The rumors were true after all. Valve has announced the Steam Frame VR headset, it’s first headset since the Valve Index was released in 2019.
The Steam Frame is scheduled to release in early 2026. Unfortunately, no firm date nor pricing has been made public just yet.
Rumors and reports around the Steam Frame have been around for some time, but they really began to pick up steam in September when a trademark filing discovered the likely name of the device. Then, in October, it was reported that the headset had entered mass production while files on Steam were updated that signaled a release was imminent.
The Steam Frame features the ability to play both VR and non-VR games. Valve’s biggest claim is that the device “is a PC” that allows you to install your own apps, browse the web, and more.
With it being a PC, the Steam Frame will allow players to play stand-alone without the need to be connected to a computer. It features a 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU and up to 1TB of on-board storage with additional storage available via a microSD slot.
You can check out the full list of specs for the Steam Frame yourself, below.
Steam Frame Specs
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | 4 nm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Architecture: ARM64 |
| RAM | 16 GB Unified LPDDR5X RAM |
| Storage | 256 GB / 1 TB UFS storage options microSD card slot for expanded storage |
| Power | Rechargeable 21.6 Wh Li-ion battery One USB-C 2.0 port (rear) for charging & data Charges via USB-C, 45 W |
| Modular Headstrap | Integrated dual audio drivers and rechargeable battery on rear Headstrap weight: 245 g Core module can be separated for alternate headstrap solutions |
| Display | 2160 × 2160 LCD per eye 72–144 Hz refresh rate (144 Hz experimental) |
| Optics | Custom pancake lenses with glass & non-glass elements Large field of view (up to 110°) |
| IPD Range | 60 mm – 70 mm |
| Eyeglass Compatibility | Supports eyeglasses up to 140 mm wide |
| Tracking | Inside-out camera-based tracking |
| Cameras | 4× outward-facing monochrome cameras (for controller & headset tracking) 2× interior cameras (for eye tracking & foveated streaming) |
| Passthrough | Monochrome passthrough via outward-facing cameras |
| Low-light Support | IR illuminators for tracking & passthrough in dark environments |
| Expansion | User-accessible front expansion port Dual high-speed camera interface (8 lanes @ 2.5 Gbps MIPI) / PCIe Gen 4 (1 lane) |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (2×2) with dual radios for concurrent 5 GHz & 6 GHz VR streaming |
| Wireless Adapter | Included in box Wi-Fi 6E (6 GHz) providing direct, low-latency link between headset and PC |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Speakers | Dual speaker drivers per ear integrated into headstrap |
| Microphone | Dual microphone array |
| Size | 175 mm × 95 mm × 110 mm (core module + facial interface) |
| Weight | 440 g (core module + headstrap) 185 g (core module only) |
| Operating System | SteamOS 3 (Arch-based) |
| Desktop Environment | KDE Plasma |
A New Controller For The Steam Frame
Known internally as “Roy”, the Steam Frame Controllers are also brand-new designs. The new controllers feature haptic motion, full 6-DOF tracking, capacitive sensing and finger tracking, and a 40hr battery life with one AA battery per controller.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Motion Controls | Full 6-DOF tracking and IMU support |
| Gamepad Controls | A, B, X, Y buttons (right controller) D-pad (left controller) Full-size magnetic thumbsticks (TMR) with capacitive touch L & R analog triggers L & R bumpers View / Menu / Steam buttons Dual-stage grip buttons |
| Haptics | Haptic motor in each controller |
| Finger Tracking | Capacitive sensing for all input surfaces Capacitive finger tracking |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz link to dedicated headset radio |
| Size | 126 mm × 73 mm × 87 mm per controller |
| Weight | 130 g per controller (with battery) 107 g per controller (without battery) |
| Power | One replaceable AA battery per controller ≈ 40 hours battery life |
Are you going to pick up the Steam Frame VR Headset when it becomes available in 2026? Leave your thoughts down in the comments and join the official Insider Gaming Discord server.
For more Insider Gaming Tech, read about how Steam’s most popular graphics card is over four years old. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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