Two major PC manufacturers have announced new 8-inch handheld gaming devices ahead of or during the Computex 2026 trade show. Both devices feature Intel's latest Arc processors and display upgrades over their predecessors.
MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus
MSI announced the Claw 8 EX AI Plus handheld gaming PC prior to Computex 2026. The device is equipped with an Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor. It features an 8-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1920x1200 and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The system supports up to 32GB of dual-channel LPDDR5x memory and includes a single NVMe M.2 SSD slot.
The chassis has been redesigned with updated grips and a "Void Purple" color option. The device includes hall effect sticks and triggers, as well as a new linear motor for haptic feedback.
Pricing, battery life, and a release date have not been announced.
For context, the previous MSI Claw 8 AI Plus launched at a price of $1,000.
Acer Predator Atlas 8
Acer announced the Predator Atlas 8 at Computex 2026. The device is expected to launch in October 2026 in North America, Australia, and the EMEA region. Pricing has not been revealed.
Key Specifications:
- Display: 8-inch FHD+ (1920×1200) touchscreen, 16:10 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate with variable refresh rate (VRR) support, 500 nits peak brightness, 100% sRGB color gamut, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus with DXC coating.
- Processor: Intel Arc G-Series, up to Intel Arc G3 Extreme.
- Graphics: Intel Arc Xe3 with Intel XeSS 3 AI upscaling.
- Memory: Up to 24GB LPDDR5X at 7467 MT/s.
- Storage: Up to 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD, with a UHS-II microSD card reader.
- Battery: Up to 80Wh (a 60Wh option is available on select models).
- Cooling: Dual-fan Predator AeroBlade system with Vortex Flow airflow and 89-blade metal fans.
- Audio: Dual 2W speakers, DTS:X Ultra support, dual microphones with Acer PurifiedVoice.
- Controls: Hall-effect analog triggers, full-size analog sticks, rear macro buttons, adjustable trigger modes, dedicated PredatorSense button.
- Connectivity: Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 3.5mm audio jack.
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home.
The purchase includes two months of Xbox Game Pass Premium.