Robosen’s New TRANSFORMERS Soundwave Transforms By Itself AND Doubles as a Working Bluetooth Speaker

Your childhood Soundwave toy could transform if you spent five minutes folding panels. This one does it automatically while you watch, then plays Spotify through its chest. Robosen and Hasbro just dropped the G1 Flagship Soundwave, and it might be the first collectible robot that truly lives up to “More Than Meets The Eye.”

After years of dedicated R&D, Robosen has produced what they’re calling an exact replica of the iconic cassette player turned Decepticon gladiator. Soundwave joins Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Grimlock in the auto-converting lineup, but he’s the second Decepticon in the collection and arguably the most interesting one yet. Megatron’s most trusted commander is finally here, and he’s packing some serious tech.

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Price: $999 (pre-order) / $1,399 (standard)
Where to buy: Robosen.com

How the Auto-Conversion Works

If you’ve seen Robosen’s Optimus Prime or Bumblebee transform, you know they’ve cracked the auto-conversion formula. Give a voice command or use the app, and dozens of servos fire in sequence. The robot transforms from cassette player to standing Decepticon through coordinated movements that handle all the folding, rotating, and locking automatically. No manual panel-pushing required.

Robosen developed new servo technology specifically for Soundwave because his boxy cassette proportions create different engineering challenges than Optimus Prime’s truck cab. The algorithms had to account for that stocky build while still allowing the robot mode to hit recognizable poses. Watch the transformation and you’re seeing mechanical choreography that took years to perfect.

The result is life-like actions paired with what Robosen calls “sinister commands.” Soundwave responds to voice control with movements and audio that fit his character as the Decepticon spy. It’s the kind of detail that separates a premium collectible from an expensive toy.

The Bluetooth Speaker Nobody Expected

Here’s where Soundwave pulls ahead of every other figure in the Robosen lineup. In cassette mode, he actually functions as a Bluetooth speaker. Stream your favorite music while Soundwave sits on your desk, and control playback with the front-facing retro tape deck buttons. Skip forward, skip back, pause, play. These aren’t decorative buttons printed on plastic. They’re functional controls that feel satisfying to press.

The audio quality is reasonable for a device this size. You’re not replacing your main speakers, but for desk use or background music, it works. And honestly, you’re not buying this for audiophile performance. You’re buying it because your Bluetooth speaker transforms into a Decepticon.

The recording feature is the wildcard. Press the right button combination and Soundwave will record audio through a built-in microphone. Leave yourself a reminder through a robot that’s literally designed to be a spy. It’s absurd, it’s on-brand, and it’s the kind of functional detail that justifies the premium over a standard collectible figure.

Build Quality and What Sets Soundwave Apart

Robosen matched the G1 aesthetic with serious attention to detail. That specific shade of blue with silver and gold accents? Nailed. The chest cassette window is genuinely transparent, not a printed graphic. The gold metallic finishes catch light the way the original chrome-plated toys did, but with durability that modern collectors expect.

Soundwave comes with his signature neutron assault rifle and shoulder-mounted sonic cannon. The cannon features animated lighting effects that glow and pulse during actions and voice commands. It’s not static decoration. The lighting responds to what the robot is doing, integrating the accessory into his performance.

Both accessories attach magnetically for clean lines and easy removal. When you switch to cassette mode, everything stores within the alt-form. No orphan accessories sitting next to your display. No weapons that only work in one mode.

If you already own Optimus Prime or Bumblebee from Robosen, you know the quality level. The servo smoothness, the build materials, the transformation mechanics: Soundwave matches that standard across the board. What makes him different is that functional alt-mode. Optimus transforms into a truck you can look at but not drive. Bumblebee becomes a car you can admire but not use. Soundwave transforms into a Bluetooth speaker you can actually stream music through.

Most premium collectibles sit on a shelf and collect dust. They’re sculptures you admire occasionally. Soundwave earns his desk space through daily utility.

Is It Worth the Money?

Price: $999 (pre-order) / $1,399 (standard)
Where to buy: Robosen.com, HasbroPulse.com (soon)

Here’s the reality check: $999 during the 30-day pre-order window, jumping to $1,399 after. That’s serious money for any collectible, even one packed with this much technology. Robosen’s other figures sit in similar territory, so if you’ve already invested in the ecosystem, you know what you’re getting into.

The target buyer falls into one of three categories. First, TRANSFORMERS collectors who’ve been waiting decades for a premium Soundwave that actually delivers on the character’s potential. Second, people already building out the Robosen lineup who want the Decepticon side represented. Third, the rare person who genuinely wants a Bluetooth speaker that transforms into a robot.

That third category is smaller than you’d think, but it exists. If you work from home and want something on your desk that’s both a conversation starter and a functional device, Soundwave qualifies in a way that most collectibles simply don’t.

Pre-orders are live now at Robosen.com with HasbroPulse.com availability coming soon. That 30-day window saves you $400 off the standard price, so if you’re interested, the math favors moving fast.