A damaged clock is true finally – after months of leaks and hypothesis Valve has lastly debuted the Steam Body, a model new VR headset that’s swinging on the present king (the Meta Quest 3) in a significant approach.
The brand new headset boasts some spectacular specs, doubtlessly world-class software program help, and a design that would make it the all-day headset that the Samsung Galaxy XR and Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional want they could possibly be.
Specs: The Steam Body is the clear winner
Total, the Valve headset is an improve on the Meta Quest 3, with the Steam Body both matching or beating Meta in (virtually) each metric.
Valve’s contender boasts 16GB as an alternative of 8GB of RAM, and as much as 1TB of storage as an alternative of topping out at 512GB. And whereas the smaller storage Body mannequin is barely 256GB, it has an SD slot so you may broaden its storage), plus a “4nm Snapdragon ARM Processor.”
The Meta Quest 3’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 suits this description, however Valve’s resolution to not identify the chipset suggests it is choosing one thing newer – maybe an unannounced XR2 Gen 3.
You’ll additionally discover the optics and visuals needs to be on par between the 2 as each units boast pancake optics and an LCD display setup with a 2,160 x 2,160 pixel per eye decision (the Meta Quest 3’s is a barely totally different 2,064 x 2,208 per eye). Each additionally supply a variable refresh charge of as much as 120Hz – the Steam Body can really push itself to 144Hz with an experimental setting.
The obvious downgrade on the Steam Body, nevertheless, is the return to monochrome digital camera passthrough (in different phrases, black and white quite than full coloration). This implies the Body can be a digital actuality headset at first, not the combined actuality affair Meta, Samsung, Apple, and others have targeted on lately.
Throughout MR’s early days this wouldn’t be a nasty factor, and in equity most MR video games of notice supply efficient VR modes too, nevertheless it does really feel like a shocking tweak on what appears like a secure headset formulation in 2025. Nevertheless, Valve has additionally teased a “person accessible growth port” which leaves the door open to the potential of an optionally available module that provides full-color passthrough at an added value.
Software program: Lastly, a real Meta rival?
I’ve mentioned it earlier than and don’t know if I’ll ever cease saying it: Meta has excellent software program in HorizonOS. This has meant it has the perfect entry to apps and video games amongst standalone headsets. The one rival that got here shut as a VR platform is Steam, however that hasn’t been a standalone platform… till now.
The Steam Body runs on SteamOS – the identical because the Steam Deck and new Steam Machine – and that could possibly be the leg-up a Meta rival has wanted. There’s no want to incorporate caveats right here like I’ve needed to do with Android XR and visionOS – we all know SteamOS has a broad catalogue of VR and non-VR purposes able to go, and that library will solely proceed to develop.
Mix that with the Steam Body’s inbuilt direct-to-PC wi-fi adapter for wi-fi PCVR gaming and you’ve got a machine that I really consider Meta ought to fear about from a software program perspective – particularly if the much-rumored new Steam exclusives see the sunshine of day.
Design: The Body is a real all-day headset
Design-wise, VR headsets are a lot of a muchness. We don’t but have exact battery life particulars for the Steam Body to check it to the Meta Quest 3, however I’m apprehensive it may be shorter as a result of the Body is way lighter than its rival: it weighs 435g in contrast with 515g.
What’s extra, Valve describes it as having a “modular design” with weight particulars particularly outlining the load with out the battery strap at simply 190g. That is almost definitely as a result of the strap is detachable like on the HTC Vive XR Elite, permitting the Body for use as a pair of VR goggles offered you join it on to an influence supply.
If that’s the case this wouldn’t simply be a Quest 3 killer, that is an every thing killer.
Overlook carrying a cumbersome Samsung Galaxy XR or Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional at your desk all day for XR productiveness full with a multi-monitor setup. If the Steam Body can boast a complicated XR desktop structure in its 190g type – heck even in its 435g type – I can’t see why you’d select the rest (particularly factoring in its versatility in different areas as a standalone VR machine).
Value: At what value?
A very powerful yet-to-be-answered query is worth: Valve hasn’t instructed us how a lot a Steam Body will value.
Now, trying on the specs I can guarantee you that it’s going to value greater than a Meta Quest 3, and leaks very a lot help that evaluation.
It is tipped to value $1,200 (round £915 / AU$1,830). That will sandwich it between the Meta Quest 3 ($499.99 / £469.99 / AU$1,049.99) and the Samsung Galaxy ($1,799, availability and pricing for different areas is TBC), and this feels proper.
The Steam Body has extra RAM than the Quest 3 and sure a greater chipset, in addition to eye-tracking sensors which we solely see in additional premium headsets. But it surely additionally would not supply the ultra-crisp OLED panels of the Galaxy XR, as an alternative choosing shows akin to Meta’s headset.
The Steam Body costing greater than the Quest 3 isn’t any unhealthy factor inherently.
As I’ve highlighted, the Steam Body has strong {hardware}, and a standalone SteamOS has the markings of a really viable HorizonOS various. On paper, this seems to be prefer it may be the easiest VR headset for avid gamers and folk who need an ideal larger finish possibility.
The Meta Quest 3, nevertheless, seems to be set to retain its title because the mid-range / price range king, with the Meta Quest 3S an much more temptingly-affordable providing for a lot of.
Early verdict: the thrilling VR headset we wanted
Proper now it is unattainable to declare a ‘winner’, however the Steam Body would possibly very nicely be essentially the most thrilling VR headset we have seen in a while.
If Valve can stick the touchdown, everybody within the XR area needs to be apprehensive. The one potential downside is {that a} larger price ticket may overly limit the Steam Body’s enchantment and depart the Meta Quest 3 because the reigning champion.
It’s an thrilling time within the XR area, and the Steam Body’s 2026 launch can’t come quickly sufficient.
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