Steam’s Home Console & Apple’s $230 iPhone Pouch Revealed

Valve has made a significant re-entry into the PC hardware market, unveiling a trio of new devices that signal a fresh push into the living room and virtual reality spaces. The company, best known for its dominant Steam platform, has announced the Steam Machine home console, a redesigned Steam Controller, and the Steam Frame VR headset. This marks a notable comeback for the Steam Machine concept, which initially launched nearly a decade ago but failed to gain traction. Learning from the runaway success of the Steam Deck handheld, Valve’s new console is reportedly six times more powerful and resembles a compact PC, with early comparisons noting its size is similar to a Nintendo GameCube.

Built around a custom AMD Zen 4 processor, the Steam Machine will offer several memory and storage configurations, all of which can be upgraded by the user. The new Steam Controller, designed to complement the console, includes dual haptic-feedback trackpads alongside standard thumbsticks, triggers, and buttons. Meanwhile, the Steam Frame represents Valve’s long-awaited follow-up to the aging Index VR system. Described as a “streaming-first” headset, it connects wirelessly to a PC via a dedicated module to minimize latency. It can also operate independently using a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, running x86 games on an ARM architecture through SteamOS, a technical challenge Valve has experience tackling thanks to the Steam Deck.

Weighing just 440 grams, the Steam Frame is substantially lighter than competing devices like the Meta Quest 3S and Samsung Galaxy XR. It features dual pancake lenses and LCD screens delivering 2160 x 2160 pixels per eye. While full specifications, pricing, and exact launch dates remain under wraps, Valve has confirmed that shipments for all three devices will begin in early 2026.

In other tech news, Apple has introduced the iPhone Pocket, a minimalist shoulder bag created in collaboration with Japanese design house Issey Miyake. Made from a single piece of 3D-knitted fabric, the pouch fits any iPhone model and draws inspiration from Apple’s earlier accessory, the iPod Socks, which launched in 2004 for $29. The new iPhone Pocket, however, carries a much steeper price: a short-strap version retails for $150, while the long-strap design costs $230. Available in multiple colors, this special-edition item is sold exclusively at select Apple Stores and through Apple’s online store in several countries, including the US, UK, Japan, and France. Online inventory has already sold out.

Apple is also expanding the capabilities of its Wallet app with the introduction of Digital ID, allowing users in the United States to store their passport information for domestic air travel. The feature is currently in beta and accepted at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports. It provides an alternative form of identification for those without a Real ID-compliant driver’s license, though a physical passport will still be required for international trips.

Samsung has joined the portable display trend with its new Movingstyle monitor series. The LSM7F and M70F models come in 27- or 32-inch sizes and feature a unique rollable floor stand with integrated hidden wheels. Designed for easy movement around homes or offices, these monitors allow users to bring a large screen into different rooms, similar to LG’s StanbyMe lineup. Samsung emphasizes that the wheels perform quietly and remain stable on both carpets and hard floors, making them ideal for activities like following recipes in the kitchen or continuing a movie in the bedroom without needing multiple fixed displays.

(Source: Wired)