All hail Megatron. Robosen’s Flagship Megatron Auto-Converting Robot is here and ready to take over the holidays with 20.6 inches of awesomeness (in robot mode). I had the opportunity to host Megatron in my home and he did not disappoint. I’m ready to dive in and tell you what it’s like to be accepted into the Decepticons and who else should consider adding this limited edition piece to their collection.
I’ve always thought the fun with Transformers came in spreading out the map-sized instructions and working through the steps. The challenge of the transformation, so to speak. How would he hold up to that kind of joy? Spoiler alert. It didn’t take me long to get that answer.
What Is the Robosen Flagship Megatron?
Robosen is the brand name I trust for high-quality, high-tech robotics. They started their Transformers line with Optimus Prime in 2021 and have most recently announced Soundwave as their fifth robot in the series.
The Robosen Flagship Megatron is an auto-converting robot with an attitude the size of Mars (and a price point to match, but I’ll get into that in a minute). Fitting to his personality in the show, Megatron comes out of the box swinging his insults, ego, and at times, his sword. When he arrives, he’s in tank mode and with a quick download of the Robosen app and a 90-minute charge up later, he is ready to give you a hard time you will happily take.
A few of Megatron’s notable features include:
- Voiced by Frank Welker (the original voice of Megatron)
- Auto-converting from robot to tank
- 112 high-precision motors
- Five different programming modes
- Voice command mode
- Two touch response feature areas
Unboxing Experience & First Impressions
Unboxing Megatron was an experience in itself. It comes in a standard cardboard box, but inside is a thick, padded box built specifically to hold him and his accessories. I like how the box clips on the sides for added protection when traveling.
When I finally got up the nerve to pick him up, the first thing I noticed was how heavy he was. It was a comforting kind of weight that gave me a sense of trust. You know when you pick something up and, without looking at the price tag, you can tell it’s expensive? Yea. That was me with Megatron. There is nothing “plastic” or “cheap” about this robot. He is all premium materials all the way and you can tell when you pick him up.
Now the real fun begins.
Design, Build Quality & Engineering
The first step to your Decepticon initiation is powering on your leader. His power button is located on the left shoulder and after holding it down for around five seconds, Megatron comes to life in voice, lights, and movement. The LED lights shine bright and give off a Decepticon purple glow. His voice is clear and takes command of the room.
You can hear his servos do their thing, but it’s not a “wow that’s loud” sound, it’s more of a “WOW he’s moving” sound.
Out of the box and without the app, he can be commanded (politely, this is Megatron after all) with your voice. You do not need the app to get him started. The app offers a lot more functionality.
Once you download and open the app, Megatron prioritizes the app over voice commands. The app has built-in commands as well as downloadable commands and programming options. To activate voice command mode again, close out the app.
The first command I tried in the app was “Introduction.” This took Megatron from tank to robot in seconds. He monologues for a minute and then he takes a power stance, waiting for your next command…I mean…request (no one commands Megatron but Megatron).
I was a little nervous while he was talking because he moved a lot. I kept expecting him to fall backwards and was waiting with a pillow in hand to catch him. After studying him, I noticed his feet were solid and planted firmly on the floor. His body was rocking with the movements, adjusting himself as he moved to prevent any backwards tumble.
Initially, I had him on my Ruggable carpet but I noticed the more he moved, the less stable he appeared to be. I moved him to the tile floor and his stability improved greatly.
Features & What Megatron Actually Does
Auto-conversion
Megatron’s auto-conversion from robot to tank and vice versa is smooth and confident. He goes from one to the other in seconds and without any assistance from his minions (that’s you in this case). He requires a bit of space to make it happen, because he is slightly more than 20 inches in robot mode. I would make sure whenever you are in his presence, you give him a respectful foot of distance on all sides to be sure you don’t have to dodge a move or two.
App
The app is easy enough to get through the initial setup and connection. It walks you through the available sections briefly, but having a sense of exploration will serve you well with it. Click through the options and get a feel for what you enjoy messing with and how he reacts. I would consider this exceptionally user-friendly for sure.
Voice Commands
Megatron reacts to your voice like you’d expect…with sass and attitude. He might do what you say, but he is in charge and he lets you know that. He has more than 50 voice commands for you to explore and some of them are worth a repeat (Merry Christmas and Introduction are my favorites).
Performance and Routines
If you want to see Megatron shine in his movements, go into the app and under the downloadable commands, get “dance mode.” This will really show you what his servos can do in a comical way.
The sound quality is beyond anything I could hope for. I’m not used to the high-quality sound that comes from Megatron.
Tank Mode
Tank mode is just as fun as robot mode because you can shoot his missiles (he comes with a cutout of Optimus Prime to target) and control him around the room. He has commands that work in his tank mode as well as the remote control mode.
Weapons
Megatron comes with two weapons – a sword and an Energon mace, as well as four missiles. There’s not a lot of clarity in the app or the instruction booklet on how to use them. To get Megatron to hold either of his weapons, you first need to twist off the base of the weapon and then slip the handle into his hand. It can be a little tricky. The missiles are self-explanatory and it’s fun to shoot the Optimus Prime cut-out that he comes with.
Sound, Voice Acting & Personality
Frank Welker is the original voice of Megatron and he knocks this out of the park. He recorded over 270 lines and more than 50 voice commands for us to enjoy. You can adjust the volume of Megatron’s voice in the app and he can get loud. I’m talking “STARSCREAM!!” loud.
The quality of the voice coming from Megatron’s voicebox is unparalleled. It sounds as if he is speaking to you from the animated series with nothing but perfection. His movements give him animation, but his voice is what brings him to life in a believable sense.
Side note. This is where I’d normally make a Small Soldiers joke, but honestly, Megatron is convincing enough to make that movie feel less fictional than I remember.
Setup & App Experience
Getting Megatron ready for his all-consuming takeover of Earth (or at least my living room) is pretty painless. Powering him on, pairing the app, and accessing commands all worked without issue.
The only real quirk involves voice command mode. Make sure the app is closed and Megatron needs to be fully charged. At lower battery levels, his responsiveness drops. Once I figured that out, voice commands worked reliably.
The app has a lot to explore from pre-installed commands, downloadable extras, cinematic sequences, and programming. The programming mode is a bit tricky, but with some practice and a little learning curve, I’m confident most people can handle it.
Battery Life & Charging
When Megatron arrived, I was so excited to check him out that I didn’t fully charge him first. He was at around 25% when I activated him and I got a little less than an hour with him. During that time, I issued a few simple commands, had him transform once, and figured out the ins and outs of the app.
At first, I had him charging with a spare block and a USB-C cable I had at my desk. The lights and sound effects indicated he was charging but the battery percentage never increased.
I swapped him to the cable and block that came in his box and about an hour later, he was fully charged and ready. Average charge time is 90 minutes, so plan for that and hope for quicker.
Megatron’s charging port is located on his back under his tailbone area. You can reach it in robot mode or tank mode.
To see how much of a charge he has, look at his chest or in the app in the upper right corner.
Who Is Megatron For
Megatron is an unbelievable piece of robotics and he brings the terrifying leader of the Decepticons into your home. With that said, he is not for everyone.
The demographic I would recommend investing in Megatron would be hardcore Transformers fans, adult collectors, and tech gadget enthusiasts.
I would not recommend Megatron for young kids (depending on their maturity level, I would say no younger than 12). Megatron is built to take a hit from Optimus, but not from little hands.
If you have young kids and you want to get this for yourself, that’s great. They can join in on the fun. I would not leave them alone with him for fear that they may play too hard or snap something that wasn’t designed to be snapped.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Insanely impressive engineering
- Smooth conversion
- Great sound quality
- App and voice command flexibility
- Collectible feel
- A plethora of modes to play with him in
- Characterization and animation is spot on from the 80’s cartoon series
Cons:
- Price
- Heavy and fragile in some modes
- Stability isn’t strong on carpet-like surfaces
- There is not a lot of information on how to use the weapons he comes with
Price Breakdown & Is It Worth It?
Megatron retails for $1,499, but you can get him on sale for $1,299. Included in that price is a one-year warranty (you can purchase an extended two-year warranty for around $110).
I could list off what else you can get with that kind of money, but not a single one will be able to transform on command, walk around your house, or wield a sword in the name of the Decepticon cause, so I feel like there is no comparison here. If you like Transformers and want to have a tiny dictator in your house, he’s worth the money. End of discussion.
If you are wondering if he brings daily wonder or “once-in-a-while” enjoyment into your life, that depends. You could spend hours programming him or pulling him out once in a while to drive him in tank mode around the house. Either way, you will look cool and feel cool while doing it. That is money well spent in my book.
Final Verdict
As I roll the end credits on this review, I have one thing to say…All Hail Megatron. I kneel before the leader of the Decepticons and happily welcome him into our home and our Transformers collection. When my husband isn’t issuing voice commands or driving him around the house, I’ll be seeing what I can do with his programming abilities. He’s a gift that keeps on giving to my family. Megatron is available on Robosen’s website and as of this post, is on sale for $1,299 (retail $1,499).
Special thanks to Robosen for sending me this amazing piece of robotics and converting me to the Decepticon cause.
Stay tuned to GeekDad because I’ll be checking out Robosen’s latest release, Soundwave, to see how he stacks up in their growing Transformers lineup and how well he interacts with his leader, Megatron.
Disclaimer: GeekDad received a review sample.
