URXR One's first shipments: what backers need to know now
Unseen Reality set URXR One test shipments for October 30, fixed its US sales tax charge and added a phone mode with no Power Hub. Here's what it means for you.
URXR One backers have been waiting since the Kickstarter closed on September 18. Unseen Reality's October 22 update finally put a date on it: the first test shipments would start on October 30, 2026. The same update added a way to run the glasses from some phones without the $69 Power Hub.
Most coverage stopped when the funding closed. Here's what's happened since, and what to do about it.
When your glasses ship
The first batch is small on purpose. Unseen Reality wants to test its shipping process before it sends bigger batches.
- Who goes first. Some of the earliest backers, by backer number. Unseen Reality is also picking backers in certain regions to test deliveries there.
- How you'll know. You'll get an email from Unseen Reality and one from its shipping partner.
- What's next. Once the test batch is done, Unseen Reality says it will share a schedule for the rest.
Why the wait? In its October 13 factory update, founder Edward Zhou said assembly and calibration were taking longer than planned. He wrote that each unit gets checked two or three times before it ships.
As of November 3, the latest public update is still the one from October 22. We haven't seen public confirmation that the first units have arrived. We'll update our URXR One tracker when that happens.
Two other dates to know:
- Late pledges at $999 are listed for November.
- The Power Hub ships separately, in December.
The US sales tax fix
PledgeBox, the survey tool Unseen Reality uses, first charged every US backer a flat 8% tax. Unseen Reality is correcting that to the actual rate for your shipping address.
- If your rate is lower, you get the difference back on your original payment method.
- If it's higher, you'll get an email asking you to pay the balance in your survey. That applies even if you already finished checkout.
Open your PledgeBox order and look for a balance. No balance means you're set.
Missed the survey?
The deadline was October 12, Pacific Time, and orders locked after that. Unseen Reality said late surveys could delay your shipment.
It can't ship until you've done three things: confirmed your rewards, entered your address and paid for shipping and tax. Shipping was never included in the pledge price. International backers also pay any customs duties and import taxes.
Can't find your invite? Check spam and your Promotions tab, then search your inbox for "PledgeBox." Used Apple's Hide My Email on Kickstarter? Your pledge may be tied to a private relay address, and Unseen Reality says some of those invites went missing. Still stuck? Email support@unseen-reality.com with your backer number.
New: Ultra Low Power Mode
Phones only give out about 4.5 W over USB-C, which isn't enough for the URXR One's normal mode. That's why phones needed the Power Hub. The new mode runs the glasses at 5 W, so a compatible phone can drive them directly.
You keep 3DoF, 1080p, the four screen sizes, portrait and landscape, and brightness control. You lose three things:
- Passthrough. The background goes black, so you can't see the room.
- 6DoF and Travel Mode. Tracking drops to 3DoF.
- 1440p.
Unseen Reality says 3DoF works on a plane in steady flight. Taxiing, takeoff, landing and turns may throw it off. It hasn't said which phones count as compatible.
What this means for you
You backed at $699 or $799. You're in the October tiers. Watch your inbox, and your spam folder, for shipping emails. Low backer numbers go first.
You're in the US. Recheck your PledgeBox order for a tax balance or a refund.
You planned to use a phone. Try Ultra Low Power Mode when your glasses arrive. For passthrough and 6DoF, you'll still want the Power Hub in December. Our Power Hub guide goes device by device, iPhone included.
You play on a Steam Deck. It plugs straight in and runs 3DoF. 6DoF needs more power than the Deck's port gives.
Compatibility checkerSteam Deck OLED + URXR OneWorksYou wear glasses. HonsVR's inserts ship on their own, so order now and they may beat your glasses home. Here's how to order URXR One lenses.
You're thinking about a late pledge. It's $999, with November delivery listed. Remember it's still a Kickstarter pledge, not a store order. Comparing it with XREAL's Aura, which ships from a store this month? Read XREAL Aura vs URXR One.
More on the URXR One
Our URXR One tracker has the specs, what plugs into it and a dated timeline. We update it as Unseen Reality posts news.