Steam Frame price, pre-order and release date revealed – and you can reserve yours now
Here's what you need to know about Valve's next VR headset
💰 The Steam Frame starts at $1,059 for the 256GB model
📈 The 1TB version climbs to $1,299
✍️ Sign-ups are live right now on Steam and close on September 17, after which Valve randomizes the queue
😮 If you see ‘out of stock’ don’t panic – not a single Steam Frame has sold yet. You’re reserving a spot, not buying a unit
📅 Purchase invites start going out on September 21, with the Steam Frame officially launching on
At long last, we finally have the crucial details we’ve been waiting for: the Steam Frame price, pre-order, and release date. And if you’re in the market for a VR headset, you can reserve yours now on Steam.
Don’t worry if you see an “Out of stock” button. Like with the Steam Machine, Valve is letting users reserve its next piece of hardware – though you’re at the mercy of a lottery system, essentially.
You can reserve your interest in both Steam Frame models, and you’ll either be one of the first to buy the headset when it’s available, or enter a waitlist for when more units become available.
You’ll also need to have a Steam account that’s in good standing and have recently made a purchase. Fresh accounts made just to grab a unit won’t cut it – a pleasing anti-scalper guardrail.
How to reserve a Steam Frame
The steps are simple, but the timing matters:
Sign up now on Steam for whichever model (or models) you want. You can register interest in more than one config to boost your odds.
Sign-ups close on September 17. At that moment, Valve closes the list and runs a one-time randomization to set the order. Refreshing the page gives you no advantage over someone who signed up later.
Watch your inbox on September 17. You’ll get one of two emails: either you’ve landed a reservation with a Steam Frame held in your name, or you’re on the waitlist for when more units free up.
Buying will start on September 17. Valve sends the first batch of purchase invites that day and works down the queue as stock allows.
Steam Frame price: every model
Valve is selling two models of the Steam Machine, which only differ in terms of storage and price:
Steam Frame 256GB - $1,059, comes with a copy of Half-Life: Alyx, a power supply is not included
Steam Frame 1TB - $1,299, comes with a copy of Half: Life Alyx, a power supply is not included
Steam Frame specs
Display and optics
Resolution: 2160×2160 LCD per eye
Refresh Rate: 72Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz (experimental)
Optics: Pancake lenses
Field of View (FOV): Up to 110 degrees
IPD Adjustment: Variable with a physical dial
Performance and storage
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
RAM: 16GB Unified LPDDR5X
Storage: 256GB or 1TB UFS
Expandable Storage: Yes, via a microSD card slot
Connectivity
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7, with dual 5GHz and 6GHz radios
Wireless Adapter: Bundled Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz) USB adapter for direct, low-latency PC connection
Other specifications
Tracking: Inside-out computer vision tracking, with eye tracking support
Audio: Integrated dual audio drivers in the headstrap
Weight: 185g for the core unit; 440g with the standard headstrap and facial interface installed
Battery: 21.6 Wh rechargeable Li-ion battery located in the rear headstrap
Expansion Port: User-accessible front expansion port
Steam Frame vs Meta Quest 3: which should you buy?
When it comes to the Steam Frame vs Meta Quest 3, the Steam Frame feels like the next big thing for VR, though some may see it as more of a refinement than an evolution of the Meta Quest 3. The price will be a big factor for many, as the Meta Quest 3 is far more affordable. However, its open-ended nature means it’ll appeal to tinkerers, and its promise to let you play your entire Steam library in a new 2D display mode is also a unique selling point.
Up next: Steam Machine review roundup: ‘an expensive curio, rather than a gaming device for the masses’
Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.
