MSI Claw G3: we took charge of the console which relies everything on Intel to beat AMD

Funny story that of MSI in the field of portable PC consoles. After a complete failure on the first generation, and a catch-up on the second, the third could be that of the transformation of the test.

At Computex 2026, MSI is one of the launch partners for Intel Arc G3 Extreme chips. The AMD Ryzen chips found in the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck now have a real strong competitor. On paper, Intel has all the arguments to succeed.

On the technical sheet side, the Claw G3 features the new Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor, derived from the Panther Lake architecture, associated with an Arc B390 graphics part with 12 Xe3 cores. MSI announces up to 32 GB of LPDDR5X memory and an NVMe SSD in M.2 2280 format (the large format, easier and cheaper to replace than the M.2 2230 of the previous generation) up to 1 TB, all powered by an 80 Wh battery.

This change in situation works in favor of MSI, Intel's historic partner in the sector. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ console was the real star of this Computex 2026.

A familiarity that pleases

The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, I think this is the last time we will use its full name in this article, seemed to us to be a small success in terms of design.

During two sessions at the show, at Intel and at the manufacturer itself, we were able to get to grips with it for several minutes.

What strikes us is the impressive and immediate familiarity once in hand.

In fact, by MSI engineers' own admission, the brand was inspired by Microsoft's Xbox controller, for example, in terms of the directional cross.

This is felt in the hand, we have controls that fit our palms perfectly, even if it means offering slightly prominent handles.

The placement of the sticks, the Hall effect, the placement of the buttons and even the triggers, everything seems exactly where you expect it and it's very satisfying.

We also appreciate the attention to detail, right down to the textured effect of the triggers.

Another good idea is integrating a fingerprint reader into the power button. Since these are consoles under Windows 11, we appreciate the idea of ​​being able to control access to the machine and our data using a biometric system.

The screen does not move compared to the previous generation: an 8-inch IPS touch panel in 1920 x 1200, with variable refresh rate (VRR) from 48 to 120 Hz and a brightness announced at 500 nits. Enough to remain readable outdoors, but we are far from an OLED.

Launch imminent

There remains direct competition: the Claw G3 will not be alone in the Intel Arc G3 niche. The Acer Predator Atlas 8, equipped with the same chip, is expected in October 2026 in Europe. And compared to the AMD camp, Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Xbox Ally, the announced entry ticket remains significantly steeper.

The new MSI Claw G3, it's still simpler to call it that, will be marketed from June 23, 2026, the launch date confirmed by MSI. French availability remains to be clarified: MSI is talking about ordering it in France at the beginning of July.

Concerning the price, MSI is aiming for a starting price of around $1,500 (around €1,400, excluding taxes), but a product sheet spotted at Best Buy in the United States shows $1,699.99 (around €1,580) for the 1 TB version. The French price is not official: you should expect a price well beyond 1,000 euros.