R2-D2 and BB-9E droids: The must-have Christmas gifts for Star Wars fans

From movie-accurate designs and sounds, to a whole range of ways to explore your environment

Sphero's full line of droids (l-r): BB-9E, R2-D2, BB-8 (Bryan Rowe/Lucasfilm Ltd )

These are the droids you’re looking for.

Without a doubt, Star Wars is set to dominate the world of Christmas gifts this year, with the second film of the new Skywalker trilogy, The Last Jedi, set for holiday release. Amongst aisle after aisle of Porgs, however, lies one set of toys of particular interest to fans and tech geeks alike.

Follow-ups to Sphero’s take on BB-8, released back in 2015 ahead of The Force Awakens, arrive in the form of the classic, beloved R2-D2 and a brand new character to the Star Wars universe, BB-9E – of the same mechanics as BB-8, but an employee of the Dark Side, with a black and menacing makeover to boot.

As palm-sized versions of the franchise’s droids, these may have the initial look of straightforward RC toys, making their £149.99 (for BB-9E) and £179.99 (for R2-D2) a little mystifying – but they’re far from one-trick ponies.

The key here is Sphero’s integral use of app technology, as opposed to any physical remote with limited capacity. The options here are bountiful, all accessed through your smart device: one mode lets you control your droid by dragging your finger across the screen, another lets you draw out a path for it to follow. There’s even a patrol mode, where it’ll carefully explore its surroundings, in case you desire the illusion you possess your own personal guard unit.

The BB-9E also comes with its own dock, which sees it whir along in place when you enter the app’s AR mode (this is available for R2-D2 but without the dock); here, you can use your droid to explore environments from the films on your smart device.

Especially interesting for BB-9E, where you’re given the chance to explore Supremacy, the Star Destroyer belonging to Supreme Leader Snoke, alongside a chance to learn a few secrets of The Last Jedi contained at certain information points.

These droids were also built to last, which is sure to soothe at least a few concerned minds. Though their details are movie-realistic, they’re sturdy little toys; especially useful considering the high speeds at which BB-9E is catapulting itself into walls while scurrying across your floor. R2-D2, too, has a command that makes it fall right over, as per his famous face plant when he’s captured by the Jawas in A New Hope.

Yet, the biggest draw to Sphero isn’t its technological marvels, but the fact these miniature recreations have so perfectly captured the spirit of their cinematic counterparts.

Their movements are carefully programmed to reflect their personalities: R2-D2’s cautious, curious nature thrives, whistling in tentative fear if it feels cornered, or waddling in excitement. It’s even the first R2-D2 toy that can switch from two legs to three all by itself, just like in the movies. Plus, the noises it makes are straight from Lucas Film Archives’ original A New Hope recordings.

Sphero's BB-9E and accompanying app (Bryan Rowe/ Lucasfilm Ltd)

We’ve not met BB-9E yet, so its personality seems largely reflective of its Light Side counterpart, BB-8; that intrepid, eager personality is still there, though BB-9E sounds far more frustrated by its surroundings. Goth BB, indeed. In addition, BB-9E’s head lights up, unlike BB-8, thanks to new inductive-charging technology that passes electricity from the droid’s body to its head.

Their personalities shine particularly when interacting with other droids – R2-D2 and BB-9E, of course, are a little distrustful of each other – or while watching the Star Wars films, specifically (for now) The Force Awakens, Rogue One, and A New Hope.

The latter is achieved using Shazam-like technology that listens out for voice cues, so droids know exactly when (and how) to react. Even if you pause the film, the droid will know where you left off.

And, because of the app-based technology, these droids have much to their own future. Their firmware will regularly be updated, especially after The Last Jedi hits theatres; with so much of the film tightly under wraps, BB-9E’s current sounds are only an approximation of the final character, set to be updated with a movie-accurate version after the film’s release. A droid that’s not just for Christmas, then.

Sphero's BB-9E (£149.99) and R2-D2 (£179.99) are available to purchase here.

Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more.