To celebrate Star Wars Day 2021, LEGO has a special surprise for Star Wars fans – a substantial upgrade (not re-release!) to a fan-favourite UCS set – 75308 R2-D2!
The 2021 UCS R2-D2 will be released on 1 May 2021, and will cost US$199.99 / AU$329.99 / £179.99 and will be available from LEGO.com and your local LEGO store.
The lovable astromech droid that has been omnipresent in the Prequels, Original Trilogy and Sequels, is the star of May the 4th 2021, and has received a fair few upgrades since the last version 10225 UCS R2-D2 which was originally released almost 10 years ago in 2012.
10 years is a long-enough timespan for LEGO to remake old UCS sets, but thankfully, instead of a 1:1 re-release like 2016’s Death Star, LEGO has taken a fresh approach to the 2021 UCS R2-D2, making it a compelling purchase even if you already own the original.
I was very lucky to have received the opportunity to write up an early review of the new 2021 LEGO UCS R2-D2, so please enjoy reading through this feature!
Special thanks to the LEGO Group for providing this set for review.
75308 R2-D2 Set Details
Name: R2-D2
Set Number: 75308
Pieces: 2,314
Price: AU$329.99 | US$199.99 | £179.99 – Buy from LEGO.com [AUS] [USA] [UK]
Dimensions: 12.5 in. (31 cm) high, 7.5 in. (20 cm) wide and 6 in. (15 cm) deep.
Exclusive to: LEGO.com / LEGO Brand Retail Stores
Theme: Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series
Release Date: 1 May 2021
Quick note – I’m going to call this a UCS set, even though it’s technically not an Ultimate Collector’s Series set, as the logo doesn’t show up anywhere. It has a plaque, and is a remake of an older UCS R2-D2, so I consider this a UCS Star Wars set.
The R2-D2 build was an enjoyable affair as it’s been almost 10 years since I last built mind, and I built mine over the span of 3 nights.
Watch my LEGO R2-D2 speed build to see how it all comes together!
It’s not particularly challenging, but the first few bags are mostly Technic, so if you’re not used to building with Technic, you may struggle here slightly as a high level of precision and attention to detail is required here, as you build R2-D2’s skeleton, interior, and also mechanical third leg.
After you’re done with the Technic bits, it’s all smooth sailing as you build R2’s legs, outer shell and finish off with the head.
The finish product is every bit as impressive as the original, but LEGO have taken this opportunity to make a number of fantastic upgrades to the heroic Astromech droid.
We’ll go into comparison and side by side pics with the 2012 UCS R2-D2 at the end of the review, but let’s take a closer look at R2-D2.
LEGO have completely re-imagined R2’s head, taking a different approach to the Astromech’s iconic domed head. Studs are out, a series of cascading curved bricks are in.
The effect works remarkably well, creating a really pleasing curved look. Fans of SNOT will undoubtedly be delighted with the techniques used as studs are more or less banished from the dome.
The head swivels around as you may expect, although the movement isn’t as smooth as I would have expected.
Here are a look at more angles of R2’s head.
One of the most substantial upgrades comes from LEGO’s clever engineering of R2-D2’s toolkit of equipment which they’ve built into the model – which dramatically increases the interactivity and playability – this isn’t JUST a display piece.
Pop open a corner of R2’s head and out comes his periscope.
But that’s not all!
In another cleverly hidden nook is a hidden compartment for Luke’s lightsaber, you can remove. Sadly it doesn’t eject itself out like in the movies, which would’ve been REALLY cool if LEGO was able to do mimic it.
No complaints with R2’s head, but I am dreaming of the day LEGO finally gives us proper silver elements for R2’s metallic head, instead of grey – THAT would make for the ultimate R2-D2. Maybe in the next 10 years.
R2’s body is also cleaned up quite significantly, with more curves and a slightly stockier body. I like the amount of details, especially with how LEGO have done the power recharge couplers and various exhaust vents.
The vents on the side, are really nice.
R2-D2’s legs have undergone the least changes, with only a few small tweaks here and there.
The most interesting visual change are the hoses on R2’s legs – which are now in pearl gold instead of dark reddish brown variants. It’s an interesting change as I always felt like the brown hoses were much more movie-accurate but maybe they’re not in production any longer.
Here’s a look at R2’s back which is very clean and smooth. There are 2 buttons that you can press that will activate R2’s arms that pop out the front.
Useful if you want to zap, burn or grab stuff!
Another substantial upgrade is R2’s third leg – the mechanism works just like the movies – tilt R2’s body back and his third leg magically pops out.
It’s extremely satisfying as demonstrated in this GIF!
Here’s a look at the UCS R2-D2 plaque, and minifigure included. I thought this would be a perfect time to re-launch a new R2-D2 minifigure with a third leg, but alas, its time for an upgrade is not now.
What will get collectors excited is this special commemorative 50 Years of Lucasfilm printed brick, which is a fun little addition that will make it worth your while if you choose to splurge on the new UCS R2-D2.
Comparison with Old UCS R2-D2 (2012)
Here are some side by side shots of the new 2021 UCS R2-D2 versus the older 2012 UCS R2-D2.
For most long-time LEGO Star Wars fans, the big question to answer is – is this worth the upgrade?
Looking at the them both side by side, they look distinctively different enough, but I’d say it’s not that big an upgrade that warrants an instant purchase – especially if you own the original.
The major differences are the head design, play features but otherwise, most things remain equal.
I’m not sure if I’m the only one, but I’ve had my UCS R2-D2 in storage all this time – it’s been kept in a box, within a box, protected from sunlight, but when I fished him out for comparison photos, I discovered that many white pieces on the OG R2-D2 had yellowed quite significantly.
They’re yellowing in uneven spots, and I was quite taken aback as I thought I was being quite careful with storage and keeping him away from UV light.
If your original R2-D2 has been on display for some time and has yellowed quite a bit, and you have the cash to spare, it would probably be worth an upgrade.
What I liked:
- Very pleased that LEGO didn’t get lazy and re-released the exact same R2-D2
- New head design is quite nice to look at
- Play features and interactivity has been updated
- 50th Anniversary Lucasfilm brick is a nice bonus
- Hasn’t had much of a price increase
What I didn’t like:
- If you own the original – there isn’t enough to warrant an immediate purchase
- Leg mechanism can be quite fiddly at times
- LEGO didn’t use shiny silver elements for his head
- More printed elements for R2-D2 would’ve been great
Final Thoughts:
Credit to LEGO for re-releasing R2-D2 but not taking the shortcut of not making any updates.
The new 2021 UCS R2-D2 is a great addition to any LEGO Star Wars fan, especially if you missed out on the original, which does cost quite a bit on the secondary market.
R2-D2’s status is legendary, and this set makes for a fantastic display piece, with plenty of neat features thrown in that you can use to entertain yourself or friends or kids.
LEGO need to be commended for the new head design, and for vastly improving the third leg function and for little fixes here and there, while keeping to the spirit of the original.
They’ve updated it just enough to give it its own identity, while not making the original obsolete.
75308 is clearly the ultimate UCS R2-D2 set, and in my opinion, outclasses the original in nearly every department except old school nostalgic charm, so if you’ve been wanting an awesome R2-D2 display piece – this 2021 version is the one for you.
If you already own the original, and are not a completionist, you’re probably fine to skip this and save up for upcoming UCS sets like the Republic Gunship.
Otherwise, this is a satisfying model that will delight Star Wars fans just in time for May the 4th.
Rating and score: 4/5 ★★★★✰
Build [4] – The build was very fun, with varied techniques while not being too challenging or frustrating.
Real Value [4] – The price is decent, only rising US$20 compared to the original, so this remains quite an accessible set.
Innovation [4] – The play features baked in are really fun, and the third leg mechanism is so fun to put into action.
Coolness [5] – It’s a massive R2-D2 model that’s made for display. What more could you want.
Keepability [5] – As a Star Wars UCS set – this almost ensures that it will retain its value, and may deserve a permanent spot in your Star Wars collection.
Thanks for reading my review of the 2021 UCS R2-D2!
LEGO 75308 R2-D2 will go on sale on 1 May 2021 on LEGO.com
I’d love to know what you think of the new UCS R2-D2. If you own the original, would you pick this one up too?
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Special thanks to the LEGO Group for providing this set for review.
Great review. I decided to time my building while watching the Movies. I stated with Episode I and finished just into Episode IV. The only problem that I had/have is the third leg does not touch the ground. I thought I did something wrong, but even after pulling the panels off, and checking the internals, my build is correct. I’ve seen on some of the reviews they have had the same issues, but others have not. This is puzzling since the tolerances on the lego bricks is so tight. Anyone else having this issue, and more importantly anyone have a solution?
There’s only one problem with this, and it’s not the lightsaber feature. It’s that now, we need a to-scale model of Luke to hold his lightsaber. Yeesh. Nice review Jay! I’m looking forward to some more 50th anniversary sets now, maybe a Mouse Droid or something.
I own the old version. To be honest I still like the old version more. Maybe because the joy I had when my mom bought it for me …I will not go for an upgrade but ty for the review. So good to see the comparison
That’s fair – it’s a really special set to a lot of people for nostalgic reasons, and so mind-blowing when it was first released.
I like that with this new design, it doesn’t completely make the old one obsolete!
I wasn’t an AFOL when the original came out so for me, despite what I think is yet another crazy high price for an Australian release, this will be one I’ll definitely try to pick up just because it’s so iconic.
Thanks for another great review Jay.
has the leg angle issue been corrected in this version?
http://l3-g0.blogspot.com/2014/04/fixing-your-lego-r2-d2s-angle-for-star.html
The lego bricks oxidize so no matter how you store they will yellow, you have to put them in hydrogen peroxide under sun light for about 4 days and they will be better than new
Thanks! I’ve always thought it was just sunlight that accelerated the process, but I’ve learned a thing or two about this process. So do I just dunk R2 in a bucket of hydrogen peroxide?
Pertaining to lego brick discoloration – it’s not so much the sunlight which causes the discoloration, the sun’s UV rays help speed up the process but it’s more due to oxidization causing a chemical reaction with flame retardant ingredients within the lego bricks, themselves. The ideal thing is to not keep lego in sealed ziploc bags, nor sealed totes. You should always open any bags or totes, frequently, to introduce fresh air into said container. The same goes for GI Joes and other, plastic toys – oxidation is your enemy, sunlight speeds up the process, and trapped air is No Bueno. An air controlled environment with proper air evacuation (the ability to remove the air from a room and introduce, fresh air) goes a long way in keeping bricks from yellowing.
Good review and comparison, though, gave me most of the info I needed to know about it. I had the original Lego Star Wars stuff but sold a lot of it when the prices were still high. Back when you could only get Sand Green in like 2 sets, I made killing off of the Yoda set… Them 1x pieces were like a dollar a stud, i.e. $6.80 for a 1×6 and I had a bunch. Good times.
Hey Robert, thanks SO much for the detailed explanation – I’ve learned something new with this as I always knew that sunlight was a major accelerant of discolouration and yellowing, but I didn’t realise stale air was also dangerous. This makes me fairly nervous about all my LEGO sets that are in storage in ziploc bags!
Guess that explains why my Saturn V is still in pristine condition as the airflow in my room is decent.
I do remember those times! I still have a PAB cup where I discovered sand green elements for the first time on a wall, and went nuts filling it up.
Good time to jump back in with this new version of R2?
The white discolouration problem is a strange one, it seems that different pieces degrade at different rates (even pieces of the same shape).
I recently dismantled my T1 Campervan that has been assembled and on display since December 2011. I found different roof panels had yellowed, leaving a striped effect.
When I do come to rebuild it, I’ll definitely try the hydrogen peroxide trick.
Is anyone aware whether discolouration of bricks occurs in sealed sets which have never been opened ? I have the original UCS R2-D2 set but have never built it and it’s still sealed in the box . I’d hate to think that the bricks have yellowed after all these years in a brand new set! Thanks for any thoughts
I have had no discoloration problems with LEGO models dating back to the original R2D2 and beyond. If this is thought to be the result of atmospherics, the usual approach is to first try soap and water. If this doesn’t work, try immersing tiles in hydrogen peroxide solution and expose to UV light. Try on a few first to see whether there is any tile damage.
hi great review and thanks for making them.
is there any way you have a connection to Lego and can ask if they are on to solving the whit issue it has ruined a couple of my sets the Taj for one.,
Thanks Adrian – I can put forward the question to LEGO on discolouration and yellowing of bricks. Is yours the original Taj or the newer version?
Technic’s not necessarily my cup of tea, but I’m definitely going to pick this one up! The little features look fun and interesting. So overall can’t wait to pick this up!
Just read the price. there goes 4 months of the budget! Still think it’s worth it though.
Same here, and I struggled in a few sections because you have to be super precise but after you’re done with R2’s core, it’s all fun brick-building!
I’m actually kind of excited for the Technic part. Also not something I do a lot (I’m not great at seeing colors, so telling apart the gears is sometimes a bit tough) so it will be a bit challenging, but I’m up for it!
Mmmmm Not sure if I can justify buying the upgraded R2-D2 I have built the 2012 one twice now & still love it.
Yeah, if you have the original, the newer one is not 100% necessary unless you can afford the splurge and need to absolutely collect all things LEGO Star Wars. Save it for the “proper” UCS set coming this year UCS Gunship, or maybe the rumoured AT-AT.
If Lego can build a full size, motorized Bugatti – why can’t they build a *motorized* R2-D2 ? I do understand concepts like mass and weight, and yet, even if not able to motorize the droid so it could move on its own, at least the head and the light saber launcher could have been motorized . . . A bit of a letdown. And after the whole Ulysses Space Probe fu*ck up, I am less inclined than ever to cut Lego any slack.
There is a small motorized R2-D2 that came in the Droids set. It was pretty cute too.
There technically is a scaled down motorised R2-D2 set: https://www.lego.com/en-au/product/droid-commander-75253
Doing it at this scale, and having enough power to move what is a very heavy build is probably a big technical challenge to overcome.
I’d also be afraid of how much a fully motorised Artoo in this scale would cost!
I still love the vintage # 9748 Mindstorms Star Wars Droid Development Kit. It is fun to build with young people and it is PROGRAMMABLE. R2 can do a lot of different challenges. This new R2 looks lovely, but, as my husband has pointed out, we are going to have to build an extension just for all these yummy, scrummy models.
When are they going to fix the yellowing issues? Everyone that bought the white Porsche is going to have a yellow one in a few years!
Personally, I’m finding it harder and harder to get excited about re-release LEGO Star Wars sets. There’s just been so many and I know they’ll continue as long as they make money. But, I will say those are some nice updates, especially the 3rd wheel. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
It’s really fascinating unearthing my old R2-D2, especially to discover that the yellowing was inconsistent, so it seems that SOME elements are less susceptible to it, or I may just be unlucky.
If you take a step back, and pretend that the 2012 R2-D2 didn’t exist, this would 100% be a marvellous LEGO set and a massive accomplishment from a design standpoint. It just suffers the “it’s been updated slightly” label because its not wholly original.
There are a number of good reasons for updated, rather than re-released Star Wars models for being produced. There is an ever growing market for Star Wars models for Star Wars fans, including for those folks who weren’t even born when the first Star Wars film came out.
As for the yellowing issue. Lego is moving towards plant based materials. Perhaps they won’t have the problem.
I don’t actually own the original, but I’m definitely getting this. Thanks for the side-by-side comparison, that was super helpful!
You’re the exact person LEGO is targeting this set at! I hope you enjoy it – the original R2-D2 is one of my favourite LEGO Star Wars builds, and I hope it brings you tons of joy!
I do have the original but might look for the upgrade if I can figure out where to put it.
Put them side by side!
Easier said than done but perhaps I can move the three LEGO spaceships currently next to the current R2D2 to somewhere else.