Hypershell X Ultra S Review: The Best Exoskeleton Yet | WIRED

$1,999 at Hypershell

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Rating:7/10

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WIRED

Lighter, more refined design. Responsive, better-timed assistance. Handles changing terrain more naturally. For the first time, I can genuinely feel the difference.

TIRED

Target audience still unclear. You’ll never forget you’re wearing it. Niche, expensive proposition. Battery range is not very adventurous.

Exoskeletons have been edging toward the consumer space for a few years, helped along by lighter batteries, smaller motors, and a steady stream of startups trying to turn wearable robotics into something you might actually buy. At CES 2026, WIRED counted 19 companies showing exoskeletons and related systems, which is certainly a momentum of sorts.

But the sticking point with the early exoskeleton designs has been how they feel. Having tested models like the Hypershell Pro X and Dnsys X1, the issue has rarely been about power. It’s how and when that power is delivered. Assistance tends to arrive a fraction too early or too late, leaving you constantly aware of the machine. Less natural extension of your movement, more Woody from Toy Story.

Hypershell’s new X Series is built around the idea that fixing this unnatural movement comes down to timing rather than strength. Three new models are launching today that will replace the existing lineup. You get the choice of the Hypershell X Pro S ($999), X Max S ($1,499), and X Ultra S ($1,999), and crucially, they all feature the same new AI-based control system, HyperIntuition. The unit I tested is the flagship X Ultra S, which combines the new software algorithm with a few key hardware refinements.

What’s New

Photograph: Chris Haslam

The X Ultra S is made from carbon fiber and titanium alloy, weighs 5.5 pounds, and is powered by a dual-battery setup with a claimed range of roughly 18 miles. The motor delivers up to 1,000 watts and 22 Newton-meters of torque, with a maximum assisted pace of 15.5 miles per hour. There are 12 assist modes (10 on the other models), covering everything from stairs and road walking through to gravel, dunes, and even schlepping through the snow.

All three models in the Hypershell range share the same major update, HyperIntuition. This replaces the previous basic rule-based software (you walk, it adds power) with a system that processes movement continuously and adjusts torque in real time. The argument is that real-world movement is irregular, and the exoskeleton needs to adapt to an ever-changing range of movement. We naturally stop and start, slow down, speed up, stride, mooch, climb, and adapt to uneven ground, but traditional exoskeleton systems were rubbish at this. They only really worked by recognizing repeatable gait patterns and, as a result, made me feel more like a robot than like a human being assisted by one.

Hypershell claims a response time of 0.31 seconds and a “human-machine synchronization rate of 97.5 percent” across varied terrain, whatever that means. Hypershell tells me that the aim was not simply to add power but to deliver it at the right moment, so that support feels aligned with your movement rather than imposed on it. In theory, that means assistance engages fluidly, ramps up as you work hard, and backs off as soon as you stop. It’s a bold claim, and one I’ve been testing for the past couple of weeks.

Setting up the Hypershell X Ultra S remains mercifully simple, with excellent step-by-step fitting instructions via the app. I was testing with a prelaunch iOS app version but was told the final version would be basically identical. Getting the fit right is very important, something I’ve learned with previous models. Making sure the motors are properly aligned and not too tight to your hips is key.

Compared to previous Hypershell generations, the X Ultra S has far superior padding around the hips that I appreciated immediately. The straps are easy to adjust, and once you’re clipped in, the system feels balanced. Please don’t think for a second, however, that the 5.5-pound weight will magically melt away when you start using it. No matter how many times I went walking with it on, I never once forgot it was there.

It does suffer some of the same issues I’ve had with all exoskeletons, notably the fact that your front pant pockets become completely useless, and backpacks tend to sit on top of the battery, but not in a good way. This issue is made worse if you’re carrying a loaded pack and need the hip strap support. You’re fine if you opt for a smaller, higher-mounted daypack.

To control the exoskeleton, you can either delve into the app or use the single button on your right hip motor. I’m fairly used to Hypershell’s long-press-short-press control system, but it isn’t especially intuitive. I won’t be the only person to have switched on Hyper at an inopportune moment or turned the whole thing off by accident. The app offers a much greater leve