Steam Frame’s US listing puts the 256GB kit at $1,059 and the 1TB kit at $1,299, without a dedicated power supply in either box. The buyer question is more specific than the headline price: how much storage, which charging gear, and what purchase access does the listing actually establish?
The prices below were checked against Valve’s US catalog on October 8, 2026. This is a current buyer checklist for an existing hardware cycle, not an announcement that the price changed today, a hands-on review or a recommendation to reserve immediately. Price, access and tested performance are three different questions.
The $240 premium buys listed storage, not a higher spec tier
The 256GB and 1TB kit records list the same processor, memory and display specifications. The difference is advertised storage capacity, with a microSD slot listed for both.
| US catalog item | Listed price | What the cost represents |
|---|---|---|
| 256GB kit | $1,059 | Headset kit, controllers, wireless adapter and Half-Life: Alyx; no dedicated PSU |
| 1TB kit | $1,299 | The same listed core specifications, with more storage |
| Valve power supply | $29 | Optional charging purchase if a suitable charger is not already available |
| Ergonomic accessories kit | $59 | Optional straps and extended light blocker |
| Replacement accessories kit | $49 | Replacement soft goods, not missing required kit parts |
Subtracting the kit prices gives a $240 storage premium. Nothing in those two records establishes a faster processor or higher refresh rate for the 1TB model. The microSD slot matters to the storage decision, but it does not prove that every game has identical loading behavior or runs from a card without restrictions.
Both kits list a Wi-Fi 6E wireless adapter, Steam Frame controllers with 6-DOF and gamepad controls, and Half-Life: Alyx. Inclusion is a catalog fact, not a benchmark of that game’s image quality or responsiveness on this hardware.
A missing charger is not a compulsory $29 upsell
Valve’s power-supply listing says a Steam Deck charger or equivalent will work, and specifies a USB-C charger rated at 45W or higher. Its own $29 unit is listed as a 45W PD3.0 supply with a 2.5-metre cable.
For someone choosing that Valve accessory, kit-plus-PSU arithmetic is $1,088 for 256GB or $1,328 for 1TB. Those are conditional subtotals, not verified delivered checkout totals: shipping and applicable tax treatment have not been established here. If you already have a suitable charger, leave that $29 out of your comparison.
Official Valve product render. The pictured plug is not confirmation of every region’s supplied connector. Charging performance has not been tested for this report.
Separate optional fit accessories from replacements
The $59 ergonomic kit lists two controller hand straps/battery doors, a headset top strap and an extended light blocker. Those are concrete parts. Valve’s comfort positioning is not a finding that the kit makes long sessions comfortable for every wearer, and the package should not be silently added to the required purchase total.
Official Valve ergonomic-kit render. Pale silhouettes show placement, not another included headset or controller pair.
The $49 replacement kit lists a face gasket, head cushion and standard light blocker. Valve describes these as the soft goods that come in the box. Buying replacements is a different decision from buying an upgrade, and neither accessory price establishes how soon the original parts will need replacing.
Official Valve replacement-kit render. These are optional replacement parts, not evidence that a new kit lacks its cushions.
A waitlist is not a shipping date
The US hardware page says to select a model to join the waitlist. It also displays a rule that reservations are unavailable to customers who had not made a Steam purchase before Monday, April 27, 2026.
That is displayed US-page wording, not a completed reservation or an independent test of anyone’s eligibility. It does not establish the restriction’s start date, its cause, worldwide enforcement, stock levels or when a particular buyer will receive hardware. The old September signup hook is not a current deadline.
The listed Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ARM64 processor, 16GB RAM, SteamOS 3 and 2160×2160-per-eye LCD likewise describe the advertised product. The 72–144Hz range marks 144Hz as experimental. None of those entries proves native compatibility across a Steam library, measured latency or battery runtime; a 21.6Wh battery capacity is not a play-time result.
Our August Pavlov Shack report covered a separate software/entitlement question before this price checklist. Its dated hardware uncertainty is not today’s price evidence. Follow the hardware archive for further checks. For a purchase decision, settle access, charging needs and the way your specific games run before treating the displayed kit price as the whole answer.
