---
title: 'Valve''s Steam Frame is okay... but I love other things about it'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y57BbcBEggE'
video_id: 'Y57BbcBEggE'
date: 2026-09-14
duration_sec: 61
channel: 'Linus Tech Tips'
---

# Valve's Steam Frame is okay... but I love other things about it

> Source: [Valve's Steam Frame is okay... but I love other things about it](https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y57BbcBEggE)

## Summary

The video is a review of the Steam Frame VR headset, highlighting its shortcomings in battery life, screen contrast, and ergonomics, but praising its wireless streaming and camera-based tracking as industry-changing features.

### Key Points

- **Initial Impressions** [00:00] — The reviewer fell in love with the Steam Frame despite disappointing battery life, last-gen screen contrast, and non-ergonomic controllers.
- **Wireless Streaming Magic** [00:14] — Running high-end VR games from a PC without a tether was described as one of the most magical 'it-just-works' technology experiences of the reviewer's career.
- **Camera Tracking Success** [00:27] — The camera-based controller tracking, initially feared to be inferior, mostly matched the experience of the Index, marking the end of base station tracking.
- **Future Compatibility** [00:40] — The effects compatibility layer will allow regular desktop applications to run on ARM processors like in the Steam Frame, enabling portable giant-screen gaming.
- **Main Challenge: Cost** [00:53] — The only significant challenge mentioned is the cost of the Steam Frame.

### Conclusion

The Steam Frame, despite its flaws, represents a pivotal shift in VR by making wireless, camera-tracked, and portable high-end gaming a reality, with cost being the primary barrier to adoption.

## Transcript

I fell in love with the Steam Frame, but not for the reasons that you might think. The battery life was disappointing, the screen contrast feels last-gen, and I didn't find the controllers to be that ergonomic. But what the Steam Frame does is it sets a platform for future VR development
that is going to completely change the industry. The wireless streaming experience, running high-end VR games on my PC without a tether, was one of the most magical, it-just-works technology experiences of my entire career.
This is the nail in the coffin for me for base station tracking. When I first heard that the frame was going to use cameras to track the controllers, I was like, oh no, it's going to suck. But it mostly achieved the same experience that I got from the Index.
But again, no wires, baby. As we move into the future where competitors and maybe even Valve themselves continue to release standalone VR headsets like this, the effects compatibility layer will allow regular desktop applications to run
on ARM processors like in the Steam Frame, so you can take giant screen gaming experience with you pretty much anywhere. Only challenges the cost.