Where to buy
Amazon
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Overview
The MSI Claw A8 is a high-end horizontal retro handheld from MSI with a 8.0-inch 1920×1200 IPS screen, WiFi and Bluetooth, and runs Windows 11. It is best suited for Switch, PS3, Wii U, GameCube, with support listed up to Switch.
- Screen
- 8.0 inch IPS
- Chipset
- AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme
- RAM
- 24 GB LPDDR5X
- Battery
- 80 Wh
- Weight
- 765 grams
- OS
- Windows 11
Emulation
- Classicexcellent
- NESExcellent
- Game BoyExcellent
- SNESExcellent
- GBAExcellent
- GenesisExcellent
- PS1Excellent
- Mid-genexcellent
- N64Excellent
- DSExcellent
- PSPExcellent
- DreamcastExcellent
- SaturnExcellent
- 6th genexcellent
- GameCubeExcellent
- WiiExcellent
- PS2Excellent
- Modernexcellent
- 3DSExcellent
- Wii UExcellent
- PS3Excellent
- SwitchExcellent
Notes on 18 systems
- DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- PS1: Sony Playstation: All games playable at full speed without frameskip
- PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Wii: Nintendo Wii: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Saturn: Sega Saturn: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Switch: Nintendo Switch: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
Played on the MSI Claw A8
Nobody's tracked play on the MSI Claw A8 yet.
Yours could be the first. Track yours
Track your play on the MSI Claw A8
Install the plugin for SteamOS and every session syncs to retroshelf on its own: what you played, and for how long.
Setup guides
Specifications
General
- Released
- August 2025
- Type
- Handheld, Horizontal
- Operating system
- Windows 11
- Custom firmware
- SteamOS, Bazzite
- Price range
- High-End
Display
- Screen
- 8.0 inch IPS
- Resolution
- 1920 x 1200 (16:10)
- Pixel density
- 283.02 PPI
- Refresh rate
- 120 Hz
Performance
- Chipset
- AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme
- CPU
- AMD Zen 5, 8 cores, 2.0 GHz - 5.0 GHz
- GPU
- AMD RDNA 3.5, 2.9 GHz
- RAM
- 24 GB LPDDR5X LPDDR5X-8000
- Storage
- Internal 1 TB M.2 NVMe 4.0 SSD, External MicroSD
- Architecture
- x86-64
Battery and build
- Battery
- 80 Wh, Up to 3.5 hours gameplay (endurance mode), 19+ hours 1080p video playback
- Weight
- 765 grams
- Dimensions
- 299.5 mm x 126.2 mm x 24.0 mm
- Material
- Plastic
- Cooling
- Active (fan)
- Rumble
- Yes
Controls
- D-pad
- Left
- Sticks
- Symmetrical
- Shoulders
- Stacked
- Inputs
- Hall effect sticks, L3/R3, Analog L2/R2, Touch screen, Gyroscope
- Extra buttons
- Fingerprint/Power, M1/M2 Rear buttons, Menu, View, Volume +-
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- WiFi 7
- Bluetooth
- 5.4
- Ports
- USB-C, HDMI out, 3.5mm jack
- Storage slot
- microSD
- Speakers
- Stereo
FAQ
What systems can the MSI Claw A8 emulate?
The MSI Claw A8 plays systems up to Switch at excellent quality. It is at its best with Switch, PS3, Wii U, GameCube.
Can the MSI Claw A8 play Switch games?
Yes. Switch performance on the MSI Claw A8 is rated excellent in our catalog. Nintendo Switch: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
How much does the MSI Claw A8 cost?
The MSI Claw A8 typically sells for around $1,299, which puts it in the high-end tier of retro handhelds.
What operating system does the MSI Claw A8 run?
The MSI Claw A8 ships with Windows 11 and also supports SteamOS, Bazzite.
Can I track my play time on the MSI Claw A8?
Yes. Install the retroshelf plugin for SteamOS and every session syncs to retroshelf on its own, with the game and how long you played.
What screen does the MSI Claw A8 have?
It has a 8.0 inch IPS display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, running at 1920 x 1200 at 283.02 PPI.
Reviews
No reviews of the MSI Claw A8 yet. Own one? Say what you play on it, which firmware you run, and where it sits in your rotation.
