MSI
MSI Claw A8
- Price
- $1,260.02
- OS
- Windows 11
- Released
- Aug 2025
- Up to
- Switch
- Screen
- 8.0 inch IPS
- Weight
- 765 grams
Amazon
$1,260.02
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Usually $1,267.02 · Lowest $1,236.46
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MSI Claw A8 vs. AYANEO Pocket S Mini
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 S Mini
- Better screen
- MSI Claw A8
- More portable
- Pocket S Mini
- Newer model
- Pocket S Mini
Main differences
- AYANEO Pocket S Mini has similar emulation coverage to MSI Claw A8.
- AYANEO Pocket S Mini is about $900 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
- AYANEO Pocket S Mini is roughly 66% smaller and 60% lighter.
- AYANEO Pocket S Mini has a 60 Hz LCD screen, versus 120 Hz IPS on MSI Claw A8.
- AYANEO Pocket S Mini runs Android 14; MSI Claw A8 runs Windows 11.
- AYANEO Pocket S Mini is highlighted for PS2, GameCube, Saturn, Dreamcast; MSI Claw A8 is highlighted for Switch, PS3, Wii U, GameCube.
Details
AYANEO
Pocket S Mini
- Price
- $369.99
- OS
- Android 14
- Released
- Jan 2026
- Up to
- Switch
- Screen
- 4.2 inch LCD
- Weight
- 305 grams
Amazon
$369.99
We’ll email you when it drops. No account needed.
Usually $369.99 · Lowest $369.99
No reviews yet
Specs
BetterWorse
| Spec | MSI Claw A8 | Pocket S Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,260.02 | $369.99 |
| OS | Windows 11 | Android 14 |
| Screen | 8.0 inch | 4.2 inch |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 4:3 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1280 x 960 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Panel | IPS | LCD |
| Chipset | AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme | Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 |
| CPU | AMD Zen 5 | Qualcomm Kryo Prime Ultra |
| GPU | AMD RDNA 3.5 | Qualcomm Adreno A32 |
| RAM | 24 GB LPDDR5X | 8 / 12 / 16 GB |
| Storage | Internal 1 TB M.2 NVMe 4.0 SSD, External MicroSD | Internal 128 GB UFS 3.1 / 256 GB / 512 GB UFS 4.0, External MicroSD |
| Battery | 80 Wh | 4700 mAh |
| Weight | 765 grams | 305 grams |
| Dimensions | 299.5 mm x 126.2 mm x 24.0 mm | 167.1 mm x 77.85 mm x 18.5 mm |
| Video out | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Stick type | Hall effect | Hall effect |
| Analog triggers | Yes | Yes |
| Touch screen | Yes | Yes |
Emulation
Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported
| System | MSI Claw A8 | Pocket S Mini |
|---|---|---|
| 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
- MSI Claw A8 DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S Mini DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip This device does not have a touchscreen, so you won't be able to play DS games that rely heavily on the touchscreen
- MSI Claw A8 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S Mini 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: 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
- Pocket S Mini GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- MSI Claw A8 N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S Mini N64: Nintendo 64: 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
- Pocket S Mini NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- MSI Claw A8 PS1: Sony Playstation: All games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S Mini PS1: Sony Playstation: All games playable at full speed without frameskip
- MSI Claw A8 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S Mini PS2: Sony Playstation 2: 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
- Pocket S Mini PS3: Sony Playstation 3: RPCS3 was recently ported to ARM (2024/12/9), so please leave a comment if you know how well this device can handle PS3
- MSI Claw A8 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S Mini PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- MSI Claw A8 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S Mini Wii: Nintendo Wii: 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
- Pocket S Mini SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: 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
- Pocket S Mini Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
- MSI Claw A8 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S Mini Saturn: Sega Saturn: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- MSI Claw A8 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S Mini Switch: Nintendo Switch: 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
- Pocket S Mini Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: 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
- Pocket S Mini Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- MSI Claw A8 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S Mini GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- MSI Claw A8 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Pocket S Mini Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
Frequently asked
- What's the difference between the MSI Claw A8 and the AYANEO Pocket S Mini?
- AYANEO Pocket S Mini has similar emulation coverage to MSI Claw A8. AYANEO Pocket S Mini is about $900 cheaper based on catalog pricing. AYANEO Pocket S Mini is roughly 66% smaller and 60% lighter. AYANEO Pocket S Mini has a 60 Hz LCD screen, versus 120 Hz IPS on MSI Claw A8. AYANEO Pocket S Mini runs Android 14; MSI Claw A8 runs Windows 11. AYANEO Pocket S Mini is highlighted for PS2, GameCube, Saturn, Dreamcast; MSI Claw A8 is highlighted for Switch, PS3, Wii U, GameCube.
- Which is cheaper, the MSI Claw A8 or the AYANEO Pocket S Mini?
- The AYANEO Pocket S Mini is the cheaper of the two at around $399.00, roughly $900.00 less than the MSI Claw A8 based on catalog pricing.
- Which is newer, the MSI Claw A8 or the AYANEO Pocket S Mini?
- The AYANEO Pocket S Mini is the newer model, released in 2026.
