Lego`s third Transformers buildable figure, the iconic Decepticon Soundwave, is now available for Lego Insiders. Priced at $190, this 1,505-piece model offers a timed-exclusive purchase opportunity through the Lego Store. Signing up for Lego Insiders is free, allowing early access before its official launch date of August 4.
Soundwave is a remarkable 2-in-1 build, capable of seamlessly converting between its robot form and classic cassette player mode. Given the high demand for previous Lego Transformers sets like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, securing Soundwave during this early access window is advisable, as popular Lego Store exclusives often face significant backorders (potentially a 60-day wait).
This new addition expands the Lego Icons: Transformers series. Here`s a look at the current sets:
- Soundwave (1,505 pieces) — $190
- Optimus Prime (1,508 pieces) — $144
- Bumblebee (950 pieces) — $86
The first Decepticon to join Lego`s Transformers collection, Soundwave, stands as a formidable counterpart to Optimus Prime. Both figures are similar in size and piece count; the 13-inch Soundwave is just slightly shorter than the 13.5-inch Optimus. Soundwave`s 1,505 pieces are also very close to Optimus Prime`s 1,508.
Soundwave, like Optimus and Bumblebee, is meticulously based on his Generation 1 (G1) era appearance. He comes equipped with a large laser blaster and a shoulder-mounted rocket pod, complete with darts.
A key highlight of all three Lego Transformers sets is their unique ability to transform the completed figure between its robot and alternate forms. Optimus Prime becomes a truck, Bumblebee a classic Beetle, and Soundwave transforms into his distinctive cassette player. This seamless conversion is a rare and impressive feature for 2-in-1 Lego sets, which typically require disassembling and rebuilding parts of the model for transformation.
Soundwave boasts additional features not found in the other two Transformers sets. He is accompanied by small, buildable versions of his loyal companions, Ravage and Laserbeak. Both Ravage and Laserbeak also feature 2-in-1 designs, converting into cassette tapes that can be stored within Soundwave`s cassette deck. Furthermore, this set is the only one in the series to include sound effects, featuring action sounds and lines of dialogue activated by pressing the play button below the tape deck.
The Soundwave kit is completed with a buildable display plaque, an information card, and a cassette tape minifigure.
Soundwave is among several new Lego sets released recently. For fans of robots and mechs, the new Lego Fortnite Mecha Team Leader might also be of interest. This 2,503-piece set is the largest Fortnite building set to date, towering over the Transformers figures at 17.5 inches.
- Lego Fortnite: Mecha Team Leader (2,503 pieces) — $250