Valve begins shipping modular Steam Frame VR headset

Valve has begun shipping its Steam Frame virtual reality headset to reservation holders. The device features a modular design intended to enhance hardware longevity and user-serviceability.

A teardown by iFixit highlights the headset’s modular architecture, which includes a magnetically attached lens stack and quick-release latches for the headstrap. This design allows for easier maintenance and component replacement, such as eye-tracking modules, without specialized tools. The headset also includes an external microSD slot for storage expansion.

The Steam Frame controllers utilize Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) thumbsticks, a technology specifically chosen to reduce the occurrence of stick drift.

Technical specifications for the headset include a 2160x2160 pixel LCD display with a refresh rate ranging from 72Hz to 144Hz. It employs an inside-out tracking system using integrated cameras, eliminating the need for external sensors. The device weighs approximately 438g and features a removable core module and headstrap assembly, allowing for potential future hardware upgrades.