The Steam Frame's standout feature is its wireless streaming quality, which the reviewer describes as exemplary. This allows for a high-fidelity experience that rivals tethered headsets. The headset also boasts a comfortable, light design and a large game library thanks to SteamOS. However, the reviewer notes that the headset lacks a tethered connection option, which some users might prefer for the highest possible image quality.

The hardware is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a chip typically found in flagship Android smartphones. This provides a significant performance boost over the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 used in Meta's headsets, particularly in terms of CPU and GPU power. The 16GB of LPDDR5X memory is double that of the Quest 3 and 3S, enabling more demanding standalone experiences. The headset also features custom pancake lenses for superior edge-to-edge sharpness, though it occasionally suffers from ghosting.

The Steam Frame is priced at $1,059 / £889 for the base 256GB model, with a 1TB variant costing $1,299 / £1,089. This places it firmly in the premium segment of the VR market. A complimentary copy of Half-Life: Alyx is included with purchase. The headset uses LCD panels rather than OLED, resulting in a contrast that the reviewer describes as middling. Valve is reportedly working on software updates to address ghosting issues.

The 21.6Whr battery is integrated into the back of the strap, helping to balance the 440g weight of the headset. Charging is handled via a USB-C port on the back-left of the device, capable of delivering up to 45W. The headset runs on SteamOS, an Arch Linux-based operating system that uses Proton and FEX-emu to translate DirectX and x86 instructions for the Arm-based chipset. This allows for a desktop mode and a 'Great on Frame' rating system for compatible titles.