Valve · Updated June 2026
Valve Index: price, specs & release date
Valve Index, released 2019-06. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: en.wikipedia.org verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
The Valve Index is listed at $999 on en.wikipedia.org as of 2026-06-27, #6 cheapest of 15 VR headsets (median $999); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Silver Deskmark — 40/100 pay-blind standing, #7 of 17 in class.
Verified Jun 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Best-in-class integrated off-ear speakers deliver powerful, full high-quality audio; Superior visual fidelity: wide ~130-degree field of view and up to 144Hz refresh, clearest image of its class.
- Skip if $999/$1,000 full-kit price far exceeds rivals like the ~$400 Rift S is a dealbreaker.
Is the Valve Index a good buy?
At $999, the Valve Index is #5 cheapest of the 15 VR headsets we track, where the median is $999. On the spec sheet, its refresh of 144 Hz is the highest of the 17, its weight of 809 g is the highest of the 16, and its FOV of 108 ° is below the median of the 13. By release date, it is the oldest of the 16 we date.
Evidence of Record
Our dataNo independent lab has measured this product yet. 3 outlets have it on record by mention only, with no hands-on measurements published to weigh its claims against — a gap in the evidence, not a verdict on the product.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the Valve Index
Three hands-on testers (RoadToVR, UploadVR, Engadget), all dated June 28, 2019, rate the Index the highest-fidelity PC VR headset of its era: standout off-ear audio, excellent comfort, wide field of view and high refresh rate. All three flag the $999/$1,000 full-kit price versus the ~$400 Rift S. None published instrument measurements. Finger-tracking value split the reviewers.
Based on 3 reviews · 2019-06-28
Tested by RoadToVR, UploadVR, Engadget
Consistently praised
- Best-in-class integrated off-ear speakers deliver powerful, full high-quality audio · 3 sources
- Superior visual fidelity: wide ~130-degree field of view and up to 144Hz refresh, clearest image of its class · 3 sources
- Index controllers a genuine upgrade over Vive wands with natural grip/finger input · 3 sources
- Comfortable, highly adjustable ergonomic design for long sessions · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- $999/$1,000 full-kit price far exceeds rivals like the ~$400 Rift S · 3 sources
- LCD panels show greyish, low-contrast blacks versus OLED · 2 sources
- Lens glare/god rays on high-contrast scenes · 2 sources
- Fiddly setup reliant on external base-station tracking versus inside-out rivals · 2 sources
Where reviewers disagree Reviewers split on finger tracking: Engadget found it transformative and said it 'instantly sold me on finger tracking,' while RoadToVR judged it 'doesn't seem to add much to the experience' and UploadVR called its value unproven without broad launch support.
The sources (3)
The headphones on Index are simply excellent; easily the best of any headset on the market.
For my head, Index is the new bar for headset comfort, surpassing the Vive Pro.
LCD means worse black levels, so darker scenes have a greyish, low-contrast look compared to the rich blacks seen in OLED headsets.
Valve Index is in a class by itself.
The lenses still catch god rays, too, but they seem reduced compared to 2016 headsets and generally disappear in bright scenes.
We have yet to see broad support for these Index controllers, though, or a must-have application at launch that defines its new interaction paradigm.
Valve has crafted a headset that's comfortable while also delivering the most immersive virtual reality experience I've ever seen.
At $1,000, it's not even vaguely affordable, especially when other headsets like the Rift S and Windows Mixed Reality entries are going for $400 or less.
I dabbled with the 144Hz refresh rate, but it felt less stable than the 120Hz option and didn't look noticeably better.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $999 US launch MSRP for headset only; discontinued November 2025 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Valve |
| Released | 2019-06 |
| Display per eye | 1440x1600 |
| Refresh (Hz) | 144 |
| FOV (°) | 108 |
| Tracking | Lighthouse 2.0 outside-in (requires base stations) |
| Standalone | No |
| Storage (GB) | — |
| Weight (g) | 809 |
| Passthrough | Yes |
Source: en.wikipedia.org (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by valvesoftware.com. Wikipedia Valve Index: 1440x1600 per eye LCD (full RGB), 80/90/120/144 Hz, estimated FOV ~108°, SteamVR Lighthouse 2.0 outside-in tracking, PC-tethered (DisplayPort 1.2 + USB 3.0), stereo RGB passthrough cameras (960x960 global shutter). US launch price $999. Discontinued November 12, 2025 (succeeded by Steam Frame). Headset-only weight 809 g (without cable) is consistently measured/reported across VRcompare and review outlets (Valve's own spec page omits it); ~888 g with cable. Valve headset page corroborates display and refresh specs.
Is the Valve Index worth it vs cheaper VR headsets?
Valve Index against its closest cheaper and pricier VR headsets on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 15 ranked
| Product | Price | Display per eye | Refresh (Hz) | FOV (°) | Tracking | Standalone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valve Index this | $999 | 1440x1600 | 144 | 108 | Lighthouse 2.0 outside-in (requires base stations) | No |
| HTC Vive XR Elite | $899 | 1920x1920 | 90 | 110 | inside-out (4 wide-FOV cameras + depth sensor) | Yes |
| Pimax Crystal Super | $1783 | 3840x3840 | 90 | 120 | inside-out SLAM (4 tracking cameras; optional Lighthouse faceplate) | No |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the Valve Index?
Three hands-on testers (RoadToVR, UploadVR, Engadget), all dated June 28, 2019, rate the Index the highest-fidelity PC VR headset of its era: standout off-ear audio, excellent comfort, wide field of view and high refresh rate. All three flag the $999/$1,000 full-kit price versus the ~$400 Rift S. None published instrument measurements. Finger-tracking value split the reviewers. Praised: Best-in-class integrated off-ear speakers deliver powerful, full high-quality audio; Superior visual fidelity: wide ~130-degree field of view and up to 144Hz refresh, clearest image of its class; Index controllers a genuine upgrade over Vive wands with natural grip/finger input; Comfortable, highly adjustable ergonomic design for long sessions. Flagged: $999/$1,000 full-kit price far exceeds rivals like the ~$400 Rift S; LCD panels show greyish, low-contrast blacks versus OLED; Lens glare/god rays on high-contrast scenes; Fiddly setup reliant on external base-station tracking versus inside-out rivals. (From 3 tester reviews.)
How much does the Valve Index cost?
The Valve Index has a US price of $999 (US launch MSRP for headset only; discontinued November 2025), as of 2026-06-15.
How does the Valve Index compare on price?
At $999, the Valve Index is #5 cheapest of the 15 VR headsets we track, where the median is $999.
When was the Valve Index released?
The Valve Index was released 2019-06.
What are the Valve Index's key specs?
Valve Index (Valve): display per eye 1440x1600, refresh hz 144, fov deg 108, tracking Lighthouse 2.0 outside-in (requires base stations), standalone No. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.
Price of record: $999 at en.wikipedia.org, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See Valve Index on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar VR headsets
Nearest in price — swipe to browse. Every pick sourced and dated.
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Compare with
Head-to-head
Cheaper VR headsets
- HTC Vive XR Elite $899
- HTC Vive Pro 2 $800
- Sony PlayStation VR2 $549
- Meta Quest 3 $429
- Meta Quest 3S $299
Step up
- Pimax Crystal Super $1783
- Samsung Galaxy XR $1799
- Shiftall MeganeX superlight 8K $1899
- Play For Dream MR $1999
- Apple Vision Pro (M5) $3499
- Varjo XR-4 $4000
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