Device comparison

AYANEO Next vs. MSI Claw 8 EX AI+

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

Compare

With

AYANEO Next
MSI Claw 8 EX AI+

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

Quick verdict

Best value
AYANEO Next
Better screen
MSI Claw 8 EX AI+
More portable
AYANEO Next
Newer model
MSI Claw 8 EX AI+

Main differences

  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ has similar emulation coverage to AYANEO Next.
  • AYANEO Next is about $535 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • AYANEO Next is roughly 22% smaller and 4% lighter.
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ has a 120 Hz IPS Touchscreen screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on AYANEO Next.
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ runs Windows 11; AYANEO Next runs Windows 10/11.
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is highlighted for Switch, PS3, Wii U, 3DS; AYANEO Next is highlighted for Wii U, 3DS, PS2, Wii.

AYANEO

AYANEO Next

Details
Price
$1,265
OS
Windows 10/11
Released
Apr 2022
Up to
Switch
Screen
7.0 inch IPS
Weight
750 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

MSI

MSI Claw 8 EX AI+

Details
Price
$1,800
OS
Windows 11
Released
Jun 2026
Up to
Switch
Screen
8.0 inch IPS Touchscreen
Weight
785 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecAYANEO NextMSI Claw 8 EX AI+
Price$1,265$1,800
OSWindows 10/11Windows 11
Screen7.0 inch8.0 inch
Resolution1280 x 8001920 x 1200
Refresh rate60 Hz120 Hz
PanelIPSIPS Touchscreen
ChipsetAMD Ryzen 7 5800UIntel Arc G3 Extreme
CPUAMD Zen 3Intel Panther Lake
GPUAMD Radeon RX Vega 8Intel Arc B390
RAM16 - 32 GB LPDDR4x32 GB LPDDR5X
StorageInternal 1 - 2 TB NVMe SSDInternal 1 TB 2280 SSD, External MicroSD
Battery4100 mAh80 Wh
Weight750 grams785 grams
Dimensions267 mm x 112 mm x 30 mm296 mm x 130 mm x 25 - 48 mm
Hall effect sticksNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemAYANEO NextMSI Claw 8 EX AI+
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 DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ PS1: Sony Playstation: All games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next Wii: Nintendo Wii: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Wii: Nintendo Wii: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next Saturn: Sega Saturn: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Saturn: Sega Saturn: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next Switch: Nintendo Switch: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Switch: Nintendo Switch: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • AYANEO Next Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the AYANEO Next and the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+?
MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ has similar emulation coverage to AYANEO Next. AYANEO Next is about $535 cheaper based on catalog pricing. AYANEO Next is roughly 22% smaller and 4% lighter. MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ has a 120 Hz IPS Touchscreen screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on AYANEO Next. MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ runs Windows 11; AYANEO Next runs Windows 10/11. MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is highlighted for Switch, PS3, Wii U, 3DS; AYANEO Next is highlighted for Wii U, 3DS, PS2, Wii.
Which is cheaper, the AYANEO Next or the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+?
The AYANEO Next is the cheaper of the two at around $1,265, roughly $535 less than the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the AYANEO Next or the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+?
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is the newer model, released in 2026.

Compare AYANEO Next with