$1,059 gets buyers Valve’s new Steam Frame with 256GB storage, while a 1TB version costs $1,299 and positions the headset above the $999 Index it was meant to undercut.
6GHz wireless streaming is the device’s standout feature: paired with a gaming PC, the headset delivered low-latency play that the review said often felt indistinguishable from local use.
440g weight, 2160x2160-per-eye displays, 72Hz-to-120Hz refresh rates and inside-out tracking help make the Frame comfortable and premium, though speaker sound leakage and a $59 accessory kit drew criticism.
Standalone play is more limited despite native SteamOS and Proton support on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip; lighter games ran well, but demanding titles struggled and local VR battery life fell to about one hour.
That leaves Valve competing less with the $599 Meta Quest 3 as a mass-market headset and more with higher-priced PC-focused rivals by pitching the Frame as a private wireless gaming screen.