A broken clock eventually proves right: after months of leaks and speculation, Valve has finally unveiled Steam Frame, a new virtual reality headset that takes aim at the current king (the Meta Quest 3) in a big way.
The new headphones feature some impressive specs, potentially world-class software support, and a design that could make them the all-day headphones the Samsung Galaxy XR and Apple Vision Pro wish they were.
Specifications: Steam Frame is the clear winner
Overall, the Valve headset is an upgrade from the Meta Quest 3, and the Steam Frame matches or beats the Meta in (almost) every metric.
Valve’s contender features 16GB instead of 8GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage instead of 512GB. And while the smallest storage Frame model has just 256GB, it has an SD slot so you can expand your storage), plus a “4nm ARM Snapdragon processor.”
The Meta Quest 3’s Snapdragon
You’ll also find that the optics and imaging should be on par between the two, as both devices feature pancake optics and an LCD display setup with a resolution of 2,160 x 2,160 pixels per eye (the Meta Quest 3’s is slightly different at 2,064 x 2,208 per eye). Both also offer a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz; the Steam Frame can reach 144 Hz with an experimental configuration.
However, the most obvious downgrade in Steam Frame is the return to the monochrome camera (in other words, black and white instead of full color). This means that the Frame will be a virtual reality headset first and foremost, not the mixed reality affair that Meta, Samsung, Apple and others have focused on in recent years.
During the early days of MR, this wouldn’t be a bad thing – and to be fair, most notable MR games also offer effective VR modes – but it seems like a surprising tweak to what looks like a stable headset formula in 2025. However, Valve has also teased a “user-accessible expansion port” which leaves the door open to the possibility of an optional module that adds full color pass-through at an additional cost.
Software: Finally a true Meta rival?
I’ve said it before and I don’t know if I’ll ever stop saying it: Meta has great software in HorizonOS. This means it has the best access to apps and games among standalone headphones. The only rival that has come close as a VR platform is Steam, but it hasn’t been a standalone platform… until now.
Steam Frame runs on SteamOS, as does Steam Deck and the new Steam Machine, and that could be the advantage a Meta rival needs. There’s no need to include caveats here like I did with Android
Combine that with Steam Frame’s built-in wireless direct-to-PC adapter for wireless PCVR gaming and you have a machine that I really think Meta should worry about from a software perspective, especially if the much-rumored new Steam exclusives see the light of day.
Design: The Frame are true all-day headphones
In terms of design, virtual reality headsets are a great variety. We don’t yet have precise details on the Steam Frame’s battery life to compare with the Meta Quest 3, but I’m worried it could be shorter because the Frame is much lighter than its rival – weighing 435g compared to 515g.
What’s more, Valve describes it as a “modular design” with weight details specifically describing the weight without the battery strap, at just 190g. This is most likely because the strap is removable like on the HTC Vive XR Elite, allowing the frame to be used as a pair of VR glasses as long as you plug it directly into a power source.
If so, this wouldn’t just be a Quest 3 killer, it’s an everything killer.
Forget carrying a bulky Samsung Galaxy XR or Apple Vision Pro on your desk all day to enjoy full XR productivity with a multi-monitor setup. If the Steam Frame can boast a sophisticated XR desktop design in its 190g form (heck, even in its 435g form), I don’t see why you’d choose anything else (especially considering its versatility in other areas as a standalone VR machine).
Price: At what cost?
The biggest question that hasn’t been answered yet is the price: Valve hasn’t told us how much a Steam Frame will cost.
Now, looking at the specs, I can assure you that it will cost more than a Meta Quest 3, and the leaks largely back up that assessment.
It is estimated to cost $1,200 (around £915 / AU$1,830). That would put it between the Meta Quest 3 ($499.99 / £469.99 / AU$1,049.99) and the Samsung Galaxy ($1,799, availability and pricing for other regions TBA), and that feels about right.
The Steam Frame has more RAM than the Quest 3 and probably a better chipset, as well as eye-tracking sensors that we only see in more premium headsets. But it also doesn’t offer the ultra-sharp OLED panels of the Galaxy XR, instead opting for displays comparable to Meta’s headphones.
The Steam Frame costing more than the Quest 3 is not a bad thing in itself.
As I’ve highlighted, Steam Frame has solid hardware and a standalone SteamOS has the makings of a truly viable HorizonOS alternative. On paper, it looks like it could be the best VR headset for gamers and people who want a great high-end option.
However, the Meta Quest 3 looks set to retain its title as budget mid-range king, and the Meta Quest 3S is an even more tempting and affordable offering for many.
Initial Verdict: The Exciting VR Headset We Needed
It’s impossible to declare a “winner” at this point, but the Steam Frame could very well be the most exciting VR headset we’ve seen in a long time.
If Valve can stick the landing, everyone in the XR space should be worried. The only potential downside is that a higher price could restrict Steam Frame’s appeal too much and leave Meta Quest 3 as the reigning champion.
It’s an exciting time in the XR space and the launch of Steam Frame in 2026 can’t come soon enough.
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