MSI Unveils AMD Gaming Handheld and Updated Mid-Range Gaming Laptops at Computex

Alright, here goes. Hang on because it’s going to be a bit of a ride.

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So, MSI, right? They’re at Computex (or were—I sometimes forget time can be linear) and they’ve got this new toy—the Claw A8 BZ2EM—don’t even ask me what that means. But the thing’s got this AMD chip. I guess they were flaunting it like their latest bling or something. Anyway, they also showed off their Crosshair and Cyborg laptops, which sounds cooler than it probably is.

Backtrack a bit—MSI and Intel used to be like best buds for gaming handhelds. But now? It’s like they’ve opened the door to AMD. It’s all chips and processors, like we all have a clue, right? The older gaming things they did had Intel’s Core Ultra stuff. Will they ditch Intel? Nope, they’re just playing both sides to jazz things up.

Now picture this: the Claw A8’s got this AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip. The name screams “I’m from the future,” but it’s here, I guess. And something about graphics—integrated AMD Radeon. Okay then. The screen’s 8 inches which feels oddly small but hey, it’s 1920 x 1200, so pixels galore. Weird detail: the RAM can go up to 24GB, which sounds like it’s ready to eat a lot of data or something. Got a bunch of other specs too, but I always zone out with these techy details.

Oh, and the Claw A8’s green. Didn’t see that coming! Not sure if the color helps with gaming, but it’s got this Xbox-like controller layout. Right stick’s below the buttons, which is supposed to be clever? Who knows. Hall Effect joysticks—I hear they stop that annoying stick drift issue. Let’s see if that holds up. And there’s these sensors in it too, LT and RT triggers. Don’t ask me what that means.

The handles are bigger, which is good if you’ve got bear paws, I guess? More comfortable, I hope. 24GB RAM is cool—it’s fast and all, but no one’s saying what markets are getting what, so we’re playing the waiting game to see where they land with all that memory. Remember, Asus did the 24GB thing with their ROG Ally X, which was, apparently, a big deal.

Battery? Solid at 80 WHr, same as the Ally X. Long-lasting, they say, but hey, depends on how crazy you go with it. Top of the gadget’s like a port flea market—headphone jack, USB ports, microSD reader, what have you. Oh, sneaky bit: you can swap the SSD, if you fancy a hands-on challenge.

Then there’s the software stuff—MSI Center, Xbox Game Bar, less space, more customization. Windows 11’s kind of a mixed bag for gaming, though—everyone seems to say it’s awkward.

Whoops, laptops now. Like Acer and Asus, MSI brought their notebooks to Computex too—middle-of-the-road gaming ones. They sprinkled some Nvidia RTX 5060 and 5070 magic on them.

Confounding bit—the 18 inches models: Intel versions are Crosshair 18 HX AI, and the AMD ones are Crosshair A18HX. Such a brainteaser. AI’s for Intel Core Ultra chips here, and AMD’s using Ryzen 8000. Nerds must love this kind of puzzle.

There’s a truckload of similarities, though. Nvidia RTX 5070 or 5060 graphics ‘and below’—cryptic, huh? Max 115W for the GPU and 170W on the CPU. Batteries are 90 WHr, Wi-Fi 6E, screens are 2560 x 1600 at 240 Hz—so basically they’re set for some serious stuff.

The Crosshair 18HX AI models start at $1,699—Costco exclusive, go figure. Toss in a Core Ultra 9, 32GB RAM, and 1TB storage, yeah you get the idea. Pricing and availability? Your guess is as good as mine.

Pause—on to Cyborg, this line’s translucent on the sides which sounds… unique? Intel Core 200H processors, RTX croutons sprinkled throughout. Ryzen chips coming up in others. Screen options depend on your appetite—1080p or 1440p, pick your poison.

Pricing? Well, the Cyborg A15 AI at Costco’s $1,149, Ryzen 7, RTX 5050, 16GB RAM, decent—but details are fuzzy.

There’s more—MSI’s flexing with productivity laptops, something about a stealth A16 and Prestige 16, thanks to their AMG Motorsport bromance. Plus, if limited editions tickle your fancy, the Prestige 13 AI+ Ukiyo-e edition has that “Great Wave off Kanagawa” look—collector’s item?

All in all, MSI’s offerings are diverse, maybe a bit overwhelming. But hey, more toys for tech lovers to drool over, and more things to speculate about.

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That’s it. Real talk, as you asked for, with all the quirkiness intact.