LEGO Reviews Icons10358

Transformers: Soundwave

Name: LEGO Transformers: Soundwave 10358
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 10358
Rating: 4.67 (772 reviews)

84 · HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: A20251,505 pcsHigh agreement · 94%

Expert reviews

5analyzed

Owner ratings

772

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Highly Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"Transformers Soundwave scores 83.8 on the BrickScore and earns its Highly Recommended tier through exceptional transformation engineering, the cassette companions Ravage and Laserbeak, and a genuinely memorable sound brick. Structural wobble in robot mode and a premium price are real drawbacks, but G1 fans and the set's 4.67-star owner average confirm this is the best LEGO Transformers entry yet."

The LEGO Icons Transformers Soundwave earned a BrickScore of 83.8 and stands out as the most technically accomplished set in the LEGO Transformers line to date, praised for smooth transformation mechanics, improved articulation over Optimus Prime, and a genuinely functional sound brick that plays Soundwave's iconic voice. Owners across 772 ratings averaged 4.67 out of 5, with 92% recommending it, and play experience rated 4.49. The $189.99 price point and some structural weaknesses in robot mode temper the enthusiasm for buyers less attached to the G1 nostalgia.

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LOVED (7)

01Smooth, sturdy transformation sequence that does not shed parts when converting
02Inclusion of Ravage and Laserbeak cassette transformers that store in Soundwave's chest
03Sound brick with Soundwave's iconic G1 voice lines and sound effects
04More stable and less fragile construction than the previous LEGO Optimus Prime set
05Accurate G1 Decepticon boom box alternate mode aesthetic
06Effective robot mode scale and proportions alongside other sets in the Transformers line
07Thrilling and varied build experience praised as one of the best in the entire LEGO lineup by multiple buyers

CRITICIZED (7)

01Hip joints are flimsy and legs wobble despite ratchet detents holding poses
02Right shoulder joint cannot support the weight of the blaster accessory
03Robot mode is front-heavy and tends to lean forward
04Arms hang visibly out the back in boom box alternate mode, looking incomplete
05Play button protrudes slightly forward in alternate mode
06No Rumble cassette transformer, which was an iconic G1 character alongside Laserbeak and Ravage
07Price of $189.99 at $0.126 per piece is on the high end, though most buyers accepted it for the engineering quality

What reviewers are saying

"10358 Transformers: Soundwave is the third in the series of LEGO Transformers launched over the past few years and our first Decepticon!"

Brickset Reviews

"LEGO have done a remarkable job with 10358 Soundwave and this is on par with 10302 Optimus Prime as a fantastic LEGO Transformer"

Jay's Brick Blog

"Soundwave superior, Autobots inferior."

RacingBrick

"this time around we'll be getting our favourite Depecticon cassette recorder, Soundwave, and pun intended, this thing has a lot more to it than meets the eye."

Tiago Catarino

"The build here is excellent. One of the best I've built in a while."

Rebrickable Reviews

Ecosystem

10302 Optimus Prime — Soundwave's transformation is quicker and more enjoyable than Optimus Prime's, which has some wobbly connection points. However, Optimus Prime remains taller, as should be the case. Soundwave has better articulation than Optimus Prime with the addition of knee joints and more expressive arm positioning. The price point is reasonable compared to Optimus, being only $10 USD more after 3 years.

10338 Bumblebee — Soundwave's transformation is the most enjoyable of the three. Bumblebee's was cleverly engineered but maybe too complex for a LEGO design. Soundwave proportions are more effective than Bumblebee's. Soundwave is described as superior to Bumblebee, with better engineering and features overall.

10334 Retro Radio — Soundwave's cassette recorder mode measures 19cm wide, slightly smaller than the comparable 10334 Retro Radio released last year, but large enough to approximate the size of Soundwave's alternate mode onscreen.

10302 Optimus Prime — LEGO have done a remarkable job with 10358 Soundwave and this is on par with 10302 Optimus Prime as a fantastic LEGO Transformer. This is without a doubt one of the best looking LEGO Transformers models, and I'd put it on par with LEGO Optimus Prime in terms of how good it looks on display. I daresay that this rivals and equals my adoration of LEGO Optimus Prime.

IconsTier 1Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 5

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

BUY

"10358 Transformers: Soundwave is the third in the series of LEGO Transformers launched over the past few years and our first Decepticon!"

Key Pros

✓Soundwave is a feat of engineering and easily the best LEGO Transformer to date
✓Fantastic display value
✓Near-faultless accuracy

Key Cons

✕Quite a few stickers - fourteen used across whole set, more than other two Transformers combined
✕Some stickers are quite big, hard to apply without capturing dust

READ FULL REVIEW

Jay's Brick Blog

Editorial Source

BUY

"LEGO have done a remarkable job with 10358 Soundwave and this is on par with 10302 Optimus Prime as a fantastic LEGO Transformer"

Key Pros

✓Sound Brick with 39 unique sounds adds unprecedented dimension to a LEGO Transformers set
✓Faithful transformation sequence to G1 toy and Masterpiece version
✓Functional knees and elbows for superior articulation and posing

Key Cons

✕Soundwave has a tendency to slightly lean forward and requires careful leg positioning for stability
✕Soundwave's right hand often pops out when pushed backwards during transformation

READ FULL REVIEW

RacingBrick

Expert Video Source

BUY

"Soundwave superior, Autobots inferior."

Key Pros

✓First proper Decepticon in LEGO Transformers Icons
✓Comes with sidekicks (Laserbeak and Ravage) that transform into cassettes
✓Sound brick with multiple effects; well-integrated into transformation

Key Cons

✕Light bluish gray stickers don't match surrounding bricks; color mismatch distracting on large surfaces
✕Hand/fingers come off too easily, frustrating when posing with blaster

JUMP TO REVIEW

Tiago Catarino

Expert Video Source

WAIT FOR SALE

"this time around we'll be getting our favourite Depecticon cassette recorder, Soundwave, and pun intended, this thing has a lot more to it than meets the eye."

Key Pros

✓Transforms cleanly with minimal gaps in both robot and recorder modes
✓Three transformable characters included (Soundwave, Laserbeak, Ravage)
✓Sound brick adds excellent interactive element with authentic Transformers sounds

Key Cons

✕Shoulder cannon and concussion blaster have tolerance issues causing center of gravity shift and less menacing appearance
✕Leg posing options are limited, making it hard to find good poses

JUMP TO REVIEW

Rebrickable Reviews

Editorial Source

BUY

"The build here is excellent. One of the best I've built in a while."

Key Pros

✓Excellent build quality - one of the best the reviewer has built
✓Great articulation and posable joints throughout
✓Clever transformation mechanism with satisfying functions (cassette door, sound effects)

Key Cons

✕Transformation is delicate and fragile - lost count of pieces broken during transformation
✕Top-heavy design causes forward lean in robot mode

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Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (3)Wait for sale (1)

Value drivers

Brickset Reviews: Sound brick with Transformers phrases and sound effects is a major value driver, along with functional transforming mini-cassettes Laserbeak and Ravage

Exclusivity

Brickset Reviews: LEGO-exclusive Transformers license with unique sound brick element and new printed window component

Jay's Brick Blog: Available exclusively from LEGO.com or your local LEGO Store. Released on 1 August 2025 for LEGO Insiders (free to register).

Resale

Brickset Reviews: Strong potential given the engineering, functionality, sound brick, and inclusion of transforming Laserbeak and Ravage. Positioned as potential top set of the year.

Jay's Brick Blog: I expect this set to sell out on Day 1 and be one of the most popular sets of 2025. I definitely see the first wave of stock selling out in record time, so don't miss out unless you want to wait weeks for a restock.

Minifigures & Standout Parts

Standout parts (per reviewers)

8x5x1 printed window for cassette holderValue
New printed component arriving in its own bag in pristine condition, featuring the iconic Decepticon logo in purple
2x2 curved wedge slopes in metallic silver
Reused from 10302 Optimus Prime, three provided in metallic silver this time for Soundwave's head, shape works perfectly
Printed tiles for cassette reelsValue
Printed details representing cassette tape reels on the mini-cassettes, Laserbeak looks totally complete with these
Trans-red and trans-yellow 1x1 slopes for eyes
Alternative eye colors included to reflect differences between original Soundwave toy and animated series
1x1 tooth plate upside-down for forehead texture
Used for textured detail on Soundwave's forehead in robot mode
Technic wheels for shoulder cannon coloring
Used to create colorful stripes on shoulder cannon with holes at the end approximating appearance from 1980s animated series

What Owners Say

Transformers: Soundwave is the crowd favorite of the LEGO Icons Transformers line, with its sound brick, cassette companions, and sturdier build drawing near-universal praise from G1 fans, though a vocal minority reports loose joints that undermine posability over time.

COMMON PRAISE

+The sound brick is singled out as a genuinely exciting feature, with reviewers calling it 'over the top' and noting it contains more voice clips than the promotional demos suggested
+Ravage and Laserbeak cassette transformers are praised as well-designed, fully functional, and able to store inside Soundwave's chest in cassette mode, a faithful nod to the original toy
+Sturdy and stable construction, with rubber feet helping it stand, compares very favorably to the Optimus Prime and Bumblebee sets that preceded it
+Transformation mechanism is called clever and satisfying, with the cassette-door opening mechanism specifically called out as a build highlight

COMMON COMPLAINTS

−Hip joints are flagged as flimsy by several owners, and one 1-star reviewer reports every joint progressively failing within days until the figure cannot hold any pose
−The radio/boom box alt-mode is considered too large for accurate G1 scale, and arms are not fully concealed in alternate mode
−Price point around $190 draws complaints about accessibility, with some buyers noting children and younger fans will be priced out
−Stickers instead of printed elements frustrate some builders, with one noting they are especially problematic for kids

G1 nostalgiaSound brick featureCassette companionsJoint stability concernBest in line

Buyer Ratings

Amazon4.8

288 reviews

94%