The AOKZOE A2 Ultra could be Intel's chance for a PC gaming handheld redemption

white pc gaming handheld
(Image credit: AOKZOE)

The MSI Claw, released in March 2024, has gotten plenty of negative attention thanks to its poor optimization at launch. But a new PC gaming handheld sporting an Intel processor is coming and may be the answer to Intel’s portable console woes.

The AOKZOE A2 Ultra has been confirmed to sport an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, according to a report from PCGamesN. This is the same processor powering the high-end models of the MSI Claw A1M, which received plenty of backlash due to its struggling with basic gaming tasks that its competition easily handles.

Unlike MSI, the company behind the device seems to have more experience with manufacturing PC handhelds, though, like the Steam Deck and nearly every other handheld in the market, it usually uses AMD processors. While we don’t know why AOKZOE made the switch to Intel, there’s a good chance that the AOKZOE A2 Ultra could be the redemption story that Intel needs right now.

MSI Claw was disappointing

As of now, there’s no clear reason why the MSI Claw is struggling. Our own preview of the handheld was beaming, praising its consistent and excellent performance with the limited games on hand. However, once in-depth reviews arrived, tales of subpar performance woes quickly spread.

These issues include some Intel-related updates refusing to install properly, the MSI Center’s inconsistent game launching, overheating issues, inconsistent performance, and more. Right now, the universal experience with this system seems to be frustration and disappointment.

And the problem is, we don’t know who’s to blame for this. Is it MSI’s manufacturing process, or architectural limitations with Intel processors? The answer will most likely be settled with the AOKZOE A2 Ultra once it launches, which makes this handheld incredibly vital for Intel to prove that its processor can stand against AMD's in this market.

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Allisa James
Computing Staff Writer

Named by the CTA as a CES 2023 Media Trailblazer, Allisa is a Computing Staff Writer who covers breaking news and rumors in the computing industry, as well as reviews, hands-on previews, featured articles, and the latest deals and trends. In her spare time you can find her chatting it up on her two podcasts, Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, as well as playing any JRPGs she can get her hands on.

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