As I clearly stated this is Not my R2 I’m happy I got to check out this item and that it will be going towards a nice cause

It's ironic how removing his restraining bolt causes him to be locked in place. It should be the other way around. Anyway, nice video, man! And thank you for the opportunity to finally see a footage of this unit being used around.

Go Disney!! 25k for not only a robot that needs a controller but the same one that came with my dad’s $50 rc Bugatti. Unbelievable. That thing should move and follow you by voice. Disney is off the rails. Money money money. I wouldn’t want to look inside that thing at the cheap engineering. Larger but no higher quality than the ones you build.

My Sister and Brother bought me an R2 unit probably 20 years ago. It is about 1/3 the size of this one. But it was fitted with sensors-no joke. It uses ultrasound to sense objects around it. So programming was put into it. It also can hear voice commands. “Hey R2, go on Patrol” is one of my favorites. It will literally roam around the room, stopping or moving to avoid objects. Another great one is “Hey R2, Sentry Mode”. Then it will remain in place and seem to power down. If any motion is detected, he will erupt in lots of R2 alarm sounds. There are other things like games that you can play with him, including telling him to move a certain number of “units”, turn left, right, back up, etc. My cats LOVE him. NOT. :) You can play games with him like “Spin the Droid”. You can also ask him questions about the major Star Wars original film characters, like “Hey R2, tell me about Luke Skywalker”. The one that is the most fun is when you ask him about Darth Vader, or the Death Star. It’s really quite amazing how much was put into this unit. It’s creators clearly had a sense of humor, and also a love for Star Wars. I kept the manual (stowed in a small storage area on R2). If you can believe it, he even comes with a pop-out arm that has a drink coaster. So I think I’m going to set him up in the kitchen with a pre-programmed course, with a drink on his coaster, and then when we have guests over, command him to come from the kitchen to my easy chair. That will be fun!

I had an RC tank as a kid that functionally basically did everything this does. It was modeled extremely detailed with weathering and accurate parts that detached, It was almost all aluminum and weighed a ton. The controller was also metal and looked like one of those advanced RC controllers. But the tank was basically the size of this R2, And it costed $500 back in 2005.

hasbro back in the 2000s released a toy r2 that was voice vontrolled and the closest thing to a real r2 ive seen, no remote, worked on its own like in the movies/tv show, and now 20 years later people are still making these things require remotes. like we have the tech to make them real. lets just make them already.

It looks good but you can build cheaper and it can doa lot more, plus its fun building your own.

As a massive Star Wars fan and collector of R2D2 memorabilia in particular I wouldn't pay over $10,000 for such an item. If this version was as capable as the "interactive" R2D2 Hasbro put out it would be worth the cost IMHO. But this is just an RC statue. A really nice statue to be sure but way overpriced.

I love Star Wars, but for the price of a car, this should be able to do more. The camera on too could extend up, have the hatches open up, and stand up and retract the middle leg. This s Disney sucking the soul out of their IPs.

THe fact that not all parts work or move or light up AND the cheaply quality controller is just a disappointment for $25k+ toy NOT WORTH IT in my opinion

$25,000 seems like a huge mark up just like everything else at Galaxy's Edge. Galaxy's Edge is a bust.

great review! thanks so much for this! I always wondered if any of those were sold at the parks and how they were like. but $25,000 is deff over priced considering droid builders spend around $10,000 to build one that can do so much more than this official product can.

That is REALLY cool, but for that kind of price, wow is it lacking features. I fully agree, that remote looks cheap, and other similar looking remotes I've had break easily. The apparent speed it moves is not great, though you wouldn't want it to be too fast and bump into things/people. The fact it is lacking any sort of demo mode is disheartening, it should come with some sort of sensor built in so it would talk to you as you walk by, and maybe swivel it's head to follow your motion. This SCREAMS out to be modded, but at $25k, it should already have those features included. Personally, I think it should come with the drink tray as an option, or at least as an option to purchase.

Thank you for the review and thank you Xander for allowing everyone to see what the Star Wars galaxies edge R2-D2 is like.

Love that you reviewed this!!

I’m a new viewer heard about you from galaxy edge discord. I saw you post a picture of the r2 and immediately was shocked. Super happy to find this channel. Very cool. Hopefully your friend will let you borrow it more to do other in depth using it. Excited to be here I’ve heard amazing things

As much as i love R2D2 i just fail to see 25000 in here.. like .. that’s 2.500$ worth of technology at best ! But it’s not

Loved seeing you get this opportunity to review something like this. Been a subscriber for 10+ years (maybe more, not really sure) and I’ve watched you grow your channel from basically nothing (where all new channels start) to what it is now and I truly admire your dedication and drive to keep making content and doing what you love. Keep it up Sir James!

Considering the advancements of AIs currently for 25k they could have built a fully fledged R-2 with only a few things missing

Thanks for this video dude I've been feeling pretty down lately and I haven't really like Star wars much since I was a kid in the 90s put a smile on my face and kind of made me feel like a kid as I imagined all the pranks I would play with this r2 unit😊

I originally heard that this R2 was customizable, where you could choose how much weathering it had. I was wondering how true that is and if that means you could choose to have it in a different color scheme, but after seeing this video I have a feeling that what you see is what you get.

I agree, it would be nice if some of the panels would open and he had a demo mode. I think it would also be nice if the sounds had buttons for you to chose the sounds you'd like.

Thank you ever so much for doing this video!!! Ever since i saw it in Savi's on a video I have been curious as R2 is my utmost favorite droid and always will be!!! Thank you for letting him natter on until he did the what I call the famous R2 scream! OMG, I was hooked the very first time I heard it. LOL

Great review man, you're awesome!

The 1:1 scale is cool. He definitely does look the part, the patina is really nice and understated. Like he just had a good detail job, but is old so won't ever look brand new. They captured that, but I'm with you. The panels not functioning in any way. They could've at least given him his manipulator arms, or the hidey hole for Luke's saber. Also, that controller lol. Yeah, I'm looking for "TYCO" somewhere lol. I do wonder though. If it could be replaced with a hobbygrade transmitter/receiver. Maybe a 6 channel to address all the function mapping.

It is very cool and I would love one, but I agree for that price tag they could have spent a lot more time on things like the controller etc

Love your videos keep making us content like this and we will always watch your awesome star wars related videos i actually wasn't the biggest fan of star wars but watching tour videos got me more interested 😁 much love 💙

So nice of your friend to let you do a review

Makes me sad. The R2 builders club has really tried to make building your own astromech as accessible as possible. The plans, schematics, techniques, files and parts are all available if you look for them. You can build your own R2 for a fraction of the price and tailor it to your needs. The same is true for lightsabers, blasters and costumes but hey for the price of a car you can own a droid with zero hassle.

It's an impressive replica, but as I watched this video, I kept asking myself, "what would I do with it?" Surely the novelty of owning it would wear off pretty quickly. And it's not like it can hack any computers, zap pesky children or pets with an electricity bolt, or help navigate a star fighter or even an automobile.

Keep up the good work man!

%100 the coolest thing youve ever reviewed on this channel. Super dope!

This thing is hands down the last thing I would spend $25k on. That remote is garbage for what you are spending. Why does it need the bolt to move? That is stupid in my opinion, it limits the options for play seeing as how he didn't always have the bolt on him in the movies to move. The hatches should open as well and shoot if I had to throw in another little perk for the money spent it should have a patrol mode where it goes off on it's own as if it was real. I mean my god, a roomba does it and those are like $1k not to mention I have seen more complex remotes on cheap drones then that thing has. All around in my opinion that is disappointing for $25k

I think this is the fist video you haven't said, "what's up media I'm Sir James" 😂

Thanks for featuring this Artoo James, I was very curious about it. The whole thing is such a shame though, all I can think about is the kind of droid you could get if you were to pay a droid builder $25,000 and trust me it a lot better than this one. Also, if I'm going to buy a $25,000 druid from Batuu, I better be able to leave with that thing. I would hate to wait months for it.

Incredible Droid and Review wonderful Man

I'll probably be building my own, but it would be so cool to take it to children's hospitals, shopping malls, and other public places to give people a chance to see R2-D2 in person.

It’s amazing!!! I also heard you can customize this Droid to like a droid depot is that true?

Thanks for the review! Been wanting to see this guy in action. A little disappointed it does not have an automated mode or demo mode but still very cool.

Idk if it's because the edibles are hitting me already but when you were controlling it Making it move and talk. That had me cracking tf up

My Sphero R2D2 does more than this one. And my Spin Master BB-8 does a little more with its voice commands and its IR follow me mode. For this price tag I would expect it to do way more. Maybe I should 3D print a full size R2 units and upscale motors and such and use the Sphero tech in it as the brain? After seeing this in action, that 25k price tag is a hard no.

That remote looks like they took the stickers off a Horizon Hobby RTF (ready to fly) remote control helicopter or drone (Blade brand), or plane (E-Flite)

The R2 Builders club can teach you how to build one. For less than $5000. With a 3D printer and some work, you can have your own within a year or so. You need motors, wheels, electronics, radio controls and sourced materials made from metal and resin. More metal will increase the cost. You need a variety of basic tools, a palm and a belt sander, and a makeshift paint booth. You should also learn how to tap holes, do wiring and solder.

Thank you for sharing. Definitely a luxury item.

For that price I'd expect, at a minimum, Roomba type automatic movement and mapping, voice control, sensor activation and interactions, automations and routines and probably a whole lot more that I'm just not imaginative enough to think of! but hey! if you've got the money to splurge...

For 25 grand with no AI of any sort or some sort of interactive software is kinda of a bummer. Plus his third leg should retract when he comes to a standstill or at least have a button to push that would retract the third leg. 25 grand for a simple remote controlled toy is way to much money.

So looked to see another review of this and you are the only person to do one. So now you have entered LEGENDARY status. With that being said I am off to rob a bank to get one.

Very good review. Thanks.

What a complete rip off. If that thing cost $1k to build I'd be shocked.

Way overpriced for what you get. The most I could see paying for this thing would be 5k. For 25k it should be much more controllable in how you can make him speak and behave and have different semi-autonomous modes. All the panels should also be functional. The way the restraining bolt functions is also kind of dumb. Without the restraining bolt he should be in an autonomous mode, and with it on he should be remote controlled.

Great review on this product. When I am at an R2 builders event I almost always get asked about these and I have referred those people to this video. Listening to your R2 run it does sound like the drive motors are struggling to keep up and I am worried they might burn out on you. Just keep an eye on that.

Great review!

That thing is so cool! I would like to get one, but then I remember I have purchased cars for less than that thing!

This could have been built by an R2 builder for a fraction of this price... Would do much more as well.

Thanks for the Demo. Def on my get list. Would love to sit in a mall somewhere off to the side just entertaining people walking by.

Buddy that was a cool video. Thank you for sharing. I love it.👍👍❤️

While this is really cool, you could build one with more functionality for a fraction of the 25k price tag this one comes with. I made a functional to-scale replica years ago for only $2,500

Man, as a kid I had a little plastic R2-D2 that had voice commands, moved around on his own, played games. and interacted with you. That was a few hundred dollars. This one is 25,000 and it's just a glorified remote control car? Come on, Disney. You can do better. You can afford to do better.

Thank you Xandar for letting this review happen. I love R2 so much but there is no way I can get one like you. So yes, I'm envious. LOL What would be really neat would be if they came with a way to program them so that they do move on their own without you having to sit there with a remote. And yes, you are so right about the doors not being able to be opened. That would be nice if it came with the arms as you could program it to open a fridge door and pull out a soda or beer. LOL If a dog can do this, should be a walk in the park for a droid. LOL

Holy man. Your friend is a super nice guy then. I feel like it’d super hard to get this I bet.

$25,000... Well they do say that a fool and their money are soon.parted. As far as good looking replicas go, it's a win, even the subtle weathering is nicely done, but... It doesn't really do anything special. I mean it's $25k, I would expect all the panel to open and have moving tools inside, I'd want the scanner to pop up in some kind of idle mode where he reacts to anyone that passes near, and at the very least have the centre leg retract to have it in a standing mode! *sighs*. This thing is 200 times more expensive than the Sphero toy, but I get more 'feel' of R2 from the Sphero. It's basic in its functions, lacks the proper motion sounds (the pre-load whine from that dome servo would drive me nuts) and it costs as much as a family car. Yeah, that's a big nope from me.

I think that I would rather have a Princess Leia and for $25,000 she had better cook and clean and do laundry.

I love your videos I always notice you on like the dan - o channels streem

Wow! This is amazing! So cool!

The wheel sounds are far too loud for that price tag, sounds cheap when he’s moving around.

Question: you said it's made from aluminium... but you also said it's only 80 pounds. Builder's Club all-metal R2s are up around the 2-300 pound range. Even allowing for weight savings from more modern batteries (a lot of the Club droids are old and still have SLA batteries in them) and the various features not present, that still seems very light for being made of actual metal. I'd have expected this to be fibreglass, honestly. How confident are you in the "made from aluminium" detail? (Not trying to be a troll, just trying to gain info from someone who's been hands on!)

Sweet and it does the R2-D2 scream!

Bro how rich is your friend because this is interesting and for some reason I was mostly focused on the background

It's basically a 100% rip off and anyone who pays this clearly has more money than sense! 🤣

Another Disney price gouge. Thanks for sharing though.

I just finished building my Fanhome R2-D2 half-size droid. I waited 2 years to get in all the kit parts to build him. I got the last boxes in when I went out for a total knee replacement. Since I had the time off I started the build and it took me about 2 weeks to put him all together. I could have finished him sooner but had to stop due to my knee getting stiff or swollen. But I would say for my little half-size R2, he does way more than this one does. It's controlled via an app, he has a camera so you can see where you're going. He has a projector for the two hologram videos of Leia and Luke that can be cast onto a wall. He has his two front arms that go out and back. He has panels that open with his other little tool arms. He has all the lights like this one does and makes his R2 sound. Plus he moves like this one and I almost forgot. He has a Luke lightsaber that comes out the top of his head and goes back down. This is the first R2 anything that I have gotten. He cost all together I think about $1500 unbuilt (parts come in 27 boxes with booklets and gifts). It was fun putting him together. His wifi goes far and you can control him with just the video to see where you're going. For $25,000 they should have been able to do the same with this one. And now, I just have to download a 3D printable CP-3O that I can print to have him stand next to his boy.

improvements: be able to choose vocalizations, perhaps embed a pi based android w/screen in the middle of the controler pad, for picking sounds and other features.make it so you can move him sans restraining bolt, and have at least two of the panels open, id choose sensor scope in dome, and manipulator /data arm in his trunk (the one he uses to acsess the death star computers and find liea in 1977).

Finally!! A review that will decide if I will spend a fortune on R2-D2!!

There is one ½ size. It has a camera, sensors and is voice activated. You can download an app to control it. It includes a centinel command.

That exact controller came with my old Blade mSR RC helicopter. For that helicopter, you could connect a better radio to it. I expect there's a way to do the same here, considering it's an off the shelf product they're using.

The middle leg should only be seen when he is travelling. I was hoping this thing would help with laundry and dishwashing. I'll wait for the upgrades.

I love it! Looks pretty high quality. I'd buy one if I had the money to blow on something like this. The only panels I'd want to open are the blue utility arms in front. I think he should be able to move without the restraining bolt on. Not sure why they have that as a necessity. I've seen some at conventions made by R2 Builders members. Even helped move a couple. Those ones are extremely hefty so this one being under 100 pounds is nice.

What does this have for batteries? How long is the run time? Does it have a "charging port" or do you need to pull the batteries for charging? Thanks for sharing the review.

I would have that thing tunned, and fully reconstructed with gadgets. That thing would wake me up in the morning, bring my keys, everything you could think of. Such a toy to play, but also a tool for those who can see it's potential. An oportunity to centralize the energy consumption for a complex system that develops functions of multiple assets at one. I think is still pretty cheap for an accessible motor droid. And yes, the host is right: it could be cheaper, of better quality and functions for what it cost you better build your own robot.

Fanhome makes a R2d2 that u can build for around the ballpark of 1500$ with a monthly subscription of 65$ and it may be only half scale of R2d2 but it’s a lot more like the real one then this one. It has a hologram projector a lightsaber that pops out of it and it has free roam where it pretty much does it’s own thing and u can control it with a app and many more features.

25,000 and no where to put Luke’s saber. GREAT review though. Never knew this existed.

OMG THIS IS SO GREAT

amazing review as always james! I do have a question tho, I agree with you that the remote looks bad for the price tag, I think its even worse than the 100 dollar droids as it just looks old and tacky. My question is tho if these are what cast members use at galaxy’s edge how do the cast members hide that large remote when moving him around?

Cool review. Expected more for 25k.

Look so cool I wish I can buy one but is lot money thank for the review

That is awesome!

012? So this is the 12th r2d2msold so far? Very nice review James!

Amazing toy if you have the money, I do agree the remote should be something more Star Wars'ish and looks like the restraining bolt could use a stronger magnet.

Cool. It’s got some scoring in between his panels. Looks like this little guy has seen plenty of action

I was at Galaxy's Edge on day 3 of it being opened. Saw this on display and ask the cast member if they had sold any yet. They told me that they had sold three already.

Currently building one- I would most likely like to buy one.

For as much as a new car I would want a controller that is customizable to the r2 sounds, and some more quiet motors

you know its interesting i can hire a machinist that is really good that can do the framing for the RD2 for around 5-7k and hire someone to do the electronics for around the same and have it do way more without having to have the locking bolt required.

how long does it take to charge batteries? Where do you plug in the charger? How long does one charge last for normal use? Are the batteries inside replaceable? Thanks

Looks cool! ..for the price tag, i would like to see R2 project 4K movies onto a suitable wall ^_^

Now we wits it came with the catering setup.

Amazing. Even at this scale and manufactured by Lucas film themselves it's STILL not fully articulated! That little round thing by the red light should be able to move too! It's part of how R2 Emotes

At 8:31 when behind the camera everyone’s thinking… OOOOHHH S*h\[!! As he nearly plows it into the fireplace!

So cool, I can understand why he’s so expensive, he is a bit noisy though, you don’t hear his movements in the movies.

For 25,000 USD, it's not a bad replica, but I would have preferred a couple of things this droid could be capable of doing. For starters, to be able to convert from 3-legged stance to 2-legged stance (not easy to do I'm sure), and also the sounds should be on a selectable mini-computer (like a Raspberry Pi) so you can actually have him 'talk' with specific sequences of sounds (like "happy" or "sad" or "scared"). I also would have loved to have a remote-follow feature, so he could lock onto your smart phone's GPS locator and follow you around on a close virtual tether, as it were. Pretty sure these things could be done as features, but that would probably be a major mod-job to get done.