A Closer Look

Looking at the Claw 8 from the front, you can spot the usual mix of face buttons, thumbsticks, extra buttons, and a d-pad. You can also notice two microphone holes located next to each side bezel, and there's the inevitable Intel sticker below the right thumbstick.


On the back, you've got two programmable buttons, two large intake grilles, and a giant MSI dragon logo. Six Phillips-head screws keep the back panel secure to the rest of the chassis.


The top houses a number of connectors and buttons.


You have two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a LED that lights up when the device is on and/or charging, two wide air vents through which hot air is exhausted out of the console, a power button that also plays the role of a fingerprint sensor, a 3.5 mm audio jack, a microSD card slot, a nice-feeling volume rocker, and a Claw logo located smack in the middle.


The bottom doesn't include any ports, which is a shame, as we always appreciate seeing a USB-C charging port at the bottom, but oh well.

MSI Claw 8 Charger

The charger provided with the MSI Claw is a 65 W USB PD unit featuring a non-removable cable ending in a USB-C port.


While the cord is non-removable, we don't mind it because it's very long. It measures 175 cm in total, only a few centimeters shorter than the ASUS ROG Ally charger's cable, which is a plus because it gives you enough leeway to game in any position while topping up the console.