Virtual reality headsets have struggled to find a place with consumers, even among gamers, who are not usually shy about spending money on their hobby.
However, the Steam Frame is a significant step forward that promises to make PCVR easier than ever, and takes aim directly at the giant in the room: the Meta Quest 3.
The Steam Frame: Standalone gaming and PCVR in one elegant device
The Steam Frame is designed to be an all-in-one gaming solution, whether you’re looking for a device that can run games on its own like the Meta Quest 3 or connect to your PC to drive the headset with a more powerful system.
Under the hood, the Frame has some pretty impressive hardware of its own. The entire thing is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, which opens the possibility for decent standalone gaming. It will be available with either 256GB or 1TB of onboard storage, which can be expanded with a microSD card.
The display of the Steam Frame is composed of dual 2160×2160 LCD panels with variable refresh rates between 72-144Hz and pancake lenses. Additionally, Valve has implemented foveated streaming, which tracks your eyes to adjust which parts of the image are in focus. In theory, that should result in a snappier experience (since it consumes less bandwidth) without noticeably compromising visual quality.
The Frame has an abundance of connectivity options, including dual Wi-Fi 7 radios, Bluetooth 5.3, and a USB-C port that is used for both data and charging. There is also a 6GHz Wi-Fi adapter included in the box that you can attach to your PC.
There are also two controllers that feature a D-Pad, two analog sticks, and an assortment of buttons, bumpers, and triggers. Like most modern standalone headsets, the Frame features exterior cameras used for controller and headset tracking.
The Steam Frame is poised to be a Quest 3 killer
Meta’s Quest 3 has been the most popular VR headset for years, and for a good reason. The headset is relatively affordable, works as both a standalone device and a PCVR headset, and is relatively comfortable to wear, even for prolonged periods.
However, it isn’t without fault, and the specs and ecosystem of The Frame make me think Valve is aiming to confront Meta head-on.
Virtual reality on PC has a ton of problems
However, the Quest 3 isn’t perfect—PCVR has a convenience problem. In order to use your Quest 3 with your gaming PC, you either need to physically tether your Quest to your PC using a USB-C cable or do so wirelessly. Neither option is great for gamers.
The cable solution is low-latency and reliable, but it limits where and how you move.
The wireless solution isn’t great either. More often than not, the wireless connection only works well if you purchase a dedicated Wi-Fi router—a $100 dollar commitment at least—to use exclusively with your Quest 3. That is a big ask for a device that already costs between $300 and $500.
Nor is getting everything working on the software side smooth sailing either. There are a half-dozen pieces of software you’ll see recommended as the “best” way to get your headset working with your PC. Some of them work well, but the reality is that no one wants to spend time setting up and troubleshooting software before they play a game. They just want to play the game.
It is precisely that convenience factor that has enabled Steam to become so dominant in the PC gaming space, and it is where the Frame has a chance to shine.
The Frame should make gaming easier
Steam is the most popular digital game storefront by an enormous margin, and it is precisely that integration that gives the Frame the opportunity to be the headset that finally “breaks through” to the general gaming population.
Valve’s Frame aims to correct the problem of the unofficially-required extra hardware by including a dedicated 6GHz wireless adapter that “provides a dedicated link for both VR and non-VR streaming.” The unit also has a second Wi-Fi adapter built-in that allows your gaming content to be sent along one connection while other data is transmitted on a completely separate connection, ensuring that your gaming performance doesn’t suffer.
Valve hasn’t elaborated on the software side of the situation, but their existing VR software is already pretty good. The Frame promises to deliver a smoother VR gaming experience than ever before: “Just wake up the headset, and you’re gaming. No fuss, no setup.” Given that software friction and frustration has been a huge sticking point for VR gaming in the past, it seems very likely that Valve has taken care to address the issue before launching a product whose success will hinge on software support.
Weighing in at 440 grams, the Frame is also noticeably lighter and smaller than the Meta Quest 3, which should make prolonged gaming sessions more comfortable.
We don’t yet know how the Steam Frame will be priced, or even exactly when it will be released, other than “2026.” However, if Valve is hoping to capture some of the market occupied by the Quest 3, or even the Quest 3s, then it’ll need to be within striking distance of the top-shelf Quest 3 model, which normally sells for $500.
Given the specs, it is unrealistic to assume that the Frame will be able to match the Meta Quest 3’s price point. However, the omission of certain cutting-edge features, like OLED displays, suggests that cost was a major consideration when designing the device. Hopefully, that means the Steam Frame will cost less than the Index did at release.