The Gaming Brief:
- MSI has launched a cheaper Claw 8 EX with Intel Arc G3 and Arc B370 graphics, priced at $1,499 in the US, $300 below the original
- Notebookcheck’s benchmarks show roughly 6% lower in-game performance than the Arc G3 Extreme model, for 16% less money
- Storage drops from 1TB to 512GB, while 32GB RAM, the 80Wh battery and the 120Hz VRR display carry over
- Only US pricing and availability are known, and MSI’s own listings conflict on the GPU
MSI’s cheaper Claw 8 EX is official, and the interesting part is what the $300 cut actually removes.
The new Luminous Blue model swaps the Arc G3 Extreme and Arc B390 graphics of MSI’s original Panther Lake handheld for the standard Arc G3 and Arc B370, building on lessons learned from the original MSI Claw A1M.
Notebookcheck measures roughly 6% lower in-game performance, but storage is halved, and one MSI listing contradicts the spec sheet.
Arc B370 vs Arc B390: Two Xe3 Cores and a Lower Power Limit
Intel’s Arc B370 has 10 Xe3 cores at up to 2.2GHz, while the Arc B390 in the G3 Extreme has 12 cores at up to 2.3GHz, according to WindowsForum’s summary of Intel’s specs.
The power limits tell a similar story. The standard Arc G3 runs anywhere from 8W to 30W, while the G3 Extreme is allowed to push up to 35W when it needs the extra juice.
In the real world, though, that gap is pretty small. Benchmarks from Notebookcheck show the standard Arc G3 trailing the G3 Extreme by only about 6% in actual gaming performance.
The Value Math: 6% Slower, 16% Cheaper, Half the Storage
The new CG3M-072USY costs $1,499, against the original CG3EM-024US at $1,799 on MSI’s US store.
Even when you factor in the slight performance dip, you’re getting roughly 11% better value per dollar, at least before looking at the storage cut.
Notebookcheck confirms the model carries 512GB of storage, down from 1TB, plus 32GB of RAM.
MSI keeps the 80Wh battery and the 500-nit IPS display with a 120Hz VRR screen.
Reports list an 8-inch 1920×1200 panel, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, and a 785g weight, putting it up against large-screen rivals like the Lenovo Legion Go.
Launch Footprint: US Retailers and a Listing Conflict
The model first appeared at third-party retailers in early September, and MSI released it in China a few weeks later without acknowledging it elsewhere.
MSI has now launched it globally, but it lists availability only in the US, through Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Excaliber PC, Micro Center, Newegg, and MSI directly, the report adds.
Pricing and availability for other markets remain unknown.
Before you drop $1,499, watch out for a confusing spec mix-up flagged by WindowsForum: MSI’s US specification pages list the Arc B370, while their US store page points to B390 graphics with 12 Xe cores.
It’s definitely worth double-checking which chip you’re actually getting before completing your order.
Source: MSI releases new Claw 8 EX gaming handheld with cheaper pricing
