Device comparison

MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ vs. AYANEO Next

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

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With

MSI Claw 8 EX AI+
AYANEO Next

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

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

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AYANEO

AYANEO Next

Details
Price
$1,265
OS
Windows 10/11
Released
Apr 2022
Up to
PS3
Screen
7.0 inch IPS
Weight
750 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecMSI Claw 8 EX AI+AYANEO Next
Price$1,800$1,265
OSWindows 11Windows 10/11
Screen8.0 inch7.0 inch
Resolution1920 x 12001280 x 800
Refresh rate120 Hz60 Hz
PanelIPS TouchscreenIPS
ChipsetIntel Arc G3 ExtremeAMD Ryzen 7 5800U
CPUIntel Panther LakeAMD Zen 3
GPUIntel Arc B390AMD Radeon RX Vega 8
RAM32 GB LPDDR5X16 - 32 GB LPDDR4x
StorageInternal 1 TB 2280 SSD, External MicroSDInternal 1 - 2 TB NVMe SSD
Battery80 Wh4100 mAh
Weight785 grams750 grams
Dimensions296 mm x 130 mm x 25 - 48 mm267 mm x 112 mm x 30 mm
Hall effect sticksYesNo

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemMSI Claw 8 EX AI+AYANEO Next
Classic systems
Game BoyExcellentExcellent
NESExcellentExcellent
GenesisExcellentExcellent
GBAExcellentExcellent
SNESExcellentExcellent
PS1ExcellentExcellent
Mid-generation systems
DSExcellentExcellent
N64ExcellentExcellent
DreamcastExcellentExcellent
PSPExcellentExcellent
SaturnExcellentExcellent
Sixth-generation systems
GameCubeExcellentExcellent
WiiExcellentExcellent
PS2ExcellentExcellent
Modern systems
3DSExcellentExcellent
SwitchExcellentPlayable
Wii UExcellentGood
PS3ExcellentExcellent

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and the AYANEO Next?
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.
Which is cheaper, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ or the AYANEO Next?
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 MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ or the AYANEO Next?
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is the newer model, released in 2026.

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