This Walking, Talking Soundwave Transforms On Its Own

9 Comments | collectibles, frank welker, Hasbro, Robosen Robotics, transformers | By Peter Paltridge | December 8, 2025 | 2 minutes of reading

You’ve no doubt run across that meme about the tech bros who want to build the doomsday device from the classic novel “Don’t Build The Doomsday Device.” Well, we regret to report that this time, they’ve gone too far and will definitely be the death of us all. They’re starting to build DECEPTICONS.

Robosen Robotics Innovation, Inc. has teamed up with Hasbro to create what kids for decades thought would always be pure fantasy: a 14-inch-tall Soundwave that actually walks, actually talks, strikes fighting stances and even transforms. All by itself.

Yes, it can fold itself entirely into a cassette player and back into a robot, at command. The cherry on the sundae would be if the thing actually played cassettes but….it doesn’t. They clearly thought of it, though, because they struck a compromise by making it a functional Bluetooth music streamer. You can stream music to the player and control playback with the buttons on its face. When it’s Soundwave, you can watch it perform its own moves or you can control those moves with Robosen’s app on your phone.

They spared no expense here – this is the closest Soundwave has come to actually existing. Frank Welker himself was hired to bestow him with over 200 audio phrases, and he even responds to fifty different voice commands. And if all it can do isn’t enough, you can use the Robosen app to program in your own moves, or the face buttons to record your own phrases (do your best Welker impression).

So when all is said and done, how much does it cost to truly bring Soundwave to life? According to the Robosen website, a hefty grand — and that’s the sale price. The interactive model reverts to its intended sticker of $1,399 on January 4. Perhaps this is what will save mankind…Soundwave is real, but no one can buy one. The Decepticon will start shipping in April.

9 replies

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Chance

Member

433 messages 13 likes

#1 Dec 09, 2025

I want one, but there is no way I am paying that much. I understand the tech is advanced, but it is still hard to justify the cost. I like Soundwave, but not at one thousand dollars. I will just watch videos online of people trying it out. That is enough for me.

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Uma Thurman Musume

Umazing

328 messages 7 likes

#2 Dec 09, 2025

I have liked Soundwave since I was a kid, so seeing a version that walks and transforms on its own feels strange in a good way. I know it is just a robot toy, but the level of detail makes me wonder how far hobby robotics will go in a few more years. The voice commands are the part that interests me the most, because it means the model reacts in a natural way. I think the cassette player mode is fun even if it does not play real tapes. The price is high, so this feels more like a collector item than something the average fan can enjoy. Even so, it shows that engineers can now bring old characters into physical form in a very smooth and accurate way.

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Speitzarmunster

Member

101 messages 6 likes

#3 Dec 09, 2025

I find this impressive because I remember cheap plastic Soundwave toys when I was young, and now we have one that stands up and transforms by itself. I like that they used Frank Welker for the lines. It gives the robot a lot more personality. I also like that you can control it through the app and even make your own animations. I am not surprised it does not play real cassettes, because that would need moving parts that might break, but using Bluetooth instead is enough. Even though I enjoy the idea, I do not think this will reach a wide market. The price places it closer to a small robot hobby machine than a toy from a store shelf. Still, I am glad it exists.

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Oilthatmachine

New Member

571 messages 22 likes

#4 Dec 09, 2025

I think the design team went all out for something that only a few people can buy. I understand why the price is high, but it still feels like a missed chance. This could have been a dream product for so many fans. The details are nice, but everything becomes less exciting when I see that price tag.

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Gaddo

New Member

46 messages 1 like

#5 Dec 09, 2025

This feels like the kind of item someone puts in a display room with lights around it. I do not think anyone will actually play with it daily because it is too expensive. But I respect the engineering. The transformation system looks very smooth, and programming your own motions adds a creative side to it. If the price ever drops by half, I might consider it.

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TechSpartan87

Digital Dynamo

556 messages 26 likes

#6 Dec 09, 2025

I think this is funny in a good way. People always joked about making real Transformers, and now someone finally said yes. It is not dangerous or anything, but it is fun to imagine a tiny Soundwave walking around my desk. I do not care much about the cassette mode or Bluetooth function, but the fact it does the transformation on its own is something I never expected to see.

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ShimynuggetsH20

Member

542 messages 16 likes

#7 Dec 09, 2025

For me the most interesting part is the idea that fans can record their own phrases. It means people can make jokes, custom lines, and different behaviors. It gives the robot a social element instead of feeling like a one-note collectible. It is still too expensive for casual collectors, but I like how flexible the features are.

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RascalCoon

Master of Furry Fashion

540 messages 14 likes

#8 Dec 09, 2025

I think the timing is good because retro tech is popular again. A transforming robot that also works as a Bluetooth player fits that trend. I enjoy that they kept the look close to the original Soundwave instead of redesigning him. The only thing holding me back is the price, which is far above my comfort zone. If they make a smaller and cheaper version later, I will buy that one instead.

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