Ryzen Z1 Extreme, the Z2 in the MSI Claw A8 offers a modest but noticeable uplift, particularly in CPU-bound scenarios. However, the integrated graphics performance is more of a parity situation, meaning you won’t see massive leaps in graphical fidelity. The real advantage of the Z2 Extreme is its improved efficiency, which can translate to slightly better battery life under similar loads, though don’t expect miracles – gaming on these devices still drains power quickly.

What £599.99 Gets You: Specs and Features

At £599.99, the MSI Claw A8 is positioned as a strong mid-range option. The 7-inch IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate is sharp and responsive, making games look great. The ergonomics are also a strong point; the grip is comfortable for extended sessions, a common complaint with some other handhelds. The inclusion of Hall effect joysticks is a welcome addition, promising greater durability and precision than traditional potentiometers. Battery life is rated for around 2-4 hours of gaming, depending heavily on the game’s demands. For less demanding titles like indie games or older esports titles, you might stretch that to 5 hours, but don’t count on it for your AAA sessions.

Connectivity and Storage

The MSI Claw A8 comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for fast wireless connectivity, crucial for cloud gaming and updates. The 1TB NVMe SSD is ample for a good selection of games, but serious PC gamers will likely want to expand this. Thankfully, it supports microSD card expansion, allowing you to add more storage affordably. A USB-C port handles charging and can also support external displays, turning your handheld into a more stationary gaming setup.

Performance Expectations: What to Play

With the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, the MSI Claw A8 can handle a wide array of PC games. You’ll have no trouble with indie darlings, older AAA titles like The Witcher 3, or popular esports games like Valorant and Apex Legends at respectable frame rates. For newer, more demanding games like Starfield or Alan Wake 2, you’ll need to be comfortable with lowering graphical settings, potentially to medium or low, and possibly running at a lower resolution or utilizing upscaling technologies like AMD FSR. Expecting 60 FPS on ultra settings in the latest releases is unrealistic, but achieving playable frame rates (30-45 FPS) in many titles is definitely achievable with some tweaking. It’s a capable machine for its price point, especially with this £100 discount.

Windows 11 Experience

Running Windows 11 means you have access to your entire Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Game Pass, and GOG libraries. This is a huge advantage over console-like handhelds. The interface can feel a bit cramped on a 7-inch screen, but MSI’s own software overlay helps streamline game launching and settings adjustments. You can also use it as a mini-PC for light productivity tasks, though it’s clearly optimized for gaming.

Is the £100 Discount Worth It?

At its original price, the MSI Claw A8 was a tough sell against established competitors. However, with the £100 discount bringing it down to £599.99, it becomes a much more compelling option. This price point pits it directly against some of the higher-end configurations of other handheld PCs, offering a strong feature set for the money. The Ryzen Z2 Extreme is a capable chip, and the overall build quality and ergonomics are solid. If you’re looking for a portable Windows gaming device and were hesitant about the initial cost, this sale makes the MSI Claw A8 a very attractive proposition. You’re getting a modern APU and a good display for a price that undercuts many similar offerings.

Comparison to Competitors at £599.99

At this price, it competes with devices like the Ayaneo Air 1S or some configurations of the GPD WIN models. While those might offer slightly different strengths, the MSI Claw A8’s combination of a powerful Ryzen Z2 Extreme, a 120Hz screen, and robust build quality makes it a strong contender. It also benefits from MSI’s broader support network, which can be reassuring for consumers.

⭐ Pro Tips

• Consider purchasing an additional 1TB microSD card (around $70-$90) to expand your game library beyond the internal 1TB SSD.
• Take advantage of the £100 discount at Cyberpower, bringing the MSI Claw A8 down to £599.99, a significant saving.
• Don’t expect to max out settings on the latest AAA games; learn to use AMD FSR and adjust in-game settings for optimal performance and battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

The £100 price cut on the MSI Claw A8 at Cyberpower makes it a seriously compelling portable gaming PC. For £599.99, you get a capable Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, a great 120Hz display, and solid ergonomics. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to jump into the handheld PC gaming scene or upgrade from an older device, this deal is hard to ignore. Head over to Cyberpower and check out the MSI Claw A8 before this offer disappears.