WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.560 Recently, Valve invited me to their headquarters to check out their new 00:00:03.520 --> 00:00:08.440 cutting-edge VR headset, the Steam Frame. 00:00:06.640 --> 00:00:12.400 As you might have noticed in this little B-roll shot here, I packed a whack of 00:00:10.760 --> 00:00:16.960 other headsets that I had intended to compare against it. There's just one 00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:20.320 small problem. I had less than 2 hours with the bloody thing. 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:24.960 That was to learn about the headset, experience the headset, gather my 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:29.120 thoughts, write a 1,700 word script, and then shoot the video, which I ended up 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:31.680 having to do partially at the airport, and even then I still missed my flight. 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:35.800 >> [music] >> We need some way to avoid this kind of thing in the future. 00:00:36.025 --> 00:00:43.800 >> [music] >> Anyhoo, now that I'm in the comfort of my own studio, they can't stop me from 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:47.600 gathering up all the key VR headsets from the major players like Apple. 00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:54.200 Just kidding, Apple. From the major players like Meta and Valve themselves, 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:58.950 as well as from some more niche players like 00:00:55.640 --> 00:01:00.440 Apple. And also Bigscreen and Sony. 00:00:58.950 --> 00:01:04.960 [music] That last one is pretty key because the Frame takes one of the best 00:01:02.440 --> 00:01:10.880 features of the PSVR 2 and steps [music] it up to a whole new level. But, it's 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:14.840 not all sunshine and yachts. In some ways, the Steam Frame obsoletes 00:01:12.960 --> 00:01:17.960 everything [music] else on the market, but in others, it still lags behind. 00:01:17.945 --> 00:01:24.320 >> [music] >> So, let's sit down and talk about what I saw. Oi. 00:01:22.360 --> 00:01:30.480 This is a standing desk, just like the standing Segway. To our sponsor, Ow 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:33.400 damn. You Green. Their DH-2300 NAS is a 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:38.520 great backup solution offering up to 60 terabytes of local, secure, cloud-free 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:42.480 storage. And you can automatically backup files from your phone or 00:01:39.800 --> 00:01:46.320 computer. Check out the DH-2300 at our link in the video description. Before we 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:51.520 jump into these headsets, let's do a quick recap of the Steam Frame. Elijah, 00:01:49.320 --> 00:01:55.520 time me. Powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 16 gigs of LPDDR5X memory, the Frame 00:01:53.920 --> 00:02:00.040 features an ARM-based computer running SteamOS with the ability to play native 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:03.880 ARM games, Linux x86 games, and even Windows x86 games on a big virtual 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:09.080 screen. Or, if you're more about total immersion, you can play the aforementioned flavors of VR games 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:12.880 either on device or you can power them with your dedicated desktop and stream 00:02:11.240 --> 00:02:17.200 video to the Frame using the included Wi-Fi 6 GHz dongle. Valve uses an 00:02:15.160 --> 00:02:21.360 incredible technology called foveated streaming. More on this in a bit. To 00:02:18.920 --> 00:02:27.360 deliver low-latency, high-fidelity video wirelessly to the Frame's 2160 by 2160 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:30.320 LCD displays at up to 144 Hz, all while 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:35.360 weighing just 185 g including the integrated 21.6 Wh battery. Time. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:38.960 Pretty good, right? I think you were a little generous. With the head strap, 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:43.360 it's more like 440 g. >> Ah, okay, not what I meant. And besides, 00:02:41.600 --> 00:02:47.600 even with the head strap, the Steam Frame is still around half the weight of 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:51.760 some of the other headsets that we're looking at today. Why don't we start 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:56.760 with one that isn't on the table? The original, the Valve Index. Right out of 00:02:54.440 --> 00:03:00.920 the gate, the Index has some glaring disadvantages. [music] The ergonomics 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:05.440 were fine at the time, but when we compare to the Frame, not only does it 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:10.120 weigh far more, not to mention need to ratchet onto your noggin, but the light 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:14.240 seal is worse, the balance of the weight is worse with it all kind of hanging off 00:03:12.200 --> 00:03:19.040 the front of your face, and the constant drag of the cord is something that many 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:23.440 have tried to overcome, but even the best solutions seem to be plagued with 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:25.240 issues. And that's not the only way that the Index has aged 00:03:25.017 --> 00:03:31.440 >> [clears throat] >> ungracefully. [music] Even at the time of its release, its field of view and its resolution are 00:03:29.800 --> 00:03:36.880 hardly groundbreaking, and they were quickly surpassed by competitors like 00:03:33.200 --> 00:03:38.960 Pimax, HP, and HTC. The Frame is going 00:03:36.880 --> 00:03:42.960 to have a major advantage there, upgrading not only the display 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:47.440 resolution, but also the optics to dramatically enhance the perceived image 00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:52.080 quality. With that said, that doesn't make the Index suddenly irrelevant for 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:57.200 everyone who owns one. One area that Valve didn't even aim to improve was the 00:03:54.240 --> 00:04:02.800 field of view, and like the Index, the Frame uses LCD panels still. So, don't 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:07.640 expect the same kind of mind-blowing contrast that you might get from some of 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:11.920 our other headsets today. Another area that Valve didn't even try to improve 00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:17.000 was tracking. They told me point-blank that the target was as good as Index, 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:21.320 but that also ain't a bad thing. The Index used anywhere from two to up to 00:04:19.280 --> 00:04:26.000 four base stations for room scale tracking. These little guys sweep 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:31.120 infrared lasers across your entire play area to determine the exact position of 00:04:28.760 --> 00:04:36.480 your headset and controllers. This form of tracking, from the outside in, is 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:40.120 still considered the best because even if one sensor gets blocked, you can 00:04:38.280 --> 00:04:44.560 basically guarantee that another will be able to pick up the slack. With that 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:50.080 said, Valve sounded very confident that the wide, near 180° side-mounted cameras 00:04:48.200 --> 00:04:55.280 on the Frame would allow their new inside-out tracking to capably handle 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:57.600 even unusual positions like drawing an 00:04:55.280 --> 00:05:02.040 arrow out of a quiver. What I'm less sure about is unusual VR accessories. 00:05:00.760 --> 00:05:06.720 I've had a lot of fun over the years streaming with a full-body VR avatar, 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:10.960 and unless Valve releases one later, I have a hard time imagining a way to get 00:05:08.440 --> 00:05:15.680 reliable tracking on my waist and my feet [music] without relying on an 00:05:12.760 --> 00:05:19.720 outside-in system. Another mixed bag is the controllers. On the one hand, I can 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:23.600 see why Valve chose a more industry-standard approach this time. It 00:05:21.800 --> 00:05:27.640 will make default keybinds simpler for VR developers, and it allows flat-screen 00:05:25.960 --> 00:05:32.400 games to be easily enjoyed without learning a new controller layout, but I 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:36.840 and many others loved both the ergonomics and especially the 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:41.040 five-finger awareness of the Knuckles controllers. The good news is that with 00:05:39.080 --> 00:05:47.440 a modestly priced upgrade pack, you can maintain a similar feel, and personally, 00:05:44.200 --> 00:05:49.240 I love the change to a single AA battery 00:05:47.440 --> 00:05:53.880 per controller because that means no more waiting around to play. You just 00:05:51.440 --> 00:05:58.200 drop a freshly recharged battery in, and you're good to go. The last point is one 00:05:56.080 --> 00:06:03.200 that I'm particularly nervous about. The Index's onboard audio is nothing short 00:06:00.520 --> 00:06:08.200 of legendary. The near-field speakers sound great, and somehow they leak very 00:06:06.520 --> 00:06:11.320 little externally. That can be a pretty big deal depending [music] on the things 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:15.400 you [clears throat] like to do in VR. And the microphone is so good that my 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:19.560 chat was often flooded with messages demanding to know what amazing 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:23.800 microphone I was using. Now, Valve says that the Frame should be on par, and I 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:27.040 haven't got a reason to doubt them, but I do worry a little bit that the 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:32.360 position of the speakers might make it hard for them to sound quite as good, 00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:37.600 and it may cause more leakage. Thing is, I love my Index, and many on-paper 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:41.840 superior headsets have come and gone through my house with the Index staying 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:46.840 part of my setup. It's just one of those truly great products that is more than 00:06:44.080 --> 00:06:51.920 the sum of its parts. But, it's not the only great VR headset. Let's compare now 00:06:49.080 --> 00:06:56.240 to the GSOAT, the greatest selling of all time, the Meta Quest series. The 00:06:54.640 --> 00:07:00.600 current king of the hill for Meta is the Quest 3, and this really shows you what 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:05.600 an unlimited budget will do for you. This thing is a couple of years old now, 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:09.880 but it has aged like fine wine and still holds up surprisingly well. It boasts 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:14.720 nearly the same per-eye resolution as the Steam Frame, and it also uses 00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:18.800 low-profile pancake lens objects. Meta has invested heavily in attracting VR 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:23.800 game developers to their platform, even going as far as to acquire Beat Games, 00:07:21.160 --> 00:07:28.960 maker of the smash hit Beat Saber, and it even got a $150 price drop for the 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:34.360 512 gig model, making it the obvious choice for a value VR setup until its 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:38.840 little brother, the 3S, showed up more recently. Even now though, the Quest 3 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:43.000 is going to be a tough package to beat from a bang for the buck perspective. It 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:47.760 also boasts convenient inside-out tracking thanks to its camera array, and 00:07:45.760 --> 00:07:53.320 it also plays games on board thanks to its Snapdragon XR Gen 2 processor. It 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:58.880 also allows streaming from a SteamVR PC either over a USB-C connection or 00:07:55.800 --> 00:08:00.720 wirelessly, and it features color rather 00:07:58.880 --> 00:08:05.480 than black and white passthrough cameras like Valve chose for the Frame. But, 00:08:03.400 --> 00:08:08.960 worry not, Valve fanboys, for GabeN didn't come to this gunfight equipped 00:08:06.880 --> 00:08:11.880 with just any knife. It's a Karambit Doppler Sapphire knife. OH MY DAYS. 00:08:11.255 --> 00:08:17.120 [screaming] First things first, the Frame is not only lighter than the Quest 3, but the 00:08:15.440 --> 00:08:21.880 weight distribution is noticeably better. See, all the weight of the 00:08:19.080 --> 00:08:26.320 optics, the computer, the battery hangs off of the front of this bad boy. Valve 00:08:24.520 --> 00:08:29.840 moved the battery pack around to the back, which gives you less weight 00:08:27.880 --> 00:08:34.880 directly on your cheeks and nose, and also less swing pull, which is not a 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:39.599 real term, but it's like the way that when you swing, it kind of pulls. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:43.320 You know what I mean? Valve also holds a slight advantage when it comes to screen 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:49.440 refresh rate. While both headsets officially top out at 120 Hz, Valve 00:08:45.920 --> 00:08:51.840 includes an experimental 144 Hz mode. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:56.320 Finally, the Quest 3 does not have out-of-the-box eye tracking. This makes 00:08:53.880 --> 00:08:58.416 it way harder for someone to realize that you're checking out their VR avatar 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:07.440 and >> [music] >> uh come over and talk to you. Either to say, "Hey, I like your avatar, too." 00:09:04.520 --> 00:09:12.040 Or to say, "Stop looking at me, weirdo." But more importantly, it gives Valve a 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:15.840 giant advantage for wireless streaming. It's time to talk about foveated 00:09:13.640 --> 00:09:20.440 streaming. See, when Meta beams a video frame from your connected PC over to 00:09:18.160 --> 00:09:25.200 your Quest 3, they do so using the same bitrate or the same quality for the 00:09:22.640 --> 00:09:29.080 entire frame. That's because Meta has no way of knowing where you're looking, and 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:33.960 you probably wouldn't want them to the way they would use it. By contrast, 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:38.840 Valve uses high-speed sensors to track your gaze, and then encode only the part 00:09:36.920 --> 00:09:45.480 of the frame that you're actually looking at at the highest quality level. 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:48.120 In practice, it works amazingly well. 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:52.440 Like, [music] I could not flick my eyes fast enough to focus on a 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:56.800 crappier part of the image before it updated and started rendering it at full 00:09:54.440 --> 00:10:00.880 fidelity. And to ensure a smooth experience, Valve came up with a really 00:09:59.040 --> 00:10:06.160 clever way to reduce the likelihood of network congestion by giving you a 6 GHz 00:10:03.920 --> 00:10:11.440 wireless dongle that connects directly from your PC to your headset. 6 GHz 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:17.160 wireless enables higher speeds and is less prone to interference. Now, one 00:10:13.920 --> 00:10:20.920 drawback of 6 GHz is range and obstacle 00:10:17.160 --> 00:10:23.040 penetration, but I mean given the bar is 00:10:20.920 --> 00:10:29.080 a cord, Valve seems to be clearing it handily. It's also worth noting that the 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:30.920 Quest 3 also supports 6 GHz Wi-Fi, but 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:34.880 depending on your Wi-Fi access point and your network configuration, your 00:10:32.400 --> 00:10:39.360 experience with it may vary. As for controllers, I'd call these a draw 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:44.960 because Valve pretty much copied Meta's homework, but I do expect audio to be a 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:50.800 disadvantage for the Quest 3 along with the closed ecosystem and its dependency 00:10:47.520 --> 00:10:52.960 on Meta, who no, we haven't forgotten, 00:10:50.800 --> 00:10:56.520 is basically Facebook. Only time is going to tell how battery life and 00:10:54.480 --> 00:11:00.200 tracking performance will compare and whether Valve will build gimmicky 00:10:57.720 --> 00:11:04.680 features like camera-based hand and finger tracking, which the Quest does 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:09.440 have. Now, for the most gimmicky of all of our headsets today, the Apple Vision 00:11:06.680 --> 00:11:14.640 Pro. Not because it's bad. I mean, the technology is really cool. It's just 00:11:11.560 --> 00:11:16.520 that Apple really really like 00:11:14.640 --> 00:11:21.760 desperately wanted this thing to be anything but a VR headset. So, they 00:11:19.680 --> 00:11:28.040 ended up with this, which is maybe a great spatial computer, but nobody even 00:11:25.400 --> 00:11:33.720 now knows what the that is, which really sucks because as a VR headset, 00:11:30.760 --> 00:11:39.760 this thing had so much potential. Oh my god, it's so heavy. I haven't tried the 00:11:36.560 --> 00:11:41.400 the M5 one yet. It's so heavy. Starting 00:11:39.760 --> 00:11:46.800 with one of the highest resolution displays on the market and not just high 00:11:43.880 --> 00:11:51.839 res, high fidelity. Thanks to Apple having the R&D budget of a small nation, 00:11:49.040 --> 00:11:56.640 they shipped micro OLED displays that boast otherworldly contrast and 00:11:54.360 --> 00:12:00.600 incredible color accuracy. They also equipped the Vision Pro with probably 00:11:58.160 --> 00:12:06.160 the best full color passthrough cameras on the market, which makes it great just 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:09.200 for VR, but even for augmented reality. 00:12:06.160 --> 00:12:10.760 For about 5 minutes. Apple should have 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:16.200 borrowed Monster Truck marketing, right, for their battery life? 2 and 1/2 hours, 00:12:13.400 --> 00:12:19.440 but you'll only need the edge. It is no understatement to describe the 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:24.400 ergonomics of this thing as horrible. Even after putting the battery 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:28.360 in a separate pack, it is still among the heaviest headsets on the market and 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:33.960 the way that it rests on people's cheeks or noses really does not do it any 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:38.280 favors. The M5 version does come with a new strap that I'm trying for the first 00:12:35.640 --> 00:12:40.880 time and it does seem to actually help take some of the weight off of my nose, 00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:45.960 but oh man, it's still rough, dude. Now, one 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:50.520 advantage that the Vision Pro currently has over the Frame is its ability to 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:54.680 watch stereoscopic content. This is great for spatial photos and videos that 00:12:52.760 --> 00:12:59.040 you might record on your iPhone or for watching 3D movies. Valve does say that 00:12:57.560 --> 00:13:02.440 they're looking at adding that in the future, but hey, 00:13:00.839 --> 00:13:06.560 you can refer back to the Vision Pro for proof of this. You should never buy 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:10.880 anything based on a promise. With that said, as easy as it is to rip 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:15.839 into Apple for their confusing choices and prices, one thing that they nailed 00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:20.839 on the Vision Pro was hand gestures and the no controller experience. VisionOS 00:13:18.800 --> 00:13:26.120 really does provide a seamless way to move things around and interact with 3D 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:28.000 space. Even if Apple's prudishness and 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:32.680 their apathy towards gaming ended up boxing out two of the biggest app 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:36.139 categories for VR users. Sorry. Excuse me. I mean, spatial computing 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:42.720 enthusiasts. >> [music] >> Which raises another problem with this device. In spite of its up to 120 Hz 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:47.720 refresh rate, not to mention god tier displays, it's not a gaming headset. So, 00:13:45.520 --> 00:13:52.000 no matter how good it is, and it is good, even the speakers are okay for 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:57.960 their size, it's not really a competing product or maybe Apple wishes it was. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:14:02.000 Valve confirmed for me that the Frame is also going to support desktop 00:13:59.839 --> 00:14:05.839 projection, which was one of the best use cases that I personally found for 00:14:03.800 --> 00:14:09.800 the Vision Pro, just setting up like giant virtual monitors in your 00:14:07.560 --> 00:14:14.880 workspace. That leaves Apple with a pretty tough sales pitch and I've hardly 00:14:12.839 --> 00:14:20.920 even talked about the price. For the cost of this Vision Pro M5, I could buy 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:24.280 a VR capable gaming system and our next 00:14:20.920 --> 00:14:26.600 VR headset, the Bigscreen Beyond 2. It's 00:14:24.280 --> 00:14:32.600 expensive. It's a little light on the extras, but it is impossible to not 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:36.760 marvel at the size and the phenomenal displays that they packed into this 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:41.839 thing. Like the Vision Pro, Bigscreen gets great contrast and outstanding 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:46.640 motion performance thanks to using micro OLED displays. They are at a lower 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:51.400 resolution and a lower peak refresh rate of 90 Hz, but with how close they sit to 00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:56.120 your face, not to mention their new upgraded pancake optics, you get a 00:14:54.000 --> 00:15:00.480 measurably wider field of view to go along with your great contrast. There is 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:04.720 no question in my mind that the Frame will fall behind the Beyond 2 when it 00:15:02.920 --> 00:15:11.600 comes to image quality. And when it comes to weight, the Beyond 2 boasts a 00:15:07.400 --> 00:15:13.720 super lightweight of just 107 g. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:16.600 Okay. All right. They lean pretty heavily into that number in their 00:15:14.880 --> 00:15:20.640 marketing, which does not include the weight of their head strap, a head strap 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:25.400 that I would describe as garbage on any other headset, but the Beyond 2 gets 00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:29.600 away with it a little bit because it is still so light and that's not even the 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:34.560 best part of the ergonomics. When you get one of these, you can send in a scan 00:15:31.520 --> 00:15:36.000 of your face to get a custom molded face 00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:41.720 plate that will [music] fit you perfectly. Unparalleled comfort, zero 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:46.440 light spill. Does make it a little trickier to share your headset unless 00:15:44.280 --> 00:15:49.680 your housemates also buy their own face gaskets, but with this level of 00:15:48.040 --> 00:15:53.440 immersion, are you going to want to share with your SO anyway? 00:15:51.520 --> 00:15:58.040 Well, maybe because otherwise they might object to a few things. First being the 00:15:55.800 --> 00:16:01.360 base stations and the headset tether that are going to be lying around in 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:07.160 your shared living space. Yep, the Beyond 2 uses Valve's second generation 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:10.200 outside-in tracking solution, which kind of raises some questions about how 00:16:08.959 --> 00:16:14.720 they're going to support themselves in the future now that Valve has moved 00:16:12.280 --> 00:16:19.760 their first-party base stations to end of life. The second big one is the 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:25.240 price. This headset I'm holding is 1,100. That's for the base non eye 00:16:22.959 --> 00:16:30.760 tracking version and includes no base stations, no controllers, and not even 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:33.120 an audio solution. You have to BYO USB-C 00:16:30.760 --> 00:16:36.839 headphones. Now, you can get an audio strap from Bigscreen, so you don't have 00:16:34.880 --> 00:16:42.400 to put headphones on and off every time and it's pretty nice. They use cost 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:44.079 drivers. But it's 130 bucks, man. Still, 00:16:42.400 --> 00:16:48.280 you got to give these guys credit. They came out of nowhere. They set a goal, 00:16:46.520 --> 00:16:53.720 build a no compromises lightweight headset, and they absolutely nailed it 00:16:50.800 --> 00:16:58.480 with diamond encrusted golden nails. Which I guess brings us to the PSVR 2, 00:16:56.959 --> 00:17:03.880 which is on the other end of the spectrum, an unbelievable bang for the 00:17:01.400 --> 00:17:06.920 buck if you don't mind being tethered to your PC. 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:12.360 Originally launched as a standalone accessory for the PlayStation 5, Sony's 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:16.959 sales of this device allegedly did not meet their expectations and they later 00:17:14.520 --> 00:17:20.560 opened up compatibility for PC. They also dropped the price from a launch 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:26.240 price of $550 to just 400 and there is a lot of value 00:17:23.679 --> 00:17:31.600 on the table at that price. I'm talking 2000 by 2040 OLED displays at up to 120 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:36.480 Hz. There are some drawbacks. They're not micro OLED and they're using Fresnel 00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:39.720 lenses rather than pancake optics probably to squeeze out as much 00:17:37.679 --> 00:17:44.840 brightness as possible from those OLEDs and the ergonomics do leave a little bit 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:50.240 to be desired with some light spill and kind of a one-size-fits-all approach, 00:17:47.520 --> 00:17:53.720 but again, at that price, you're getting the headset, you're getting the 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:57.360 controllers, and you might not care about this, but you're also getting 00:17:55.240 --> 00:18:00.840 compatibility with the PlayStation 5 and the PlayStation 5 Pro, something that 00:17:59.360 --> 00:18:05.320 you won't get from any of these other headsets. Which finally brings us to the 00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:09.679 Frame and maybe the toughest part of our discussion. What price does the Steam 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:13.520 Frame need to hit to be the industry disrupter that we all want it to be? So 00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:17.792 far, all that Valve has said on the subject is that they expect it to be 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:22.560 cheaper than the Index, but >> [music] >> as much as people might hope that they 00:18:19.520 --> 00:18:24.640 meant just the headset, there is zero 00:18:22.560 --> 00:18:30.720 shot of that. So, all that that tells us then is that they expect it to be under 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:32.919 the $1,000 price of the Index bundle. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:37.960 And if I'm being honest, I don't think it's going to be by much. Incoming hot 00:18:35.040 --> 00:18:42.000 take here. Come closer. One of the reasons is that I don't think 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:46.919 Valve has to price it any lower than the Index. I think they can charge however 00:18:44.080 --> 00:18:50.840 much they want for it. And that sucks. But [music] hearing people internally 00:18:48.520 --> 00:18:55.200 talk about this thing, it is very clear that people are willing to spend a ton 00:18:53.320 --> 00:18:59.840 of money to get this device because there are so many other layers to the 00:18:57.120 --> 00:19:04.040 Frame that none of our other headsets even approach. The FEX compatibility 00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:08.240 layer that allows you to play Windows x86 games on this thing or the expansion 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:12.760 port that will allow third-party manufacturers to make all sorts of 00:19:10.080 --> 00:19:17.280 modules. The generally open approach that Valve takes to their hardware that 00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:20.880 you purchased. I hate that that sets them apart, 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:23.800 but it does. Now, 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:28.919 I have a pretty decent wish list for a Frame 2 already. I want OLED displays. I 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:33.200 want a better light seal around the nose and maybe, I hope not, but probably 00:19:31.679 --> 00:19:37.360 better audio. But there is no denying that Valve has 00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:41.919 put together an outstanding package and even if it is $1,000, I'm going to be 00:19:40.040 --> 00:19:46.679 buying one on launch day and so will a lot of people. Just like I hope you'll 00:19:44.040 --> 00:19:50.120 buy this Segway to our sponsor. Micro Center. Just because Black 00:19:48.600 --> 00:19:54.080 Friday's over doesn't mean the great deals on PC parts have to end, too. 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:57.960 Micro Center's holiday sales are going on all month long with deals regularly 00:19:56.440 --> 00:20:02.440 changing and updating. So, be sure to keep an eye on their website. If your games are looking outdated and stuck on 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:08.200 medium settings, you can save on a new GPU including AMD's RX 6970XT. 00:20:06.280 --> 00:20:12.720 Or if you just want a pre-built, there's hundreds of dollars to be saved on 00:20:09.800 --> 00:20:16.600 gaming laptops and desktops. And with the current RAM market, why not just 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:21.520 snag a new computer that already comes with 32 gigs of DDR5? That RAM spike did 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:26.560 seem to happen overnight, but thankfully Micro Center's MC News is going live and 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:30.240 can help you stay up to date with all things tech. So, check out the Micro 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:34.040 Center holiday deals at the link in the description below. If you guys enjoyed 00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:38.720 this video, why not go check out the original Steam Frame video where I got 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:41.640 hands-on and gave my first impressions. I'm super excited to get my hands on 00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:45.400 this thing and take [music] a look at it in more depth in the future.