Best charger for Steam Frame - the power supply is sold separately

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Best charger for Steam Frame? Direct answer

For the Steam Frame headset, you need a USB-C wall charger with the USB Power Delivery (USB PD) standard and at least 45 W of power that supports the 15 V and 3 A power profile. You will not find any power adapter in the box, regardless of whether you choose the 256 GB storage version or the 1 TB variant. If you have the original charger from the Steam Deck console handy, you can plug it right in, as it has the exact same specifications.

Valve sells a dedicated 45 W USB-C PD 3.0 power adapter with a 2.5-meter cable, but purchasing this accessory is heavily restricted. The official charger can only be ordered at the exact same time you purchase the headset after receiving your email from the reservation queue. Anyone who skips this step while placing the order will not be able to buy the original power adapter from Valve at a later date.

The 15 V / 3 A profile and the 65 W charger trap

To check whether a power adapter lying in your drawer can handle Steam Frame, look at the small table printed on its housing. In the Output section, you must find the USB PD standard label and the 15 V / 3.0 A rating, which multiplies out to the required 45 W. If your charger has multiple ports, make sure that a single USB-C port can deliver this value without the aid of the other connectors.

Many users reach for more powerful 65 W chargers, hoping to recharge the battery faster. In practice, Steam Frame will not charge any faster, because the power delivery circuitry in the headset takes in a maximum of 45 W and limits current draw on its own. The extra power headroom in a 65 W charger comes in handy, however, when you want to charge a phone or a lightweight laptop from the same charging brick simultaneously.

Below are chargers that deliver a full 45 W from a single USB-C port, along with a long cable for seated play.

Recommended chargers and cable for Steam Frame

Tethered gaming and the power sharing issue

Valve officially supports playing while tethered to a power cable, which eliminates the issue of a rapidly draining battery. Valve states that a USB-C charger with at least 45 W ensures continuous gameplay, so the game does not have to end when the battery runs out. However, this requires a sufficiently long cable that will not restrict head movement.

For seated play, a 3 m cable is more convenient. Just make sure the chosen USB-C cable has the appropriate current capacity and supports at least 45 W or 60 W.

Be especially careful with multi-port chargers. If you plug a smartphone into the second port while playing, the charger will split the power between the ports, and the main connector may drop below the 45 W that the headset requires. For wired gaming, it is best to dedicate a separate port or an entirely separate charger to the headset.

Fun fact: The controllers for the Steam Frame headset do not need a USB-C power adapter at all. Each is powered by a single standard, replaceable AA battery that provides around 40 hours of continuous gameplay.

21.6 Wh battery: charging times and playtime

The Steam Frame headset is equipped with a 21.6 Wh lithium-ion battery mounted by the manufacturer at the back of the head strap. Right next to the battery is a single USB-C 2.0 port used for charging and data transfer. Placing the cell at the back improves the balance of the entire build, but the capacity itself necessitates frequent trips to the charger.

The hardware lacks any form of fast charging, making the replenishment process slow. Reviewers at Gizmodo showed that charging from zero to 50% using a 45 W adapter takes well over an hour. Meanwhile, tests published by Road to VR show that under typical, mixed use, the battery drains in just 1 to 1.5 hours.

In demanding VR titles run natively on the headset, such as Half-Life: Alyx or Superhot VR, the Gizmodo editorial team recorded a drop from 100% to zero in just over an hour. A result of more than two hours of battery life on a single charge was only achieved during wireless PC game streaming.

For longer gaming sessions away from a wall outlet, a power bank with the USB PD standard and an output of at least 45 W proves essential.

Fun fact: The main Steam Frame module weighs only 185 grams and can be easily detached from the stock head strap, then attached to another compatible strap.

See also: Best power bank for Steam Frame - play past the 90-minute mark

Frequently asked questions about Steam Frame power

Does the Steam Frame come with a charger?

No, there is no power adapter in the box, which applies to both the 256 GB and 1 TB variants. According to HotHardware's review roundup, the lack of an included charger drew criticism from outlets including Engadget. The power adapter could only be purchased officially when finalizing the order after receiving an email from the reservation queue.

Does the Steam Deck charger work with Steam Frame?

Yes, the original power adapter from the Steam Deck console fits the Steam Frame headset perfectly. The device delivers the required 15 V and 3 A at full 45 W power under the USB Power Delivery standard. You can seamlessly use one charging brick to power both the console and the VR headset.

Will a 65 W charger charge Steam Frame faster?

No, a more powerful 65 W charger will not affect the charging speed. The power controller built into the headset accepts a maximum of 45 W and will not draw more current from the wall. The extra power is only useful if you want to simultaneously charge another device from the same multi-port brick.

Can you play Steam Frame while charging?

Yes, the design of the headset allows for continuous gameplay while connected to mains power. Valve recommends a USB-C charger with at least 45 W for this. It is worth getting a cable of at least 2.5 or 3 meters, which allows for comfortable seated play.

How long does it take to charge the Steam Frame?

The Steam Frame charges relatively slowly because the manufacturer did not equip the device with a fast charging mode. In Gizmodo's tests, topping up the battery from 0 to 50% using a 45 W charger took well over an hour. This means that fully charging the 21.6 Wh battery requires an extended stay at the outlet.

Sources

• Valve: Steam Frame specs and accessories - manufacturer page (store.steampowered.com)
• Gizmodo: Steam Frame review - industry article (gizmodo.com)
• Road to VR: Steam Frame Review - industry article (roadtovr.com)
• HotHardware: Steam Frame review roundup - industry article (hothardware.com)
• Wccftech: Steam Frame reviews, price and battery life - industry article (wccftech.com)