Rolled out as a new feature this week in a free update, Sphero’s BB-8 replica Star Wars droid has the ability to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens along with you and react to what’s happening on the screen. You simply pair the BB-8 with an Android or iOS mobile device and activate the new “Watch With Me” function in the updated BB-8 mobile app.

Ideally, you should keep BB-8 on the charging pad so the battery life during the two-hour movie isn’t an issue. In addition, you will need to position BB-8 in a area close enough to hear the action happening on the screen. According to Sphero, BB-8 will react to scenes with a range of emotions including excitement, sadness and anger at the events of the film.

Here’s a video of BB-8 in action while watching the film:

While Sphero recently lowered the price from $149.99 to $129.99 as a promotional sale for the release of The Force Awakens on Blu-ray and digital media, you can find lower prices from other retailers if you watch the Ben’s deal feed. Less than a month ago, we saw the price drop to $110 on Rakuten.

If you want to catch the next sale, set up a Deal Alert on Ben’s Bargains for “BB-8” and we will email you the second when the deal goes live.

BB-8 will now watch, react to The Force Awakens as you watch

Sphero is a lot like a small pet.  They both roam around the house.  They both make your smile.  And they’re both terribly cute.  But it’s time to face facts: Fido doesn’t come with Bluetooth.

Point, Sphero!  The newest and most original gaming system to date sets itself apart by thinking outside the TV box.  Sphero is a robotic ball encasing a gyroscope, accelerator, and lots of other fun stuff that the player (or players) control with their Android or iOS devices.  Speeding around at up to 3 feet per second at a range of 50 feet, this gaming device is a huge leap forward from that stationary Nintendo robot from the 80s.

With over 20 apps already available and more on the way, Sphero has much more sophisticated tastes than just “fetch.”  Some games utilize rolling the Sphero around the floor – the ground-breaking Sharky the Beaver incorporates your mobile device’s camera feed to replace the robot ball with a cartoon beaver, so you can see what your home would look like with a 3d cartoon waltzing around.  Other games use Sphero as a controller, placing in your hands a sort of multidimensional steering wheel.

So move over, Rover!  There’s a new ankle-biter in town, and this one doesn’t need you to clean up after it!

Sphero Is Better Than Your Flesh-and-Blood Pet