MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus leak points to a much higher price for Intel’s next gaming handheld

MSI’s upcoming Claw 8 EX AI Plus has appeared at an Australian retailer, giving an early look at how expensive Intel’s next high end gaming handheld could be. The listing shows the standard model starting at AU$2,749, which is about $1,780 before GST. A Launch Pack version was listed at AU$2,849, or about $1,846 before GST.

The device is expected to be the first gaming handheld powered by Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme chip, a Panther Lake based part. Earlier information suggests the chip uses a 2 plus 8 plus 4 core layout and integrated graphics close to Intel Arc B390 level. The handheld is also listed with 32GB of LPDDR5X memory and a 1TB SSD.

The leaked price suggests MSI’s new handheld may cost far more than the earlier Claw 8 AI Plus

The pricing should still be treated carefully because retailer listings before launch can use placeholder prices. Even so, this is the second leaked listing pointing to a high launch price. A previous European listing showed the handheld at 1,599 euros, which works out to roughly $1,854.

Both editions appear to use the same hardware. The Launch Pack version only adds accessories such as a Claw keychain, tempered glass screen protector, grip caps, and a travel case. The handheld itself comes in a void purple finish and includes an 8 inch FHD Plus touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and an 80Wh battery.

The price gap is the main concern. MSI’s earlier Claw 8 AI Plus launched at $899, which means the new model could be much more expensive if these listings are close to final pricing. Higher memory and SSD prices may also be part of the reason, especially as component costs have been rising across the PC market.

For now, the listing gives an early warning rather than a final answer. The Claw 8 EX AI Plus could become one of the fastest Intel based handhelds, but its success may depend heavily on whether MSI can bring the final price closer to what handheld gaming buyers expect.