MSI
MSI Claw 8 EX AI+
- Price
- $1,800.00
- OS
- Windows 11
- Released
- Jun 2026
- Up to
- Switch
- Screen
- 8.0 inch IPS Touchscreen
- Weight
- 785 grams
We’re not tracking prices for this one yet.
No reviews yet
MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ vs. AYANEO Pocket S2
Specs, emulation, community reviews, ownership and play history, side by side.
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Shown to scale from each device’s real-world dimensions.
Quick verdict
- Best value
- Pocket S2
- Better screen
- MSI Claw 8 EX AI+
- More portable
- Pocket S2
- Newer model
- MSI Claw 8 EX AI+
Main differences
- MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ has similar emulation coverage to AYANEO Pocket S2.
- AYANEO Pocket S2 is about $1,361 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
- AYANEO Pocket S2 is roughly 46% smaller and 45% lighter.
- MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ has a 120 Hz IPS Touchscreen screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on AYANEO Pocket S2.
- MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ runs Windows 11; AYANEO Pocket S2 runs Android 14.
- MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is highlighted for Switch, PS3, Wii U, 3DS; AYANEO Pocket S2 is highlighted for Switch, PS2, PSP, N64.
Details
AYANEO
Pocket S2
- Price
- $439.00
- OS
- Android 14
- Released
- Jun 2025
- Up to
- Switch
- Screen
- 6.3 inch IPS
- Weight
- 428 grams
We’re not tracking prices for this one yet.
No reviews yet
Specs
BetterWorse
| Spec | MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ | Pocket S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,800.00 | $439.00 |
| OS | Windows 11 | Android 14 |
| Screen | 8.0 inch | 6.3 inch |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 16:9 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2560 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Panel | IPS Touchscreen | IPS |
| Chipset | Intel Arc G3 Extreme | Qualcomm Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 |
| CPU | Intel Panther Lake | Qualcomm Kryo |
| GPU | Intel Arc B390 | Qualcomm Adreno A33 |
| RAM | 32 GB LPDDR5X | 8 GB / 12 GB / 16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | Internal 1 TB 2280 SSD, External MicroSD | Internal 128 GB UFS 3.1 / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB UFS 4.0, External MicroSD |
| Battery | 80 Wh | 8000 mAh / 10000 mAh (Pro) |
| Weight | 785 grams | 428 grams |
| Dimensions | 296 - 321 mm x 130 mm x 25 - 48 mm | 228.8 mm x 91 mm x 15.9 mm |
| Video out | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Stick type | Hall effect | TMR |
| Analog triggers | Yes | Yes |
| Touch screen | Yes | Yes |
Emulation
Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported
| System | MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ | Pocket S2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Good | |
| PS3 | Playable | |
Emulation source notes
- MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S2 DS: Nintendo DS: 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
- Pocket S2 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: 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
- Pocket S2 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: 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
- Pocket S2 N64: Nintendo 64: 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
- Pocket S2 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: 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
- Pocket S2 PS1: Sony Playstation: 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
- Pocket S2 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ PS3: Sony Playstation 3: 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
- Pocket S2 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: 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
- Pocket S2 Wii: Nintendo Wii: 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
- Pocket S2 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: 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
- MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Saturn: Sega Saturn: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S2 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Switch: Nintendo Switch: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S2 Switch: Nintendo Switch: 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
- Pocket S2 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: 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
- Pocket S2 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: 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
- Pocket S2 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: 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
- Pocket S2 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
Frequently asked
- What's the difference between the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and the AYANEO Pocket S2?
- MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ has similar emulation coverage to AYANEO Pocket S2. AYANEO Pocket S2 is about $1,361 cheaper based on catalog pricing. AYANEO Pocket S2 is roughly 46% smaller and 45% lighter. MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ has a 120 Hz IPS Touchscreen screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on AYANEO Pocket S2. MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ runs Windows 11; AYANEO Pocket S2 runs Android 14. MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is highlighted for Switch, PS3, Wii U, 3DS; AYANEO Pocket S2 is highlighted for Switch, PS2, PSP, N64.
- Which is cheaper, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ or the AYANEO Pocket S2?
- The AYANEO Pocket S2 is the cheaper of the two at around $439.00, roughly $1,361.00 less than the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ based on catalog pricing.
- Which is newer, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ or the AYANEO Pocket S2?
- The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is the newer model, released in 2026.
