Valve is toying with a Steam Frame OLED and some Reddit users are already wondering whether to wait an excruciatingly long time for it even though it may never happen
Developing story first seen 4 hours ago
Valve has indicated that it is considering an OLED version of the Steam Frame, leading some Reddit users to wonder whether they should delay buying the VR headset. The idea is exploratory, so the discussion centres on whether a possible display upgrade is worth waiting for without knowing if it will be made.
There is no confirmed OLED model, release date or specification. Valve has made no commitment to produce one, leaving prospective buyers to weigh the current Steam Frame against an uncertain upgrade that may never arrive.
- Valve is considering an OLED Steam Frame.
- Reddit users are debating whether to wait.
- The model may never be released.
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Valve makes the Steam Frame, a virtual reality headset designed for playing games in an immersive, computer-generated environment. Its display is currently not OLED, a screen technology that can produce deep blacks and strong contrast.
Valve has said it is exploring an OLED version, but has not confirmed that it will make one or given a release date or specifications. That leaves potential buyers weighing the available headset against the possibility of waiting for an upgrade that may not arrive.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Waiting could make sense for buyers who care strongly about display quality and would regret purchasing just before a meaningful upgrade. If they already have a usable headset, holding off preserves their options while Valve explores OLED, even though there is no guarantee it will reach market.
The case against
Buying the available Steam Frame avoids delaying a purchase for an unconfirmed model with no announced specifications or release date. For someone who wants a headset now, the uncertain prospect of OLED may not justify waiting indefinitely, especially if the current model meets their needs.
Full account
Code found in the recently released Linux kernel source for Valve’s Steam Frame has revived speculation about a version of the virtual-reality headset with OLED displays. The references do not confirm that Valve plans to sell such a model: they could relate to an abandoned prototype or to technology still under development. One code branch uses the name “Planar” and was updated on 2 October, after reservations opened for the LCD-equipped Frame.
The code points to OLED displays with a resolution of 3,552 by 3,840 pixels per eye and a maximum refresh rate of 90Hz. Those figures match the MicroOLED displays in Samsung’s Galaxy VR headset. The Frame currently has LCD displays with 2,160 by 2,160 pixels per eye. The higher resolution would demand more processing in standalone use, but references to “foveated scaling” suggest Valve may be exploring a way to render more detail where the user is looking and less elsewhere.
An OLED upgrade could bring richer contrast and sharper images, much as the Steam Deck OLED improved on the original handheld. It might also use less power, potentially helping with the Frame’s limited battery life, though the higher pixel count could offset that benefit. These are possibilities, rather than confirmed features or promised improvements.
Whether such a model would be welcome depends in part on when it arrived and what it cost. The source reports say the Frame is already expensive and difficult to obtain, with reservations facing a wait of several months. An OLED version would still need components such as memory and storage, so it might compete for parts with the existing headset while adding to the price. Some Reddit users are therefore weighing whether to wait for a hypothetical upgrade; there is no assurance that it will ever reach the market.
Where outlets differ
The first source is a PC Gamer headline and page extract, but the supplied text contains no substantive article reporting the kernel-code details. The second source provides those details and focuses on the practical drawbacks of a possible OLED model, particularly price, availability and competition for components.
The second source compares the suggested displays with Samsung’s Galaxy VR and gives its price as £1,699, while presenting the OLED version’s potential visual and battery benefits as speculation. The sources do not provide independent confirmation from Valve that an OLED Steam Frame is in development.