Whether you need protection in a dangerous city, an interpreter that can speak the binary language of load lifters, or a navigator for your starfighter, choosing the right droid for the job is a crucial decision.
With several major manufacturers vying for your hard-earned credits, the choice becomes even more difficult. But don’t be swayed by marketing: All you really need is a reliable robot that can work day-in, day-out for decades. With that in mind, these are the best droids you can buy today.
5. Serv-O-Droid DUM-series Pit Droid
If you're looking for a droid that's as compact as it is useful, any of the DUM-series models would make a great choice. These cheerful units are used from Tatooine to Malastare. Famed for their repair abilities, Pit Droids can quickly fix the most dangerous podracers in the galaxy—and can even be programmed as pilots. While they work best in teams of three to four, DUM-series droids can easily tackle smaller jobs solo. Don’t forget—the trick to collapsing a Pit Droid for travel is to hit the nose!
4. Cybot Galactica 3PO-series Protocol Droid
It’s not a coincidence that you’ll find 3PO units on just about any cultured world—these interpreters are the gold standard of human-droid relations. They feature over six million forms of verbal and non-verbal communication, although admittedly they’re not designed to be storytellers. Brand new 3PO units can be pricey, but replacement parts are ubiquitous and repairs are so easy a child can do them.
3. Baktoid Armor Workshop B1 Battle Droid
These semi-autonomous battle-tested bots can be had for a pittance at military surplus outlets across the galaxy. Though they haven’t seen much combat action since the Clone Wars, B1 units have recently been repurposed for everything from personal security to agricultural work. Owners are uncommonly fond of their Geonosian-built bipedal droids, often giving them nicknames (“Roger” gets our vote for the funniest) and custom paint jobs.
2. BB-series Astromech Droid
If you're in the market for a state-of-the-art astromech, the BB-series is just about as good as it gets. While not quite as affordable as the tried-and-true R family of astro droids, the BB platform is a forward-looking design that we're excited to see more of in the future. We’ve heard from new owners that it’s all too easy to get attached to these highly capable, super-adorable BBs.
1. Industrial Automaton R2-series Astromech Droid
This time-tested astromech droid design has become a mainstay for a reason—solid value for money. Whether you need expert spaceship repair, holographic messaging capabilities, or a dependable hyperspace computer, R2 units can do it all. Throw in more gadgets and gizmos than a Mandalorian Army Knife—packed inside a rock-solid exterior (seriously, we've seen R2s survive everything from high desert conditions to ingestion by swamp lizards)—and you’ve got an unbeatable package.
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