Valve has officially unveiled the Steam Frame, its next-generation standalone VR headset, entering the market with a starting price of $1,059. Announced on September 14, 2026, the hardware is positioned as a premium device that balances standalone portability with a “PC streaming-first” wireless architecture.
To manage initial demand, Valve is employing a randomized reservation lottery rather than a traditional first-come, first-served queue. Sign-ups for the reservation system are currently open and will close on September 17 at 10 AM PT. Prospective buyers who are selected will receive their purchase invitation emails starting September 18.
The Steam Frame arrives in two storage configurations: a 256GB base model for $1,059 and a 1TB version for $1,299. International pricing has been confirmed at £889 in the UK, €1,049 in the EU, and $1,609 AUD in Australia.
Hardware Specifications and Contents
The Steam Frame is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and 16GB of RAM, driving dual 2160×2160 LCD panels. While the headset is capable of standalone operation, Valve includes a dedicated 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E wireless adapter in the box to facilitate high-bandwidth PC streaming. The kit also includes two new Steam Frame controllers.
In a departure from previous hardware launches, Valve is not including a power supply in the box. The headset requires a 45W USB-C charger, and while existing Steam Deck chargers are compatible, Valve is selling a standalone 45W power supply separately for $29.
Software and “Lepton” Compatibility
To bolster the standalone library at launch, every Steam Frame includes a native 64-bit ARM version of Half-Life: Alyx, designed to run locally on the headset’s hardware. For broader software support, Valve has introduced “Lepton,” a technical compatibility layer that allows the headset to run Android-based mobile VR titles within the SteamOS environment.
The move to a standalone-capable architecture reflects a broader focus on versatility. While the primary marketing emphasizes the device as a wireless extension of a user’s PC library, the inclusion of high-end mobile silicon and the Lepton layer suggests a push toward a self-contained ecosystem that does not require a tethered or local PC connection for all experiences.
