WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.100 Recently, Valve invited me to their headquarters to check out their new cutting-edge VR headset, 00:00:05.100 --> 00:00:09.560 the Steam Frame. As you might have noticed, in this little B-roll shot here, 00:00:09.560 --> 00:00:13.640 I packed a whack of other headsets that I had intended to compare against it. 00:00:13.640 --> 00:00:18.800 There's just one small problem. I had less than two hours with the bloody thing. 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:24.760 I was to learn about the headset, experience the headset, gather my thoughts, write a 1700-word script, 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:29.160 and then shoot the video, which I ended up having to do partially at the airport, 00:00:29.240 --> 00:00:34.520 and even then, I still missed my flight. We need some way to avoid this kind of thing in the future. 00:00:36.520 --> 00:00:41.800 Anywho, now that I'm in the comfort of my own studio, they can't stop me from gathering up 00:00:41.800 --> 00:00:45.800 all the key VR headsets from the major players like Apple. 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:52.440 Just kidding, Apple. From the major players like Meta and Valve themselves, 00:00:52.440 --> 00:00:56.600 as well as from some more niche players like Apple, 00:00:56.600 --> 00:01:00.560 and also Bigscreen and Sony. That last one is pretty key 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:07.280 because the frame takes one of the best features of the PSVR2 and steps it up to a whole new level. 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:10.320 But it's not all sunshine and yachts. 00:01:10.320 --> 00:01:14.920 In some ways, the Steam Frame absolutes everything else on the market, 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:18.040 but in others, it's still legs behind. 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:23.920 So let's sit down and talk about what I saw. Oh yeah, there's a standing desk, 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:26.440 just like this standing segway to our sponsor. 00:01:27.360 --> 00:01:31.440 Before we jump into these headsets, let's do a quick recap of the Steam Frame. 00:01:31.440 --> 00:01:34.720 Elijah, time me. Powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 00:01:34.720 --> 00:01:39.520 and 16 gigs of LPDDR5X memory, the frame features an ARM-based computer running SteamOS 00:01:39.520 --> 00:01:44.480 with the ability to play native ARM games, Linux x86 games, and even Windows x86 games 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:47.680 on a big virtual screen. Or if you're more about total immersion, 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:52.280 you can play the aforementioned flavors of VR games either on device or you can power them 00:01:52.280 --> 00:01:57.680 with your dedicated desktop and stream video to the frame using the included Wi-Fi 6 gigahertz dongle. 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:02.000 Valve uses an incredible technology called foveated streaming, more on this in a bit, 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:05.360 to deliver low-latency, high-fidelity video wirelessly 00:02:05.360 --> 00:02:08.520 to the frame's 2160 by 2160 LCD displays 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:12.320 at up to 144 hertz, all while weighing just 185 grams, 00:02:12.320 --> 00:02:15.720 including the integrated 21.6 watt hour battery. 00:02:15.720 --> 00:02:19.320 Time. Pretty good, right? I think you were a little generous. 00:02:19.320 --> 00:02:23.440 With the headstrap, it's more like 440 grams. Okay, not what I meant. 00:02:23.480 --> 00:02:29.160 And besides, even with the headstrap, the Steam Frame is still around half the weight 00:02:29.160 --> 00:02:32.240 of some of the other headsets that we're looking at today. 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:37.080 Why don't we start with one that isn't on the table? The original, the Valve Index. 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:41.080 Right out of the gate, the Index has some glaring disadvantages. 00:02:41.080 --> 00:02:45.400 The ergonomics were fine at the time, but when we compare to the frame, 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:50.280 not only does it weigh far more, not to mention need to ratchet onto your noggin, 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:54.040 but the light seal is worse, the balance of the weight is worse 00:02:54.040 --> 00:02:58.680 with it all kind of hanging off the front of your face, and the constant drag of the cord 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:05.360 is something that many have tried to overcome, but even the best solutions seem to be plagued with issues. 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:09.560 And that's not the only way that the Index has aged ungracefully. 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:12.920 Even at the time of its release, its field of view and its resolution 00:03:12.920 --> 00:03:16.240 were hardly groundbreaking, and they were quickly surpassed by competitors 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:19.400 like Pimax, HP, and HTC. 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:24.560 The frame is gonna have a major advantage there, upgrading not only the display resolution, 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:29.000 but also the optics to dramatically enhance the perceived image quality. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:33.000 With that said, that doesn't make the Index suddenly irrelevant 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:37.160 for everyone who owns one. One area that Valve didn't even aim to improve 00:03:37.160 --> 00:03:43.040 was the field of view, and like the Index, the frame uses LCD panels still. 00:03:43.040 --> 00:03:46.640 So don't expect the same kind of mind-blowing contrast 00:03:46.640 --> 00:03:50.160 that you might get from some of our other headsets today. 00:03:50.160 --> 00:03:53.760 Another area that Valve didn't even try to improve was tracking. 00:03:53.760 --> 00:03:57.800 They told me point blank that the target was as good as Index, 00:03:57.800 --> 00:04:02.000 but that also ain't a bad thing. The Index used anywhere from two 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:05.200 to up to four base stations for room-scale tracking. 00:04:05.200 --> 00:04:09.520 These little guys sweep infrared lasers across your entire play area 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:13.880 to determine the exact position of your headset and controllers. 00:04:13.880 --> 00:04:17.040 This form of tracking from the outside in 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:21.240 is still considered the best because even if one sensor gets blocked, 00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:24.840 you can basically guarantee that another will be able to pick up the slack. 00:04:24.840 --> 00:04:31.440 With that said, Valve sounded very confident that the wide, near 180-degree side-mounted cameras 00:04:31.440 --> 00:04:34.440 on the frame would allow their new inside-out tracking 00:04:34.440 --> 00:04:40.240 to capable handle even unusual positions like drawing an arrow out of a quiver. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:43.960 What I'm less sure about is unusual VR accessories. 00:04:43.960 --> 00:04:47.320 I've had a lot of fun over the years streaming with a full-body VR avatar, 00:04:47.320 --> 00:04:51.320 and unless Valve releases one later, I have a hard time imagining a way 00:04:51.320 --> 00:04:54.760 to get reliable tracking on my waist and my feet 00:04:54.760 --> 00:04:57.800 without relying on an outside-in system. 00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:01.080 Another mixed bag is the controllers. On the one hand, 00:05:01.080 --> 00:05:04.880 I can see why Valve chose a more industry-standard approach this time. 00:05:04.880 --> 00:05:08.000 It will make default keybind simpler for VR developers, 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:12.360 and it allows flat-screen games to be easily enjoyed without learning a new controller layout, 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:16.440 but I and many others loved both the ergonomics 00:05:16.440 --> 00:05:21.160 and especially the five-finger awareness of the Knuckles controllers. 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:26.440 The good news is that with a modestly priced upgrade pack, you can maintain a similar feel, 00:05:26.440 --> 00:05:31.560 and personally, I love the change to a single AA battery per controller 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:36.920 because that means no more waiting around to play. You just drop a freshly-recharged battery in, 00:05:36.960 --> 00:05:41.200 and you're good to go. The last point is one that I'm particularly nervous about. 00:05:41.200 --> 00:05:45.240 The indexes on-board audio is nothing short of legendary. 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:50.800 The near-field speakers sound great, and somehow they leak very little externally. 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:54.480 That can be a pretty big deal, depending on the things you like to do in VR. 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:58.600 And the microphone is so good that my chat was often flooded with messages 00:05:58.600 --> 00:06:04.480 demanding to know what amazing microphone I was using. Now, Valve says that the frame should be on par, 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.320 and I haven't got a reason to doubt them, but I do worry a little bit 00:06:08.320 --> 00:06:12.720 that the position of the speakers might make it hard for them to sound quite as good, 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:17.000 and it may cause more leakage. The thing is, I love my index, 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:21.740 and many on-paper superior headsets have come and gone through my house 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:26.480 with the index staying part of my setup. It's just one of those truly great products 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:31.440 that is more than the sum of its parts. But it's not the only great VR headset. 00:06:31.440 --> 00:06:37.720 Let's compare now to the G-Sote, the greatest selling of all time, the MetaQuest series. 00:06:37.720 --> 00:06:41.760 The current king of the hill for Meta is the Quest 3, and this really shows you 00:06:41.760 --> 00:06:45.920 what an unlimited budget will do for you. This thing is a couple of years old now, 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:50.480 but it is aged like fine wine and still holds up surprisingly well. 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:54.080 It boasts nearly the same per eye resolution as the Steam Frame, 00:06:54.080 --> 00:06:57.640 and it also uses low-profile pancake lens objects. 00:06:57.640 --> 00:07:01.780 Meta has invested heavily in attracting VR game developers to their platform, 00:07:01.780 --> 00:07:06.340 even going as far as to acquire beat games, maker of the smash hit Beat Saber, 00:07:06.340 --> 00:07:10.740 and it even got a $150 price drop for the 512 gig model, 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:14.620 making it the obvious choice for a value VR setup 00:07:14.620 --> 00:07:18.500 until its little brother, the 3S, showed up more recently. 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:21.660 Even now though, the Quest 3 is gonna be a tough package 00:07:21.660 --> 00:07:26.620 to beat from a bang for the buck perspective. It also boasts convenient inside out tracking 00:07:26.620 --> 00:07:30.660 thanks to its camera array, and it also plays games on board 00:07:30.660 --> 00:07:36.460 thanks to its Snapdragon XR Gen 2 processor. It also allows streaming from a Steam VR PC, 00:07:36.460 --> 00:07:40.020 either over a USB-C connection or wirelessly, 00:07:40.020 --> 00:07:45.740 and it features color rather than black and white pass-through cameras like Valve chose for the frame. 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:49.820 But worry not, Valve fanboys, for GabeN didn't come to this gunfight 00:07:49.820 --> 00:07:53.740 equipped with just any knife. It's a Karambit Doppler Sapphire knife. 00:07:53.740 --> 00:07:57.220 Oh my days! First things first, the frame is not only lighter 00:07:57.220 --> 00:08:00.540 than the Quest 3, but the weight distribution is noticeably better. 00:08:00.540 --> 00:08:03.900 See, all the weight of the optics, the computer, 00:08:03.900 --> 00:08:07.100 the battery hangs off of the front of this bad boy. 00:08:07.100 --> 00:08:12.180 Valve moved the battery pack around to the back, which gives you less weight directly on your cheeks 00:08:12.180 --> 00:08:15.200 and nose, and also less swing pull, 00:08:15.200 --> 00:08:18.740 which is not a real term, but it's like the way that when you swing, 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:23.720 it kinda pulls. You know what I mean? Valve also holds a slight advantage 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:28.840 when it comes to screen refresh rate. While both headsets officially top out at 120 Hertz, 00:08:28.840 --> 00:08:32.640 Valve includes an experimental 144 Hertz mode. 00:08:32.640 --> 00:08:36.600 Finally, the Quest 3 does not have out-of-the-box eye tracking. 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:41.320 This makes it way harder for someone to realize that you're checking out their VR avatar 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:47.720 and come over and talk to you, either to say, hey, I like your avatar too, 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:52.240 or to say, stop looking at me, weirdo. But more importantly, it gives Valve 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:57.480 a giant advantage for wireless streaming. It's time to talk about foveated streaming. 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:02.260 See, when Meta beams a video frame from your connected PC over to your Quest 3, 00:09:02.260 --> 00:09:07.060 they do so using the same bitrate or the same quality for the entire frame. 00:09:07.060 --> 00:09:10.160 That's because Meta has no way of knowing where you're looking, 00:09:10.160 --> 00:09:13.280 and you probably wouldn't want them to the way they would use it. 00:09:13.280 --> 00:09:16.520 By contrast, Valve uses high-speed sensors 00:09:16.520 --> 00:09:20.920 to track your gaze and then encode only the part of the frame 00:09:20.920 --> 00:09:24.440 that you're actually looking at at the highest quality level. 00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:28.640 In practice, it works amazingly well. 00:09:28.640 --> 00:09:32.840 Like, I could not flick my eyes fast enough 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:38.440 to focus on a crappier part of the image before it updated and started rendering it at full fidelity. 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:42.840 And to ensure a smooth experience, Valve came up with a really clever way 00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:48.160 to reduce the likelihood of network congestion by giving you a six gigahertz wireless dongle 00:09:48.160 --> 00:09:51.300 that connects directly from your PC to your headset. 00:09:51.300 --> 00:09:56.280 Six gigahertz wireless enables higher speeds and is less prone to interference. 00:09:56.280 --> 00:09:59.440 Now, one drawback of six gigahertz is range 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:04.880 and obstacle penetration. But, I mean, given the bar is a cord, 00:10:04.880 --> 00:10:09.160 Valve seems to be clearing it handily. It's also worth noting that the Quest 3 00:10:09.160 --> 00:10:13.880 also supports six gigahertz Wi-Fi, but depending on your Wi-Fi access point 00:10:13.880 --> 00:10:17.680 and your network configuration, your experience with it may vary. 00:10:17.680 --> 00:10:20.840 As for controllers, I'd call these a draw 00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:26.640 because Valve pretty much copied Meta's homework, but I do expect audio to be a disadvantage 00:10:26.640 --> 00:10:29.640 for the Quest 3, along with the closed ecosystem 00:10:29.640 --> 00:10:35.520 and its dependency on Meta, who, no, we haven't forgotten, is basically Facebook. 00:10:35.520 --> 00:10:39.320 Only time is gonna tell how battery life and tracking performance will compare 00:10:39.320 --> 00:10:44.280 and whether Valve will build gimmicky features like camera-based hand and finger tracking, 00:10:44.280 --> 00:10:48.920 which the Quest does have. Now, for the most gimmicky of all of our headsets today, 00:10:48.920 --> 00:10:52.160 the Apple Vision Pro. Not because it's bad. 00:10:52.160 --> 00:10:57.840 I mean, the technology is really cool. It's just that Apple really, really, like, 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:01.600 desperately wanted this thing to be anything but a VR headset. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:07.120 So, they ended up with this, which is maybe a great spatial computer, 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:11.040 but nobody, even now, knows what the fuck that is, 00:11:11.040 --> 00:11:16.560 which really sucks because as a VR headset, this thing had so much potential. 00:11:16.560 --> 00:11:21.120 Oh my God, it's so heavy. I haven't tried the M5 one yet. 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:25.160 It's so heavy. Starting with one of the highest resolution displays 00:11:25.160 --> 00:11:29.080 on the market and not just high res, high fidelity. 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:32.200 Thanks to Apple having the R&D budget of a small nation, 00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:37.160 they shipped micro OLED displays that boast otherworldly contrast 00:11:37.160 --> 00:11:40.680 and incredible color accuracy. They also equipped the Vision Pro 00:11:40.680 --> 00:11:43.800 with probably the best full-color pass-through cameras 00:11:43.800 --> 00:11:47.040 on the market, which makes it great just for VR, 00:11:47.040 --> 00:11:51.800 but even for augmented reality, for about five minutes. 00:11:51.800 --> 00:11:55.160 Apple should have borrowed Monster Truck marketing rate for their battery life. 00:11:55.160 --> 00:11:58.600 Two and a half hours, but you'll only need the edge. 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:03.680 It is no understatement to describe the ergonomics of this thing as horrible. 00:12:03.680 --> 00:12:09.480 Even after putting the battery in a separate pack, it is still among the heaviest headsets on the market 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:12.720 and the way that it rests on people's cheeks or noses 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:17.680 really does not do it any favors. The M5 version does come with a new strap 00:12:17.680 --> 00:12:22.120 that I am trying for the first time, and it does seem to actually help take some of the weight 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:26.720 off of my nose, but oh man, it's still rough, dude. 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:33.220 Now, one advantage that the Vision Pro currently has over the frame is its ability to watch stereoscopic content. 00:12:33.220 --> 00:12:37.360 This is great for spatial photos and videos that you might record on your iPhone 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:42.040 or for watching 3D movies. Valve does say that they are looking at adding that 00:12:42.040 --> 00:12:46.480 in the future, but hey, you can refer back to the Vision Pro for proof of this. 00:12:46.520 --> 00:12:49.840 You should never buy anything based on a promise. 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:55.560 With that said, as easy as it is to rip into Apple for their confusing choices and prices, 00:12:55.560 --> 00:13:01.200 one thing that they nailed on the Vision Pro was hand gestures and the no controller experience. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:07.200 Vision OS really does provide a seamless way to move things around and interact with 3D space. 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:10.800 Even if Apple's prudishness and their apathy towards gaming 00:13:10.800 --> 00:13:13.920 ended up boxing out two of the biggest app categories 00:13:13.920 --> 00:13:19.600 for VR users, so sorry. Excuse me, I mean, spatial computing enthusiasts. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:24.480 Which raises another problem with this device. In spite of its up to 120 Hertz refresh rate, 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:28.560 not to mention God tier displays, it's not a gaming headset. 00:13:28.560 --> 00:13:33.640 So no matter how good it is, and it is good, even the speakers are okay for their size. 00:13:33.640 --> 00:13:38.840 It's not really a competing product, or maybe Apple wishes it wasn't. 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:41.880 Valve confirmed for me that the frame is also going 00:13:41.880 --> 00:13:46.880 to support desktop projection, which was one of the best use cases that I personally found 00:13:46.880 --> 00:13:51.880 for the Vision Pro, just setting up like giant virtual monitors in your workspace. 00:13:51.880 --> 00:13:57.680 That leaves Apple with a pretty tough sales pitch, and I've hardly even talked about the price. 00:13:57.680 --> 00:14:02.680 For the cost of this Vision Pro M5, I could buy a VR capable gaming system 00:14:02.680 --> 00:14:07.240 and our next VR headset, the big screen beyond two. 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:10.580 It's expensive, it's a little light on the extras, 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:14.400 but it is impossible to not marvel at the size 00:14:14.400 --> 00:14:18.080 and the phenomenal displays that they packed into this thing. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:21.520 Like the Vision Pro, big screen gets great contrast 00:14:21.520 --> 00:14:26.480 and outstanding motion performance thanks to using micro OLED displays. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:31.020 They are at a lower resolution and a lower peak refresh rate of 90 Hertz, 00:14:31.020 --> 00:14:36.520 but without close they sit to your face, not to mention their new upgraded pancake optics, 00:14:36.520 --> 00:14:41.120 you get a measurably wider field of view to go along with your great contrast. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:45.880 There is no question in my mind that the frame will fall behind the beyond two 00:14:45.880 --> 00:14:49.240 when it comes to image quality and when it comes to weight. 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:54.240 The beyond two boasts a super lightweight of just 107 grams. 00:14:54.800 --> 00:14:58.680 Okay, all right, they lean pretty heavily into that number in their marketing, 00:14:58.680 --> 00:15:03.480 which does not include the weight of their head strap, a head strap that I would describe as garbage 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:06.960 on any other headset, but the beyond two gets away with it a little bit 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:10.080 because it is still so light 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:13.640 and that's not even the best part of the ergonomics. When you get one of these, 00:15:13.640 --> 00:15:18.280 you can send in a scan of your face to get a custom molded face plate 00:15:18.280 --> 00:15:23.960 that will fit you perfectly. Unparalleled comfort, zero light spill. 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:27.240 Does make it a little trickier to share your headset 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:30.480 unless your housemates also buy their own face gaskets, 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:34.840 but with this level of immersion, are you gonna wanna share with your SO anyway? 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:39.960 Well, maybe because otherwise they might object to a few things, first being the base stations 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:43.760 and the headset tether that are gonna be lying around in your shared living space. 00:15:43.760 --> 00:15:47.520 Yep, the beyond two uses Valve's second generation 00:15:47.520 --> 00:15:51.680 outside in tracking solution, which kind of raises some questions 00:15:51.680 --> 00:15:57.040 about how they're gonna support themselves in the future now that Valve has moved their first party base stations 00:15:57.040 --> 00:16:01.480 to end of life. The second big one is the price. 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:07.280 This headset I'm holding is 11 Hundo. That's for the base non eye tracking version 00:16:07.280 --> 00:16:12.080 and includes no base stations, no controllers and not even an audio solution. 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:17.480 You have to BYO USB-C headphones. Now you can get an audio strap from big screen 00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:21.000 so you don't have to put headphones on and off every time and it's pretty nice. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:24.760 They use cost drivers, but it's 130 bucks, man. 00:16:24.760 --> 00:16:29.680 Still, you gotta give these guys credit. They came out of nowhere, they set a goal, 00:16:29.680 --> 00:16:33.960 built in no compromises, lightweight headset and they absolutely nailed it 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:40.120 with diamond encrusted golden nails, which I guess brings us to the PSVR 2, 00:16:40.160 --> 00:16:45.440 which is on the other end of the spectrum, an unbelievable bang for the buck 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:50.760 if you don't mind being tethered to your PC. Originally launched as a standalone accessory 00:16:50.760 --> 00:16:54.080 for the PlayStation 5, Sony's sales of this device 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:59.960 allegedly did not meet their expectations and they later opened up compatibility for PC. 00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:05.400 They also dropped the price from a launch price of $550 to just 400 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:08.920 and there is a lot of value on the table at that price. 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:13.720 I'm talking 2,000 by 2040 OLED displays at up to 120 Hertz. 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:18.040 There are some drawbacks, they're not micro OLED and they're using Fresnel lenses 00:17:18.040 --> 00:17:21.920 rather than pancake optics, probably to squeeze out as much brightness as possible 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:26.280 from those OLEDs and the ergonomics do leave a little bit to be desired 00:17:26.280 --> 00:17:30.760 with some light spill and kind of a one size fits all approach 00:17:30.760 --> 00:17:34.280 but again, at that price, you're getting the headset, 00:17:34.280 --> 00:17:37.640 you're getting the controllers and you might not care about this 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:42.200 but you're also getting compatibility with the PlayStation 5 and the PlayStation 5 Pro, 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:47.240 something that you won't get from any of these other headsets which finally brings us to the frame 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:52.080 and maybe the toughest part of our discussion. What price does the steam frame need to hit 00:17:52.080 --> 00:17:57.200 to be the industry disruptor that we all want it to be? So far, all that Valve has said on the subject 00:17:57.200 --> 00:18:00.440 is that they expect it to be cheaper than the index 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:06.680 but as much as people might hope that they meant just the headset, there is zero shot of that. 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:10.160 So all that that tells us then is that they expect it 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:13.960 to be under the $1,000 price of the index bundle 00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:17.600 and if I'm being honest, I don't think it's gonna be by much. 00:18:17.600 --> 00:18:19.960 Incoming hot take here, come closer. 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:26.080 One of the reasons is that I don't think Valve has to price it any lower than the index. 00:18:26.080 --> 00:18:31.720 I think they can charge however much they want for it and that sucks but hearing people internally 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:36.880 talk about this thing, it is very clear that people are willing to spend a ton of money 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:40.100 to get this device because there are so many other layers 00:18:40.100 --> 00:18:45.840 to the frame that none of our other headsets even approach the effects compatibility layer 00:18:45.840 --> 00:18:49.260 that allows you to play Windows x86 games on this thing 00:18:49.260 --> 00:18:54.520 or the expansion port that will allow third-party manufacturers to make all sorts of modules. 00:18:54.520 --> 00:18:59.400 The generally open approach that Valve takes to their hardware that you purchased. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:04.160 I hate that that sets them apart but it does. 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:08.760 Now, I have a pretty decent wish list for our frame two already. 00:19:08.760 --> 00:19:14.120 I want OLED displays, I want a better light seal around the nose and maybe I hope not 00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:17.840 but probably better audio but there is no denying 00:19:17.840 --> 00:19:22.760 that Valve has put together an outstanding package and even if it is $1,000, 00:19:22.760 --> 00:19:26.380 I'm gonna be buying one on launch day and so will a lot of people. 00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:29.900 Just like I hope you'll buy this segue to our sponsor. 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:33.900 If you guys enjoyed this video, why not go check out the original Steam Frame video 00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:37.060 where I got hands on and gave my first impressions. 00:19:37.060 --> 00:19:41.860 I'm super excited to get my hands on this thing and take a look at it in more depth in the future.