iFixit has now uploaded its Steam Frame teardown video, giving us a close look at the new VR headset’s internals, and more support is coming. Valve recently started shipping the Frame out to those successful in the reservation queue, and it didn’t take long for third-party Steam Frame accessories to start cropping up online, along with officially partnered prescription lenses from the likes of Zenni.

As for the Steam Frame hardware itself, iFixit reveals replacement parts should be “available on our store soon,” along with repair guides. iFixit is an official partner of Valve and has worked with the company’s previous VR headset, the Valve Index. Most recently, we noticed that the site already has 18 guides available for the Steam Machine mini PC, so the Frame closely follows.

“iFixit partners with Valve to provide parts, tools, and guides for the Steam Deck, the Index, and now the Frame, too. We’ll actually be using this very headset to make our repair guides over the next few weeks, and you can expect to see parts available on our store soon.”

Shahram Mokhtari, iFixit Lead Teardown Tech

Steam Frame is a “surprisingly modular headset,” says iFixit

In the description of its YouTube video, iFixit describes the Steam Frame as a “surprisingly modular headset,” and iFixit’s Lead Teardown Tech, Shahram Mokhtari, notes that “modularity takes center stage thanks to quick-release latches for the headstrap, easily swappable face and nose cushions, an external microSD slot, and a magnetically attached lens stack that makes panel or eye-tracking replacement surprisingly approachable for a DIYer”.

It’s also worth noting that the Steam Frame’s controllers feature TMR thumbsticks to help negate any drifting, along with standard AA batteries – which may seem like an annoyance at first, but will only extend their lifespan. You can simply replace them as you go rather than relying on a decaying built-in battery that is harder to replace. “Valve has engineered 
a headset built to outlast its warranty,” says Mokhtari.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.