Steam Frame

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Hardware lineup: headset, mini‑PC, controller

  • Valve announced three devices: Steam Frame VR headset (ARM/Qualcomm, standalone + PC streaming), an x86 AMD SteamOS mini‑PC (“Steam Machine”), and a new Steam Controller.
  • Mini‑PC is ~6× Steam Deck performance, HDMI 2.0 + DP 1.4 with claims of 4K@120Hz output (often via chroma subsampling or active DP→HDMI adapters).
  • Many see the mini‑PC as a “living‑room console PC” with suspend/resume, CEC, and SteamOS UX; others say you can just buy any mini‑PC and install SteamOS.

Display, resolution, and IO trade‑offs

  • Frame uses 2160×2160 LCD per eye, 72–144Hz, pancake lenses, mono passthrough.
  • Some are disappointed: resolution viewed as similar to Quest 3 and not high enough for serious text/desktop use vs. Vision Pro or monitors.
  • Others argue it’s “good enough” for gaming; true monitor replacement is still out of reach for all current headsets.
  • LCD vs OLED: some welcome LCD for burn‑in resistance; others would rather wait for a future OLED model.

Wireless streaming, foveated streaming, and latency

  • Big excitement around foveated streaming: eye‑tracked, high‑res center + low‑res periphery to cut bandwidth and latency.
  • Early hands‑on reports (via YouTube reviewers) say the effect is essentially invisible, even with rapid eye movements.
  • Dedicated 6 GHz USB‑A dongle plus separate 5 GHz radio for normal Wi‑Fi is seen as a major improvement over “tune your router” Quest setups.
  • Debate on Wi‑Fi reliability: some worry about ISM‑band congestion and latency spikes; others report Wi‑Fi 6/6E can already make wireless VR feel wired‑smooth.

Tracking, controllers, and AA batteries

  • Inside‑out IR tracking replaces Lighthouse; some lament losing sub‑mm lighthouse precision and full‑body tracking, others welcome no‑base‑stations simplicity.
  • New controllers resemble modern inside‑out designs, with capacitive sensing and optional “knuckles‑style” straps.
  • AA cells (rechargeables recommended) are praised for instant swapping and longevity; a few would prefer built‑in USB‑C packs.

ARM, FEX, and openness

  • Frame runs SteamOS on ARM with x86 compatibility via FEX + Proton; commenters see this as a big step for ARM Linux gaming and potentially future ARM Steam Decks.
  • Many highlight Valve’s history of open drivers and rootable hardware and expect this to be a genuinely hackable Linux PC strapped to your face, unlike Meta or Apple.
  • Some hope Steam’s ARM work plus FEX will eventually benefit macOS or Android handhelds, though current FEX docs say Android isn’t a direct target yet.

Use cases and VR/AR positioning

  • Strong enthusiasm from people who avoided Meta or found tethered Index‑style setups too cumbersome; Frame is seen as “non‑spyware Quest 3 with PC focus.”
  • Sim racing and flight sims repeatedly cited as VR’s “killer apps”; others still view VR gaming as niche and see AR/mixed‑reality (especially full‑color passthrough) as the real long‑term play.
  • Mono passthrough is widely seen as the main miss; some expect a future color‑camera expansion via the front port.