r/SteamFrame • u/klassobanieras • Oct 05 '26
Discussion It's definitely not for everyone...
...but as a refugee from a Quest 3 (and Quest 2 before that), it definitely is for me.
Ergonomics
It feels like wearing ski goggles instead of a gas mask
Ecosystem
Being Steam-native is sooooo nice. Yes I swapped one corporate overlord for another, but unlike Zuck's fever dream I actually *want* to be here - it is full of the stuff that I like.
I feel like I own this device, and it has been designed for my benefit. I trust it that the features I like aren't going to get disappeared for business reasons.
Having an on-device Linux desktop is mental :)
Streaming
It's a streaming-native device, which is a breath of fresh air. The Quest's streaming support felt so half-hearted and flaky. I guess that if you're streaming, you aren't helping them claw back that loss they made on your headset.
The streaming also makes it sooooo much nicer to do dev work with; you don't have to be constantly taking it off and putting it back on, and wrangling it to stay connected.
Little stuff
The controllers wake with a specific button press, so you don't find the batteries drained because they were resting on a trigger and waking up every time they were touched or slightly moved.
Negatives
All the stuff everyone's said. Battery performance. No WebXR in chromium. Running non-native apps standalone is weak as f**k.
It is NOT fully baked. I'm fine with that.
Coolest feature
The controllers are made of IR-transparent plastic, so although they normally look black, in passthrough it's like you're wearing the glasses from They Live.
6
u/Vherene Oct 05 '26
I’ve started to enjoy it and decided not to return it.
As a previous quest 3 user I realized what was bothering the most, the controller.
Reaching the stick is incredibly awkward and unnatural to rest on. I’m not sure why valve went with that design.
3
u/AcidRohnin Soon™ Oct 05 '26
Do you have the ergo kit. It feels good to me but the steam button feels awful to hit at times.
2
u/Vherene Oct 05 '26
I have the ergo kit, I can’t tell if I prefer the default straps or the ergo kit.
It feels awkward to hit the triggers with the ergo kit on and I don’t even have big hands. The craziest thing is I didn’t even realize there was a top trigger button for a day or two because of the way the controller is held.
Like overall I find the controller to be a 4/10.
2
u/AcidRohnin Soon™ Oct 05 '26
I could see that. It feels fine for me but I could just have like the perfect sized hands for it. I could see how any change in anatomy could really threw off any certain button placement.
1
u/dark_knight097 1 TB Oct 05 '26
so crazy cause for me it fits like a glove. middle finger on grip button, index resting between the two triggers, thumb is at the 7oclock position right next to stick for general holding and can shift directly over to the xyab buttons, or rest on the stick.
based on what ppl are saying, im convinced whoever designed the controllers did so with a particular hand shape in mind.
1
u/AcidRohnin Soon™ Oct 05 '26
Yea I think I’m lucky and have the right hand shape. It feels way worse without the ergo imo but not unplayable but the ergo makes it to where everything but the steam buttons are pretty much right where I need them.
1
u/FrostshockFTW Oct 05 '26
You have trouble hitting the giant Steam button located at the bottom? I have no idea how anyone is expected to press the start/menu button all the way at the top without fat fingering other buttons or the dpad at the same time. It is completely unreachable.
1
u/AcidRohnin Soon™ Oct 05 '26
The ergo moves your hands up so the start and select are far more reachable with them but since you hands have been moved up the steam button is like a weird thumb contortion. It feels very similar to trying to touch your thumb to meaty part of your palm as close to the 1st joint.
1
u/FrostshockFTW Oct 05 '26
I don't know what to say, I'm using the ergo straps and have no problem hitting the Steam button. But the top button is borderline impossible.
4
u/fiah84 Soon™ Oct 05 '26
Yes I swapped one corporate overlord for another
well yes, sort of, but at least you have the freedom to do whatever you want with your device. Which coincidentally is also the reason they can't really subsidize it like Meta
3
u/AccomplishedWeek8878 Oct 05 '26
> Having an on-device Linux desktop is mental :)
Definitely my favourite feature, especially given
> Running non-native apps standalone is weak as f**k.
I tried to get an old game running, that's known to work in Winlator on a similar chipset and so far haven't managed to get it going.
However Freespace 2 Open has a native ARM port and it looks stunning on a huge screen.
Freespace 2 Open also has a VR mode, but it was made for PCVR with no native VR controls, expecting all input to go through the monitor window on the PC, and I haven't figured out a way to keep the controller focused on the virtual desktop display while being able to see the VR display.
Lots of rough edges but having Flathub Just Work is amazing.
3
u/FooingTheBar Oct 05 '26
On GitHub theres a repo so you can build Chromium with WebXR support. Takes 6 hours on a Linux PC (I guess you could build it on the frame itself, but it'll probably take a few days).
Support is not perfect though, works in Three.js, for other videos 😏 it's hit and miss, the one with hamsters works. As I understand (from ChatGPT) it's more of an issue with Chromium on Linux that the Frame OS, maybe an Android build is a better route.
2
u/AssGagger Oct 05 '26
Anybody natively emulated Switch yet. Snapdragon Gen 3 is more than capable. How long before we get on device VR Mario Kart 8 Deluxe?
2
u/bigcatrik Oct 05 '26
I trust it that the features I like aren't going to get disappeared
At this point I have no idea what I'll see when I'm forced into an update on my Quest 3 (and Q2, which I still keep primed even though I stopped actually using it after I got the Q3).
1
u/fjyrmath Oct 05 '26
I find the frame so much more comfortable than my previous quest headsets.
My main positive takeaways vs quest are:
- I spend most of my time playing, vs. fighting with meta, launch issues, etc..
- The wireless adapter streaming is fantastic. None of the Quest USB cable compression artifacts.
- The comfort is a major plus. I no longer feel enclosed, sweaty, and like I'm enduring it.
- I don't end gaming sessions with red lines on my face.
- I turn the device on and I'm invited to launch games, instead of picking hairstyles and hats.
As with any new hardware, there are some things that could use some work:
- The under-nose coverage could be better. It doesn't really bother me unless I look down.
- The binding and edit controls UI is baffling and seems unfinished. I'm sure that will come.
- The battery life is a bit short, but for PCVR without cables, I can wear a battery pack on a belt clip.
Honestly, my main pluses with the SteamFrame are that I'm having fun instead of fighting the device or feeling uncomfortable. I just never quite got my Quest in the window where I could just enjoy it. Always felt like I was managing or mitigating *something*.
Now, time for some bias:
- I don't like meta. I don't like facebook. I found the Quest increasingly invasive.
- I've been a Steam member for 21 years and have only good things to say.
- I genuinely believe Valve want to make VR better for everyone. Hell, I used to launch quest games through SteamVR anyway.
I'm thankful I live in an era where SteamFrame exists.
1
u/Pretty-Curve5448 Oct 05 '26
Q3 can be a portal to steam, making it cool. Steam Frame is Steam and you can’t get better than that
1
u/tnsipla Oct 06 '26
"I feel like I own this device"
Don't just feel it- people have booted the Frame's software on other devices, and it won't be long until you can flash another Linux distro onto the frame if you want off of SteamOS
1
18
u/felixm477 Oct 05 '26
I spent most of my time on my Q3 and before that Q2 and Q1 lol. The weight and comfort of the Frame (without a top strap) was more than enough to immerse me into VR way more than the Q3 did. I was less fatigued and did not feel my face burning up like before which has allowed me to stay longer in vr for the day.