That Epic Self-Transforming Optimus Prime Is Now Smaller, Lighter, and Cheaper—But Still Far From Cheap - Gizmodo

In aboriginal 2021, Transformers fans each shared a corporate gasp erstwhile Hasbro and Robosen debuted a 19-inch gangly Optimus Prime artifact that could transform from a truck, to a robot, and backmost again, each connected its own. It was an engineering marvel, a phantasy travel existent for countless ‘80s kids, and astir 2 years later, there’s present a caller and improved mentation that knocks a fewer bucks disconnected the steep terms tag.

The Robosen Elite Edition Auto-Converting Optimus Prime is astir identical to its predecessor unless you travel astatine it with a portion measure. The archetypal Collector’s Edition oregon Flagship mentation stood 19-inches tall, portion the caller Elite Edition benefits from a mates of years of continued electronics miniaturization and tops retired astatine 16-inches gangly instead.

Almost everything other is identical, close down to the implicit 5,000 components that spell into the robot including 60 microchips, 27 servos, and accessories similar Prime’s blaster and vigor axe that tin beryllium swapped successful arsenic needed. It besides inactive boasts 80 antithetic phrases recorded by Peter Cullen who voiced the quality successful the archetypal ‘80s animated series.

The Elite Edition Auto-Converting Optimus Prime is inactive astir easy controlled utilizing an accompanying smartphone app to trigger 1 of 43 antithetic commands similar “convert” and “roll out,” oregon by conscionable guiding the robot’s movements manually portion walking successful robot mode oregon driving astir successful its Freightliner semi-truck mode. Voice commands are besides an option, but the statement of reviews of the archetypal auto-transforming Prime look to bespeak the robot wasn’t arsenic bully astatine pursuing verbal commands arsenic modern astute assistants are.

There are respective reasons to opt for the caller Elite Prime implicit the original, with the astir evident being that you mightiness not really person a prime due to the fact that the archetypal merchandise is nary longer successful production, truthful erstwhile the banal that Hasbro Pulse and Robosen are selling runs out, that’s it. The different crushed to opt for mentation 2 is that astatine $700, it’s $50 cheaper than what the archetypal Collector’s Edition Prime primitively sold for astatine launch, and $500 cheaper than what the remaining Collector’s Edition Primes are present selling for, aft a important terms bump to $1,200 today. The caller Elite mentation volition besides beryllium disposable for acquisition from a wider fig of retailers including Entertainment Earth, the BigBadToyStore, Costco, and adjacent Amazon, truthful the chances of discounts, oregon cheaper shipping, volition beryllium improved.

Unfortunately, the arsenic awesome and costly $750 transforming trailer accessory is lone compatible with the archetypal and larger Collector’s Edition mentation of the toy, truthful if you were hoping for that implicit set, and haven’t ordered 1 already, you’re present going to person to cough up adjacent to $2,000 for the pair.