Handheld Gaming PCs: A Growing Market and Rising Prices
Handheld gaming PCs have evolved significantly since Valve’s Steam Deck made its debut in 2022. At that time, the handheld gaming market was largely niche. The Steam Deck quickly won over gamers due to its blend of affordability and impressive performance. Capable of running both indie titles and demanding AAA games, the device offered a reliable way for gamers to engage with their libraries away from their usual setups.
However, the ongoing RAM crisis and shifting market conditions in 2026 have created challenges for Valve. This has led to delays in new hardware launches and significant price hikes for the Steam Deck OLED. Today, the handheld’s pricing stands at $789 / £649 / AU$1,199 for the 512GB variant, and $949 / £779 / AU$1,429 for the 1TB model.
Despite these developments, the focus of this article shifts from the Steam Deck to the new MSI Claw 8 EX AI+. Unveiled at Computex 2026, this handheld is garnering attention for its remarkable performance across a variety of tested games. It may well claim the title of the most powerful handheld of the year, but it comes with a substantial caveat—its steep price tag.
The Price of the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+: A Tough Pill to Swallow
(Image credit: Future)
The Claw 8 EX AI+ is expected to retail at an eye-watering $1,799 (around £1,340 / AU$2,540). To put this into perspective, this price tag is comparable to that of high-end components like an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 or even a complete desktop gaming setup. While the device boasts an impressive Intel G3 Extreme processor—promising a 44% uplift in performance at 1080p compared to its predecessor, the MSI Claw 8 AI+—the cost raises serious questions about value and affordability.
(Image credit: MSI)
It is noteworthy that the absence of an OLED panel in this new Claw handheld might actually be beneficial from a cost perspective. Given the current pricing landscape, adding such a feature could further inflate the already unjustifiable price tag. Spending close to $2,000 on a handheld device seems excessive, especially when dedicated gaming rigs are available within that price range.
The ongoing RAM crisis has added to the production challenges, causing disruption across the PC market. This context of rising costs certainly plays a role in the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+’s pricing. Nonetheless, many experts and industry analysts believe that the market should not support devices at this price point. As the popularity of handheld gaming continues to grow, it remains to be seen whether manufacturers will heed consumer concerns or continue to push the envelope with overpricing.
As we move forward, it is likely that the trend of overpriced gaming portables might persist, posing a challenge for players looking for affordable options in handheld gaming.
Source: Here
Image Credit: www.techradar.com
