Valve concluded that lowering the Steam Frame's specifications to avoid cost hikes was not "the appropriate product decision" for the VR headset.

Valve’s Steam Frame VR headset is debuting at higher-than-anticipated prices, echoing the situation of the Steam Machine’s budget-conscious aspirations being undermined by the memory deficit known as RAMnarök. The lack of affordable PC components is influencing the Steam Frame, a standalone-capable VR kit, just as it does with laptops and desktops. This deficiency has far-reaching adverse effects on hardware production and game creation. In light of escalating prices, some producers are reverting to lower-RAM models or choosing DRAMless configurations to cut expenses. Nevertheless, Valve has affirmed that they never contemplated lowering the Frame’s specifications, even during the ongoing global component crisis.