Steam Frame Accessories Bring Color Cameras and Controller Straps

Steam Frame accessories add full-color passthrough and controller-comfort options via third-party hardware upgrades.

Steam Frame supports hardware modifications and third-party accessories that can add features to the headset. These accessories include a full-color passthrough upgrade and an ergonomic kit that improves headset stability and controller handling. The Arpara Vision adds stereo color cameras, while the ergonomic kit includes a top strap, controller hand straps, and an extended light blocker.

Both options offer different benefits, depending on how you use the headset. One problem with the Steam Frame is that it only has monochrome passthrough. It is enough to see your surroundings and move around without taking the headset off, but it isn't designed to provide a clear, full-color view of the real world like the Quest 3.

Arpara Vision Adds Full-Color Passthrough to Steam Frame

The Arpara Vision is a stereo color camera upgrade for the front of the Steam Frame. It connects directly to the headset's expansion port and adds full-color HDR passthrough using two RGB cameras. It can also record spatial video, but its main purpose is the passthrough upgrade. This accessory matters for reasons beyond making passthrough look better.

It demonstrates what Valve is trying to achieve with the Steam Frame. Instead of requiring an entirely new headset for extra features, Valve has left room for companies to add hardware to the existing device. Today, that might be a color camera, but future accessories could include face tracking, hand tracking, or different sensors.

This approach could extend the Steam Frame's lifespan and let users customize it to their needs. Installing the Arpara Vision is easy. The module is small and lightweight, and it slots directly into the headset's front expansion port, then clips into place. It requires no software installation, updates, or additional setup. The accessory works as soon as you connect it.

Full-Color Passthrough Improves Everyday Use

Once installed, the difference between the standard passthrough cameras and the Arpara Vision is significant. The Steam Frame's standard passthrough is adequate and performs better than expected, but the image is blurry. This makes everyday tasks difficult without removing the headset, such as reading a phone or pressing a camera's record button.

With the Arpara Vision, you can stay in the headset and still perform tasks around the office while using SteamOS. This includes picking up a phone, checking something on a computer, dealing with a barking dog, and pressing a camera's record button. These are the types of tasks that would normally require removing the headset.

Staying in the headset while doing them makes the accessory useful for everyday use. The image quality of the Arpara Vision is better than expected, though the difference from the Quest 3 is not substantial. We recorded side-by-side footage for comparison, but the Quest 3 appears to record at a slightly higher quality, making the comparison difficult.

The packaging also feels inexpensive and does not convey a premium product.

There are also questions about how the expansion system will handle multiple accessories as more products become available. For example, if a face-tracking module becomes available, it is unclear whether you can use it alongside the Arpara Vision. There could eventually be limits on how many accessories you can connect at the same time.

Overall, the Arpara Vision provides the full-color passthrough it promises. It is a significant improvement over the standard cameras, making it a recommended accessory for Steam Frame owners who want to see their surroundings in color. The ergonomic kit is less straightforward to recommend. It includes a top strap, controller hand straps, and an extended light blocker.

Installing the top strap is relatively easy. Remove the magnetic face cover, then insert the metal latch and push it down. It requires some force, but the installation process is manageable. The two side straps attach near the battery. Overall, the design and construction appear adequate