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Head-to-head · Best Handheld Gaming PCs

MSI Claw 8 vs Valve Steam Deck OLED

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Valve Steam Deck OLED comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about SteamOS users prioritizing battery life — read the strengths below before deciding.

MSI Claw 8
Ranked #5 in Best Handheld Gaming PCs
MSI Claw 8
$1,079as of Jul 1

The MSI Claw 8 AI+ represents a significant leap from its predecessor, delivering strong performance thanks to Intel's Lunar Lake Core Ultra 7 258V and Arc 140V graphics. Reviewers praised its large 8-inch 120Hz display, comfortable ergonomics, and excellent battery life. The device is well-suited for users seeking a powerful, immersive handheld gaming experience, though its premium price and some software issues may deter budget-conscious buyers. TechPowerUp and Club386 both highlighted its improved hardware and design over previous models.

Strengths
  • — Strong APU performance with Intel Core Ultra 7 258V and Arc 140V graphics
  • — Large, smooth 8-inch 120Hz display with VRR support
  • — Comfortable and ergonomic design with scalloped grips and balanced weight
Watch-outs
  • — Relatively expensive at £900/$900
  • — Some software quirks and Windows 11 desktop baggage
$1,079 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Valve Steam Deck OLED
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Handheld Gaming PCs
Valve Steam Deck OLED
$924.98as of Jul 6

The Valve Steam Deck OLED represents a significant visual upgrade over its predecessor, with an OLED display that delivers vibrant HDR images and 1,000 nits peak brightness. Reviewers noted that the OLED screen alone makes the device feel notably better, with excellent color reproduction and 90Hz refresh rate. The device also features improved battery life, quieter fans, and Wi-Fi 6E support. While the AMD APU hardware shows its age with some newer games, the Steam Deck remains capable of delivering immersive gaming experiences with titles like Diablo 4 and God of War Ragnarök. This is a solid upgrade for users seeking better display quality and performance improvements.

Strengths
  • — OLED display delivers vibrant HDR image with 1,000 nits peak brightness and 110% P3 color gamut
  • — Improved battery life with 50Whr battery and 6nm AMD APU for better efficiency
  • — Quieter fans compared to original Steam Deck model
Watch-outs
  • — AMD APU hardware shows age with some recent big-budget games
  • — Still uses sub-1080p resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels which may seem like a downgrade
$924.98 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

MSI Claw 8

The MSI Claw 8 surpasses the ASUS ROG Ally X in battery life and performance with its 80WHr battery and Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, while also offering a larger 8-inch display. However, it's more expensive than the Steam Deck OLED and lacks the SteamOS integration of the Valve model or the Xbox UI of the ASUS ROG Ally X.

Valve Steam Deck OLED

The Valve Steam Deck OLED improves upon the original Steam Deck OLED with better battery life and quieter fans, but lags behind the MSI Claw 8 in terms of hardware performance and battery capacity. It also doesn't match the Lenovo Legion Go S's Z1 Extreme chipset or the ASUS ROG Ally X's Xbox UI integration.

Specs side-by-side

SpecMSI Claw 8Valve Steam Deck OLED
ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 7 258VZen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz
Display8in IPS (19201200 / 120Hz)7.4" OLED, 1280 x 800
Memory32GB LPDDR5X-853316 GB LPDDR5
StorageKioxia BG6 1TB1TB NVMe SSD
GraphicsIntel Arc 140V8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.6GHz
Refresh Rate120HzUp to 90Hz
Battery80WHr50Whr battery
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