Valve Announces The Steam Frame VR Headset

It turns out the rumors were correct! Valve has revealed the SteamVR headset, their first new VR headset since the Valve Index launched in 2019.

The Steam Frame is expected to launch in early 2026, but Valve hasn’t announced an exact release date or price yet.

Okay, so the Steam Deck 2 – or whatever they’re officially calling it, the ‘Steam Frame’ – has been talked about for ages, but things really started heating up around September when someone spotted the trademark. Then, in October, word got out that they were actually making a bunch of them, and I started seeing stuff in the Steam files that made it seem like it was almost ready to launch. It feels like it’s finally happening!

The Steam Deck lets you play both virtual reality and traditional games. Valve emphasizes that it’s essentially a full PC, letting you install programs, use the internet, and do everything you’d normally do on a computer.

So, this handheld PC, the Steam Frame, is awesome because I can actually play games on it without needing to be plugged into my computer! It’s got a super powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor – a 4nm one, which is seriously fast – and it comes with up to 1TB of storage. If that’s not enough, I can even add more space with a microSD card. It’s a gamer’s dream!

You can check out the full list of specs for the Steam Frame yourself, below.

Steam Frame Specs

Spec 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 in the rear (charging & data)
Charges via USB-C, 45 W
Modular Headstrap Headstrap includes integrated dual audio drivers and rechargeable battery on the rear (245 g).
Core module can be detached for alternate headstrap solutions.
Display and Optics Display: 2160×2160 LCD per eye, 72–144 Hz (144 Hz experimental)
Optics: Custom pancake lenses with glass & non-glass elements, large FOV (up to 110 °)
IPD Range: 60–70 mm
Eyeglasses Max Width: 140 mm
Cameras and Tracking Tracking: Inside-out camera-basedCameras: 4 × outward-facing monochrome (for controller & headset tracking) + 2 × interior cameras (eye tracking & foveated streaming)
Passthrough: Monochrome via outward cameras
Low-light Support: IR illuminators for tracking and 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)
Connectivity Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7 (2×2), dual radios enable concurrent 5 GHz & 6 GHz VR streaming
Wireless Adapter: Included in box – Wi-Fi 6E (6 GHz) for direct, low-latency PC link
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3
Audio Speakers: Dual speaker drivers per ear integrated into headstrap
Microphone: Dual microphone array
Size & Weight Size: 175 mm × 95 mm × 110 mm (core module + facial interface)
Weight: 440 g (core + headstrap) / 185 g (core module only)
Software Operating System: SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)
Desktop Environment: KDE Plasma

A New Controller For The Steam Frame

Valve’s new Steam Frame Controllers, nicknamed “Roy” internally, are a completely fresh design. They include advanced features like realistic vibrations (haptic motion), precise 6-DOF tracking, touch sensitivity, and the ability to detect individual finger movements. Plus, each controller can run for up to 40 hours on a single AA battery.

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
General Connectivity: 2.4 GHz link to dedicated headset radio
Size: 126 mm × 73 mm × 87 mm per controller
Weight: 130 g (with battery) / 107 g (without battery)
Power: One replaceable AA battery per controller (≈ 40 hr battery life)

Will you be getting the Steam Frame VR Headset when it releases in 2026? Share your opinions in the comments, and connect with other fans on the official TopMob Discord server.

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2025-11-12 21:21