GoKawiilis a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who covers gadgets, games, and toys. He spent 15 years editing the likes of CNET, Gizmodo, and Engadget.
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For nearly three weeks, I’ve been testing the limits of Valve’s Steam Frame, the company’s new wearable PC. At first glance, it’s easy to write it off as a pricey headset that missed the VR craze. At $1,059 with 256GB of storage or $1,299 for 1TB, it costs two to three times as much as similar-looking headsets from Meta.
You should not write it off that way. The Steam Frame isn’t just a VR headset. It’s not even primarily a VR headset. And it’s the most comfortable headset I’ve ever worn. It weighs just over 1 pound (469g) with its optional top head strap attached, and doesn’t leave a mark on my face even after hours of use.
The Steam Frame is far more ambitious than VR alone. It’s an experimental attempt at a complete spatial computer that you can wear, not unlike the Apple Vision Pro, only here it’s aimed at gamers who want to play their flat library of Steam games plus the handful of VR titles on tap.
Pictured with optional $59 kit with hand straps and top third head strap; I highly recommend them.
No, if you write off the Steam Frame, it should be because you don’t want to pay $1,000-plus for early access hardware. Every day I spend with the Steam Frame, I feel like a beta tester. I’ve seen games crash so hard I needed to reboot the headset. I’ve had virtual objects, controls, and audio disappear. I’ve seen the entire device lose power more than once, its screen winking out right in front of my eyes.
But you should know I’m having so much fun. The Frame’s so comfortable that I don’t mind wearing it, and it feels like one of the most exciting betas I’ve ever tried. Like the Steam Deck at its debut, this is gadget nerd wish fulfillment. It’s a chance to watch Valve, one of the most intriguing companies in gaming, build a plane while flying it.
5 Verge Score Steam Frame $ 1059 $ 1059 The Good Lightweight and comfortable to wear
Precise wands double as a full gamepad
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