Device comparison

AYANEO Next 2 vs. MSI Claw A8

Compare specs, emulation support, community reviews, ownership, and play history.

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With

AYANEO Next 2
MSI Claw A8

Shown to scale from each device’s real-world dimensions.

Quick verdict

Best value
MSI Claw A8
Better screen
AYANEO Next 2
More portable
MSI Claw A8
Newer model
AYANEO Next 2

Main differences

  • AYANEO Next 2 has similar emulation coverage to MSI Claw A8.
  • MSI Claw A8 is about $1,350 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • MSI Claw A8 is roughly 24% smaller and 46% lighter.
  • AYANEO Next 2 has a 165 Hz OLED Touchscreen screen, versus 120 Hz IPS on MSI Claw A8.
  • AYANEO Next 2 is highlighted for Switch, PS2, GameCube, Wii, N64, PS1; MSI Claw A8 is highlighted for PS3, Wii U, 3DS, PS2, Wii, GameCube.

AYANEO

AYANEO Next 2

Details
Price
$2,649
OS
Windows 11
Released
Jun 2026
Up to
PS3
Screen
9.06 inch OLED Touchscreen
Weight
1426 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

MSI

MSI Claw A8

Details
Price
$1,299
OS
Windows 11
Released
Feb 2026
Up to
PS3
Screen
8.0 inch IPS
Weight
765 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecAYANEO Next 2MSI Claw A8
Price$2,649$1,299
Screen9.06 inch8.0 inch
Resolution2400 x 15041920 x 1200
Refresh rate165 Hz120 Hz
PanelOLED TouchscreenIPS
ChipsetAMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme
GPUAMD Radeon 8060SAMD RDNA 3.5
RAM32 GB / 64 GB / 128 GB LPDDR5X24 GB LPDDR5X
StorageInternal 1 TB / 2 TB M.2 2280 SSD, External 2230 SSD & MicroSDInternal 1 TB M.2 NVMe 4.0 SSD, External MicroSD
Battery116 Wh80 Wh
Weight1426 grams765 grams
Dimensions341.69 mm x 146.24 mm x 26.15 mm299.5 mm x 126.2 mm x 24.0 mm
Video outNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemAYANEO Next 2MSI Claw A8
Classic systems
Game Boy
NES
Genesis
GBA
SNES
PS1
Mid-generation systems
DS
N64
Dreamcast
PSP
Saturn
Sixth-generation systems
GameCube
Wii
PS2
Modern systems
3DS
Switch
Wii U
PS3

Emulation source notes

  • AYANEO Next 2 DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 PS1: Sony Playstation: All games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 PS1: Sony Playstation: All games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 2 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw A8 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the AYANEO Next 2 and the MSI Claw A8?
AYANEO Next 2 has similar emulation coverage to MSI Claw A8. MSI Claw A8 is about $1,350 cheaper based on catalog pricing. MSI Claw A8 is roughly 24% smaller and 46% lighter. AYANEO Next 2 has a 165 Hz OLED Touchscreen screen, versus 120 Hz IPS on MSI Claw A8. AYANEO Next 2 is highlighted for Switch, PS2, GameCube, Wii, N64, PS1; MSI Claw A8 is highlighted for PS3, Wii U, 3DS, PS2, Wii, GameCube.
Which is cheaper, the AYANEO Next 2 or the MSI Claw A8?
The MSI Claw A8 is the cheaper of the two at around $1,299, roughly $1,350 less than the AYANEO Next 2 based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the AYANEO Next 2 or the MSI Claw A8?
The AYANEO Next 2 is the newer model, released in 2026.

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