Steam Deck vs MSI Claw 8 AI+
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is about 79% faster than the Steam Deck in our estimates (median game, 800p Medium, typical power modes).
Updated
Estimated FPS in popular games
Estimated average FPS at 800p and 1080p Medium, upscaling off, each at its typical power mode.
| Game | Steam Deck 800p Medium | Steam Deck 1080p Medium | MSI Claw 8 AI+ 800p Medium | MSI Claw 8 AI+ 1080p Medium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valorant | Doesn't run | Doesn't run | 200 | 200 |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 78 | 57 | 141 | 103 |
| Fortnite | Doesn't run | Doesn't run | 78 | 57 |
| Minecraft | 65 | 65 | 112 | 112 |
| Apex Legends | Doesn't run | Doesn't run | 135 | 99 |
| GTA V | Doesn't run | Doesn't run | 110 | 110 |
| PUBG: Battlegrounds | Doesn't run | Doesn't run | 118 | 86 |
| EA Sports FC 26 | Doesn't run | Doesn't run | 66 | 48 |
| Call of Duty: Warzone | Doesn't run | Doesn't run | 81 | 60 |
| Elden Ring | 35 | 26 | 60 | 47 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 30 | 22 | 53 | 39 |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 27 | 19 | 48 | 35 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 28 | 20 | 50 | 37 |
| Alan Wake 2 | 21 | 15 | 37 | 27 |
| Black Myth: Wukong | 14 | 10 | 25 | 18 |
Smooth 60+ FPS · Playable 30–59 · Choppy under 30 · What is a good FPS?
Estimated FPS. Numbers come from the FPSVibe model, not measured benchmarks. How we estimate
Which one should you get?
Pick the MSI Claw 8 AI+ for more FPS: it leads in 175 of 181 games we cover.
The Steam Deck runs SteamOS: 29 games we cover don't run on it (anti-cheat or launcher), while the other runs Windows.
At launch the Steam Deck cost $399 and the MSI Claw 8 AI+ $899.99.
Steam Deck: Confidence: medium. Fitted to 9 published results from Notebookcheck, Tom's Hardware, Digital Foundry and HotHardware.
MSI Claw 8 AI+: Confidence: medium. Fitted to 6 published results from Notebookcheck and PC Gamer.
Specs side by side
| Spec | Steam Deck | MSI Claw 8 AI+ |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | AMD Van Gogh APU | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V |
| Graphics | RDNA 2, 8 CUs | Intel Arc 140V, 8 Xe2 cores |
| Processor | 4 Zen 2 cores, 8 threads | 8 cores (4 P + 4 LP-E), 8 threads |
| Memory | 16 GB LPDDR5-5500 | 32 GB LPDDR5X-8533 |
| Screen | 7-inch LCD, 1280x800, 60 Hz | 8-inch IPS, 1920x1200, 120 Hz |
| Released | Feb 2022 | Dec 2024 |
| Launch price | $399 | $899.99 |
| System | SteamOS | Windows 11 |
| Estimates use | Default (15 W, no limit set) | 30 W (the limit reviews test) |
Steam Deck vs MSI Claw 8 AI+ FAQs
Is the Steam Deck faster than the MSI Claw 8 AI+?
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is about 79% faster than the Steam Deck in our estimates (median game, 800p Medium, typical power modes).
Which is better for battery life?
It depends on the power mode more than the device: both run longer on lower modes. Our FPS estimates use Default (15 W, no limit set) for the Steam Deck and 30 W (the limit reviews test) for the MSI Claw 8 AI+.