Key information
Valve has introduced the Steam Frame, marking the company's second effort to capture the virtual reality market. This new device functions as a standalone headset, similar to the Meta Quest 3, while also offering the capability to stream games from a more powerful remote computer.
The hardware features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which is a chip that originally debuted in 2023. The device includes 16 GB of RAM and provides users with two storage options: a 256 GB model priced at $1,059 and a 1 TB version retailing for $1,299. Additionally, the headset includes a microSD slot to facilitate local game installation and storage expansion.
While the Steam Frame is considered a high-quality headset, it is not categorized as a powerhouse. The device generally succeeds in its design goals, though the reviewer notes that several persistent issues currently hinder the overall experience.
This launch follows the 2019 release of the Valve Index. Despite a surge in popularity surrounding Half-Life: Alyx, the Index remained a niche product, representing only 13.2 percent of VR headsets utilized on the Steam platform as of February 2025.
