Due to recent tariff changes, I’ve been closely monitoring the cost of handheld gaming devices in the United States to see if prices are affected. During my research on top handhelds, I discovered that on MSI’s US site, the new MSI Claw 8 AI+ and MSI Claw 7 AI+ are now listed at $100 more than their original suggested retail prices.
For American buyers, this means the Claw 8 AI+ has jumped from $899.99 to $999.99, while the Claw 7 AI+ increased from $799.99 to $899.99. Meanwhile, if you’re in the UK, the Claw 8 AI+ remains at £899.00 on MSI’s UK site, though the Claw 7 AI+ isn’t available there.
These price hikes are eye-opening, especially since these devices were already on the pricier side. The increases are understandable though, given the significant tariffs on Chinese goods, where most of these handhelds are produced.
It’s likely that we’ll see more price surges soon across various tech products. As of now, retailers like Newegg, B&H, and Amazon still list these handhelds at their original MSRPs, but changes could happen any day. Best Buy, for instance, had already raised the Claw 7 AI+ price to $829.00 and might adjust it further to align with MSI’s new pricing.
This isn’t just affecting MSI products. Almost every gaming handheld sold in the U.S. is made in China, subjecting them to the hefty tariffs reaching up to 145% currently. If the trade situation remains unchanged, prices for these devices will likely continue to climb.
Even before these tariffs started impacting costs, I noticed a price increase for the anticipated Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS) by $50 at Best Buy. Also, the starting setup for the ASUS ROG Ally Z1 isn’t listed anymore, aside from open-box offerings.
This could simply be coincidental, or it might align with recent tariff implications. ASUS has already teased a new ROG Ally for 2025, and an inside scoop revealed they’re collaborating on an Xbox handheld, codenamed “Project Kennan,” set for release in partnership with ASUS this year. Perhaps the ROG Ally Z1 is just being phased out as stock runs low, or maybe Best Buy is opting out of restocking due to the high tariffs making it less viable.
