Testing XaX, Claw 8 AI+, LeGo2 z2e (long read)
TLDR
All three are great handhelds.
XaX has the best software experience but it has a small screen while taking up similar space as the claw 8 and legion go. LeGo2 best jack of all trades, but definitely not worth the current price. MSI Claw is a perfect in between but has the worst software out of the 3.
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Very briefly touching on performance. They are all pretty similar. intel and z2e trade blows depending on the game. The only reason I’d give the Claw a leg up is because it does have a better cpu and it’s noticeable when you connect it to an eGPU (which is niche, but is my use case).
I also don’t notice any performance difference, visually, from the XaX compared to the LeGo2.
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I ended up purchasing the LeGo2 for 1350 right before the price hike.
Also purchased the Claw 8 AI for 899 during launch.
The XaX actually impressed me the most, despite its smaller screen.
Testing out XaX I'm finally starting to understand what everyone has been saying about ergonimics. The Claw and LeGo2 aren't bad by any means, but how the XaX feels in the hand + the great sticks made this a top contender. On top of that, the software for the XaX is by far the most polished. It's the most stable out of the 3 and having the secondary functions with the m1/2 keys gives it similar versititlity as the LeGo2, but with only 2 programmable buttons instead of 6.
The downsides for me are the materials used in this device. It got creaky after a few weeks so I put a Killswitch case on it. Doing that made it feel more solid, but now it weighs exactly the same as a LeGo 2, which isn’t a great look for a 7inch device.
I also thought the 7 inch display was fine until I started playing Diablo 4. The over the top gameplay made me wish I had a bigger screen. I didn’t have that thought when playing games like RE9 or Pragmata, but this plus the weight including a case is off putting.
The LeGo2 was also a top contender for different reasons.
Of course that 8.8 Oled display is amazing and I do gravitate to larger screens for more immersion.
One niche use case I have is that the LeGo2 is a much more convenient setup for eGPU usage.
This is convenient because of being able to disconnect the controllers and using the joycons, instead of having to get a separate controller. The built in kickstand is also a game changer on this device. (Essentially a switch 2 pro max ultra 😂)
Also, this handheld feels the best in terms of quality.
Ergonomics are okay. I actually tried the Etsy comfort grips and I personally prefer the handheld without them.
One of my main concerns for the LeGo2 is lack of updates. Before the price increase, this device was at its peak and we’ve only seen maybe 2 driver updates since it’s been out? As time goes on these updates are probably going to be non-existent and its tough to pay as much as we have for this device (and unacceptable now that new owners need to pay 2k)
The last small gripe is fan noise in custom modes. In the preset performance mode (20-35tdp depending on if you’re plugged in or not) the fans are actually great… custom 35tdp and the fans are just as loud as a gaming laptop.
The MSI Claw 8AI+ Is a very good inbetween. It doesn't have the great software that the XaX has, nor as good of a screen as the LeGo2, but the 8 inch screen is suffecient and given the price increase of Legion Handhelds, I'd personally recommend this for someone who knows they can't do a 7 inch screen.
If you’re mostly using an eGPU, this is the most powerful out of the bunch. The intel chip, connected to my 5070 eGPU, gets 10-20 more fps than the other z2e chips… sure it doesn’t have the convenience of detachable controllers or kickstand, but if you’re docking to an eGPU most of the time, it’d be understandable to choose this device for the performance alone.
Which one am I keeping
If the XaX was 8 inches I definitely would have gone with this, no questions asked.
That’s where the LeGo 2 comes in. This is the one I’ve decided to go with. Sure software support is garbage… I’m not opposed to steamOS when it officially launches and it is the best built out of the bunch. If i were debating this while having to pay 2k I probably would have kept the MSI Claw 8 just knowing I’d get better performance docked.
If I wasn’t in an eGPU setup then I would have probably settled for the XaX given the top notch software and that the claw is 1100ish and they offer similar performance.