The Steam Frame is an upcoming VR headset from Valve, and it’ll come with controllers that allow you to enjoy titles in your Steam library. It is designed to be the successor of the Valve Index. The device will be able to operate wirelessly without needing to be physically tethered to a PC. While the release is broadly slated for Summer 2026, recent rumors suggest we will hear about a date within the next couple of weeks.
The Steam Frame joins a growing list of new hardware from Valve, which includes the Steam Controller and the Steam Machine. This mastersheet jots down all the relevant information we currently know about the Steam Frame. The spec sheet data are taken from the official Valve website.
Also Read: Is Steam Frame a standalone VR headset?
Valve Steam Frame: Everything you need to know
Price and release date
The Steam Frame is releasing in Summer 2026. Valve has yet to reveal the price.
Steam Frame camera (Image via Valve)
Steam Frame Spec sheet
ProcessorSpandragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm)
Architecture: ARM64RAM16GB unified LPDDR5X RAMStorage256 GB / 1 TB UFS storage
microSD card slot expansionBatteryRechargeable 21.6 Wh Li-ion battery
USB-C 45W chargingWeight440 gm (core module + headstrap)
185 gm (core module)Size175mm x 95mm x 110mm (core module + facial interface)Display2160x2160 LCD panels per eye
72-144 Hz refresh rate (144 Hz experimental)FOVUpto 110° FOVIPDIPD 60-70mm (adjustable)Camera4x outward-facing monochrome cameras for controller and headset tracking
2x inward-facing eye-tracking cameras for eye tracking and foveated streaming
Monochrome passthrough via outward facing cameras
IR illuminators for tracking and passthrough in dark environmentsEye-trackingYesAudioIntegrated dual stereo speaker drivers per ear in the headstrap
Dual-mic arrayWi-Fi connectivityWi-Fi 7, 2×2
6 GHz Wi-Fi 6E adapter for PC linkBluetooth5.4Operating SystemSteam OS 3 (Arch-based)Desktop softwareKDE Plasma
Steam Frame Controller (Image via Valve)
Steam Frame controller spec sheet
Motion controlsFull 6-DoF tracking and IMU supportHapticsHaptic motor in each controllerFinger trackingCapacitive sensing for all input surfaces
Capacitive finger trackingConnectivity2.4Ghz link to dedicated headset radioSize126mm x 73mm x 87mm per controllerWeight107 gm (without battery)
130 gm (with battery)Power1x replaceable AA battery per controller
40hr battery life
Is the Steam Frame for you?
A wireless VR headset that lets you play your Steam library sounds like the perfect deal for PC gamers. The custom pancake lenses promise to be thin and light, the refresh rate range is good, and the option to also play non-VR games makes the upcoming hardware quite attractive. All of this makes the Steam Frame a possible candidate for the best PC VR headset that you can currently buy.
The Steam Frame’s choice of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will also question its potential as a standalone device. For comparison, Meta Quest 3 utilizes Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, which is specifically optimised for VR functioning. While the Steam Frame will primarily rely on a PC to stream games, its standalone functionality will be dependent on how well its hardware is able to run titles, especially newer ones.
Apart from how the hardware and software synergise together, there are two factors that come to mind when we speculate about the potential success of the Steam Frame: Price and availability. Both of these are currently getting impacted by the hardware shortage (RAM, storage, etc.), resulting from the push towards AI and data centres, which have impacted price and hardware availability.
Keep this page bookmarked as we will update it periodically with relevant information about the Steam Frame.
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Edited by Angshuman Dutta