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Valve has released the Steam Frame, a standalone VR headset built specifically for playing games rather than serving as a multipurpose productivity or mixed-reality device. Early reviews suggest the device leans into a lighter, more playful approach to virtual reality rather than chasing the enterprise and work-focused ambitions of rivals like Apple's Vision Pro.
Valve has revealed pricing for its upcoming Steam Frame VR headset, setting it at roughly the same cost as its newly announced Steam Machine console. The pricing reflects rising memory chip costs that have driven up hardware prices across the industry this year.
Valve has begun taking reservations for the Steam Frame, a standalone VR headset priced at $1,049, marking its first major hardware push into virtual reality since largely stepping back from the category years ago. Ars Technica's early hands-on testing found the device notably lightweight at 440 grams, about 15 percent lighter than the Meta Quest 3, thanks to a split design separating the battery pack from the lens housing.
Valve has revealed pricing for its Steam Frame VR headset: $1,059 for the 256GB model and $1,299 for the 1TB version, both including controllers and a version of Half-Life: Alyx rebuilt to run natively on the device. Optional accessories such as a charger, replacement gaskets, ergonomic straps, prescription lenses and an add-on RGB camera will also be sold separately.
Valve developers told the BBC and other outlets that the Steam Frame VR headset was meant to launch cheaper, but rising global RAM and storage costs forced its price up to $1,059. The company said it was too late in development to redesign the device with less memory, and it may be selling the headset near cost, similar to its Steam Machine console.
The Verge editor Sean Hollister, who spent three weeks beta-testing Valve's new Steam Frame headset, hosted a live subscriber Q&A answering questions about the device, its controllers, accessory kit and the Arcturus Vision Camera. He also confirmed the headset left no red mark on his face despite extended wear during a photoshoot.
The Verge's review details weeks of testing Valve's new $1,059-$1,299 Steam Frame, a wearable PC positioned as more than a VR headset—an attempt at a full spatial computing device for playing flat Steam games alongside VR titles. The reviewer praises its comfort and lightweight design but reports frequent crashes, disappearing controls and audio, and full power failures during use.
Images of Meta's unreleased mixed reality headset, codenamed Project Phoenix, were accidentally exposed through a now-removed HorizonOS app meant for prescription lens inserts. The photos reveal a lightweight, glasses-like design distinct from existing Quest headsets, complete with a cable suggesting a tethered connection to an external puck. No front-facing images were included, leaving camera and sensor details unconfirmed.
Woot is selling the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro headset for $164.99, nearly $100 off its usual price. The Xbox-branded version is highlighted as the best pick since it also works with PlayStation, PC, Switch and mobile devices. A 2XKO special edition model is also available for $149.99, though the deal only carries a 90-day Woot warranty instead of Razer's standard coverage.
Amazon has discounted the AOC Wireless Headset with Microphone for Work to $45.99, down 23% from its $59.99 list price. The headset uses AI-powered noise-cancelling microphone tech, offers both Bluetooth and 2.4G USB dongle connectivity, and lasts up to 45 hours per charge. It carries a 4.8-star rating on Amazon and matches the lowest price recorded for it in 2026.