Search

I highly doubt that MSI set a $1,799 price for its new gaming handheld just so it could make a few quick bucks off of those who still have a big PC gaming budget. The original MSI Claw 8 AI+ that launched in 2025 had an $899 price tag attached, nearly half that of the new EX AI+ version arriving officially on June 23. The massive jump in price has a small part to do with upgraded hardware and new performance chips, but it has a massive part to do with RAM and storage costs. AI data centers are eating through the world's supply of these components, and practically all tech costs more than it di

A $1,799 gaming handheld is a hard sell anytime, never mind in our current economy. At this price point, it's competing with full gaming laptops with discrete GPUs and, as mentioned, a bundle of consoles. Yes, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is far more portable than anything else with the same level of performance, but I don't doubt that a lot of gamers will be happy to sit at a desk and play after saving hundreds of dollars. 👉 Gaming handhelds are the new netbooks — will they suffer the same tragic fate? The average gamer is going to have a hard time coming to terms with such a high cost for one devic

CHUWI's AuBox X is available now to buy directly from CHUWI's store. The more affordable model, featuring an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, costs $679 — that's with tax included. The high-end model that I'm reviewing here, with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, costs $829. Again, that's with tax included. CHUWI is offering an exclusive $80 discount for Windows Central readers. When checking out, use code WindowsCentralAuBoxX. These configurations are effectively locked; if you want more storage, you can upgrade after purchase. Memory is, un

Aside from a bit of fan noise, I don't have much to complain about regarding the CHUWI AuBox X's performance. Its Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU, which launched in late 2024, remains a solid performer with 8 cores and a boost clock up to 4.8GHz. Although it has a base TDP of 17W, CHUWI designed the system to be capable of jumping up to 37W for short bursts. That's as high as this chip goes. Also on board is an integrated Arc 140V graphics chip, providing a respectable amount of power for such a small device. It compares well to the discrete NVIDIA GTX 1650 and can even give the RTX 3050 a run for