Our first LEGO Transformers Decepticon packs in more than any build before it, but it's also leaving LEGO Bumblebee in the dust.
10358 Soundwave is sure to take the LEGO world by storm when it launches next month, following up the previous two full-size LEGO Transformers sets with more functionality than ever, but its reveal is highly likely to have a detrimental impact on the last release in this collection.
10358 Soundwave is launching on August 1 for LEGO Insiders or August 4 widely for £159.99 / $189.99 / €179.99. He joins the duo of Transformers models to make them a trio, as well as giving 10302 Optimus Prime and 10338 Bumblebee someone to battle. It's not just Soundwave in the set, though, as you're also getting two other characters, a sound brick and a miniature Soundwave for that price. This is much more than the last two LEGO Transformers models.
With a matching price and piece count, 10302 Optimus Prime just barely manages to hold its own against the 2025 Transformers model, though 10358 Soundwave has the additional appeal of being the first Decepticon and including a tempting sound brick loaded with exclusive voice lines. Still, the most iconic Autobot can certainly stand his ground against Soundwave in scale, posing options and contents.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about 10338 Bumblebee, with far fewer pieces, no additional builds to accompany it, and fewer posing options than either other LEGO Transformers sets. While Soundwave has joints on his elbows and knees, Optimus Prime at least the option to turn the lower half of his legs around. Due to how he transforms, Bumblebee's legs can only move at the hip.
It wouldn't be much of an issue with his ability to transform into a car, except for the fact that the other two LEGO Transformers sets at least have one additional movement option in their limbs, as well as a transformation feature.
It's not a good start for the second LEGO Transformers set, which was already overshadowed in size by 10302 Optimus Prime. Now, he looks even smaller on display thanks to 10358 Soundwave, which also includes more builds beyond the Decepticon, similar to Optimus Prime but not Bumblebee.
In terms of value, 10338 Bumblebee is on par with both 10302 Optimus Prime and 10358 Soundwave when it comes to the statistics, but in reality, it's hard to ignore the lack of additional builds, such as the Energon, Ravager and more that both 10302 Optimus Prime and 10358 Soundwave include.
As for what you could pair with Bumblebee, there are not many options to take inspiration from in either the original series or toys for the character. It's an unfortunate situation for 10338 Bumblebee, and it's by no means the fault of the designers. However, it doesn't change the fact that 10338 Bumblebee struggles to stack up to the other two LEGO Transformers sets.
10338 Bumblebee is at least half the price of the other two LEGO Transformers models with more than half the elements to boot, though it's still an expensive collection to complete, and it's easy to imagine many enthusiasts picking the more expensive Autobot and Decepticon, intending to return to 10338 Bumblebee later.
Such intentions might be put to rest by the consistent stream of new sets, though, many of which are expensive in the current age of LEGO. The opportunity to put £79.99 / $89.99 / €89.99 towards another build instead of the third LEGO Transformers set is sure to be a tempting proposition.
Whether 10338 Bumblebee will end up being forgotten in comparison to 10302 Optimus Prime and the new 10358 Soundwave has yet to be seen, and currently, the smallest Autobot build is scheduled to retire at the same time as Optimus Prime – July 31, 2026. It will be interesting to see whether this changes in the months to come, and Optimus receives an extension to its shelf life to match 10358 Soundwave's retirement in December 2028.
In the meantime, 10302 Optimus Prime is available now for £159.99 / $179.99 / €179.99, 10338 Bumblebee for £79.99 / $89.99 / €89.99 and 10358 Soundwave launches on August 1 for LEGO Insiders or August 4 widely for £159.99 / $189.99 / €179.99.
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