Valve released the Steam Frame VR headset – prices, specs, and release date
Valve has opened registration for purchasing the new Steam Frame VR headset. The company will first randomly select buyers from among registered users.
Registration is open from September 14 to 17, after which Valve will shuffle the participant list. The first purchase invitations will begin sending on September 18.
Invited users will have 72 hours to place their order; others will remain in the queue. For Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, Valve organized sales through regional partner Komodo.
How much will it cost?
Steam Frame is available in 256 GB and 1 TB storage versions. Both configurations allow storage expansion via microSD cards. Prices include VAT where applicable.
| Version | USD | GBP | EUR | CAD | AUD | PLN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Frame 256 GB | $1059 | £889 | €1049 | C$1529 | A$1609 | 4539 zł |
| Steam Frame 1 TB | $1299 | £1089 | €1279 | C$1859 | A$1969 | 5549 zł |
| 45 W power supply | $29 | £29 | €39 | C$49 | A$49 | 139 zł |
| Ergonomic Accessories Kit | $59 | £59 | €69 | C$89 | A$99 | 279 zł |
| Accessory Replacement Kit | $49 | £49 | €59 | C$69 | A$89 | 229 zł |
Both versions allow storage expansion via microSD cards. The package includes the headset itself, two Steam Frame controllers, a Wi-Fi 6E wireless adapter supporting the 6 GHz band for direct connection to a gaming PC, and a copy of Half-Life: Alyx.
The box does not include a power supply. For charging, Valve recommends using a USB-C adapter rated at 45 watts or higher. The company sells its own 45-watt charger with a 2.5-meter cable separately.
Steam Frame also offers two accessory kits. The Ergonomic Accessories Kit includes controller straps, an additional head strap for the headset, and an enlarged light-blocking faceplate insert. The Accessory Replacement Kit contains a spare faceplate frame, rear cushion, and standard light-blocking insert.
What’s inside the Steam Frame
Steam Frame is built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform and features 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM. For data storage, it offers 256 GB or 1 TB of internal storage UFS plus a microSD slot.
The headset runs SteamOS 3.8 based on Arch Linux, adapted for Arm64. Windows games for x86 launch via Proton and FEX, while Android apps run through the Lepton compatibility layer.
By the time of launch, around 130 games had received the Great on Frame status, confirming good compatibility with the headset’s standalone mode. The list includes both VR titles and regular games that run on a virtual screen.
Separately, Valve has prepared a native Arm64 version of Half-Life: Alyx. The game is included in the bundle and runs directly on Steam Frame without a gaming PC.
Steam Frame is equipped with two LCD displays, each offering 2160 × 2160 pixels per eye and pancake-type lenses. It supports refresh rates of 72, 90, and 120 Hz, while an experimental mode boosts this to 144 Hz. The maximum claimed field of view reaches up to 110°.
Four external monochrome cameras track the headset and controllers’ positions while providing a black-and-white view of the surrounding environment. Infrared illumination enables the system to operate in darkness. Two additional internal cameras monitor the user’s gaze direction.
Eye tracking is used for foveated streaming: maximum image quality is concentrated in the area where the user is looking, while the peripheral region is transmitted with lower detail. This reduces bandwidth requirements for wireless connections.
Steam Frame controllers support six degrees of freedom tracking, capacitive finger position detection, and haptic feedback. Full-size sticks use magnetic sensors TMR. According to Valve, each controller runs on a single AA battery for approximately 40 hours.
The headset features two speakers on each side and two microphones. The main module with the front bezel measures 175 × 95 × 110 mm. The entire assembly, including the headband and rear battery, weighs 440 grams, while the removable front computing module weighs 185 grams.
A 21.6 Wh battery is located at the rear of the headband, which helps distribute weight more evenly.
Dedicated wireless channel for gaming
For streaming games from a PC, the kit includes a Wi-Fi 6E adapter with a 6 GHz band. It creates a direct connection between the computer and the headset.
The Steam Frame itself has two Wi-Fi 7 radio modules installed. One can be used for game streaming, and the second for regular network connection to distribute the load and reduce the likelihood of interference. Bluetooth 5.4 is also supported, and the controllers use a separate communication channel in the 2.4 GHz band.
In the future, Valve plans to add game streaming directly from Steam Machine.
First reviews of Steam Frame
The main issue with Steam Frame in early reviews was battery life. In a Linus Tech Tips test, a standard 2D game drained the headset in about 1 hour and 43 minutes, while the standalone Half-Life: Alyx at 144 Hz lasted approximately 55 minutes.
When streaming Half-Life: Alyx from a PC at the same 144 Hz, Steam Frame lasted about 1 hour 36 minutes. A full battery charge took more than three hours.
Reviewers also encountered SteamOS crashes, individual game crashes, and offline compatibility issues. In some tests, artifacts appeared during rapid head movements. Streaming from a powerful PC, by contrast, received mostly positive reviews due to low latency and a stable connection.
Valve is already preparing an Enthusiast Kit with a new headband, an additional magnetic battery, and an improved audio system. The price and release date of the kit have not yet been announced.
