Skip to main content

This $8,000 R2-D2-inspired refrigerator will deliver drinks to you

Oops! We couldn't load this video player
If you’ve always wanted your refrigerator to come to you when you’re on the couch, your dream may soon come true … if you have Manarai Mountains of cash.

Furthermore, it’ll come true in Star Wars form. A new refrigerator modeled after the series’ R2-D2 robot has been developed by Haier Asia’s AQUA brand. And it isn’t just any old fridge: This product moves on its own via remote control. This means you can direct it to roll right up to you whenever you want an iced cold beverage.

Recommended Videos

Unfortunately, the refrigerator has a battery that needs to be recharged in order for it to remain mobile, though this may be a small price to pay for robotic convenience. Though it was originally reported that the refrigerator holds 12 cans, its actual capacity is only six, according to Gizmodo. It has all of the flashing lights that R2-D2 features in the popular films.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

This, along with its standard refrigeration capabilities, are sure to attract kitchen owners and Star Wars fans alike. The price, however, may give many pause. It’s available for pre-order (in Japan only!) for $8,000.

Refrigerators are one of the many appliances that continue to see upgrades as the Internet of Things movement expands. For example, the ChillHub made a splash this May when it debuted with “smart” capabilities. The ChillHub has two USB ports and Wi-Fi connectivity. It also has an open-source iOS-compatible app.

ChillHub, which offers 18 cubic feet of internal space, has far more capacity than the R2-D2 refrigerator. Unfortunately, its pre-order page seems to have disappeared.

Despite its outlandish price, it’s hard to argue with the “cool” factor of the R2-D2 refrigerator. The Star Wars movie series is set to continue with Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens on Dec. 18. As the premiere date draws closer, this refrigerator may be the one of many Star Wars-inspired tech products we see hit the market.

Krystle Vermes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Krystle Vermes is a professional writer, blogger and podcaster with a background in both online and print journalism. Her…
25 Valentine’s Day gifts that she’ll brag about to her friends (seriously)
Roses on a calendar

Valentine's Day can be a minefield for gifts that totally miss the mark with a significant other — but it doesn't have to be. We've combed the gifting landscape and found 25 Valentine's Day gifts for her that your wife, girlfriend, partner, (er, mom?) will actually like.

And we don't mean she'll smile and say thanks, only to throw whatever it is in a pile and never think about it again (unless it's to consider what a subpar present it was). We mean she'll delight in a truly premium blanket to cuddle up with on chilly afternoons. She'll wear the hell out of trendy new sneaks and a Valentine's Day-inspired sweater that's not too, you know, Valentine's Day-y. She'll need this iPad to watch all the content if TikTok shuts down again!

Read more
Kwikset launches two new smart locks with Z-Wave support
The HomeConnect 918 on a door.

Kwikset, a manufacturer of both traditional and smart locks, has officially released the HomeConnect 918 and the HomeConnect 620 -- two smart locks that are fully compatible with Z-Wave. This technology gives you the flexibility to install the locks far away from its hub, thanks to its support for long-distance connections.

The HomeConnect 918 is the most exciting of the duo, allowing you to save up to 250 user codes and boasting a sleek touchscreen design. Most families probably only need to have a handful of codes, but if you’re using the lock on a rental property or on the front door of your small business, the flexibility to store hundreds of codes is certainly nice. It’s also highly secure, thanks to an S2 security encryption to help prevent unauthorized access.

Read more
Upcoming Amazon event invite teases a new AI-powered Alexa
A blue image that has the Amazon swoop and "Hi there." with the date February 26 listed below.

This week, Amazon sent out invitations to an upcoming event hosted by Amazon Senior Vice President Panos Panay and the Amazon Devices & Services team in New York City on February 26. As can be seen in the image above, the invite Digital Trends received had the signature Amazon swoop with "Hi there." front and center, and the date towards the bottom, all on top of a shaded blue background that included what on the surface looked like some attractive, curved design elements.

Sure, the design gave off a feeling of Amazon Alexa, but beyond speculation around what the event might be about, the innocuous email didn't seem to divulge any useful information. That is, until The Verge did some impressive sleuthing and discovered that there wasn't one email invite sent out, but five. That attractive, curved background was actually part of some cursive text that, when all five invitation were put together, spelled out "alexa." Pretty strong confirmation to those Alexa feels.

Read more