REVIEW – The Wand Firm has achieved it once more! In 2014, they launched a Star Trek Phaser reproduction worthy of any TV or film manufacturing. In 2016, they launched an nearly good model of the Communicator. Then, a couple of years later, in 2020. The Wand Firm publicizes it’s lastly making each Star Trek fan’s fantasy come true by finishing the 3-piece away workforce set for grown-up youngsters with grownup cash. Nonetheless, a little bit world pandemic in 2020 occurred. Then quite a few manufacturing and design setbacks, and eventually, the commerce warfare of 2025. Nicely, I’m pleased to say it’s lastly right here. The Wand Firm’s Star Trek Tricorder. And it’s fabulous.
⬇︎ Leap to abstract (execs/cons)
Worth: $415.00
The place to purchase: Amazon
What’s it?
The Wand Firm’s Star Trek Tricorder (TRI-function reCORDER) is a screen-accurate, 1:1 reproduction of the Authentic Sequence Star Trek Tricorder used primarily by Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy. It’s Starfleet’s handheld pc, generally used for engineering, scientific, and medical functions. It scanned, recorded, detected, and typically predicted, to assist the touchdown occasion in no matter approach the story referred to as for.
What’s included?
- Tricorder with Shoulder Strap
- 8 Information Discs
- Magnetic Show Stand
- Protecting Carrying Case
- Decrease Compartment Partitions
- USB-C charging cable
- Directions
Tech specs
- Extremely Correct: Created from 3D scans of the final recognized hero prop
- Genuine Perform: Seven environmental sensors, digital voice and audio recording
- Excessive High quality: Genuine supplies – machined and extruded aluminum
- Immersive Options: Dynamic ship standing, genuine planet statistics, personable
- Display screen: 320 x 240 pixel full-color LCD TFT (not touch-screen)
- Energy: Rechargeable/replaceable 18650 Li-Ion battery
- Dimensions: 5.12 x 1.97 x 6.89 in (13 x 5 x 17.5 cm)
- Weight: 24.69 oz (700 g)
- Supplies: Aluminum, plastic, artificial leather-based
Design and options
The Wand Firm’s Star Trek Tricorder is an nearly precise replication of the final recognized hero prop used in the course of the making of Star Trek: The Authentic Sequence within the mid to late Nineteen Sixties. It was a part of a set of props used when characters would beam right down to a planet. Together with the Phaser and Communicator, the Tricorder was the required gear to maintain the away workforce protected and knowledgeable whereas away from the USS Enterprise.
The Tricorder was additionally used onboard the ship for diagnosing issues with the ship, and to scan for lifeforms. It was an important piece of apparatus and all the time a fan favourite throughout and after the present was canceled in 1969.
The Wand Firm took very particular care to make as correct a prop reproduction as they may. They used 3D scanning to seize each element of the final remaining hero prop that survived after the manufacturing of Star Trek ended. They wished to verify the Tricorder they produced got here out as good as attainable.
The Wand Tricorder is made out of ABS plastic and machined aluminum. The highest of the Tricorder has a “hood” that pivots open to disclose a 2-in (5 cm) full-color LCD display, 2 push buttons, a 4-way selector button, and a small speaker behind a brass grille. The display isn’t touch-sensitive, as most system screens are lately. The prop used within the TV present had a static grey display, and any pictures on it have been achieved with particular results.
On the left facet of the hood is a considerably hidden micro-SD card slot that Wand says can be used, sooner or later, for software program updates.
The decrease a part of the Tricorder has two compartments behind doorways that open downward. The higher compartment hides eight detachable knowledge discs, and the moirè “display” that’s harking back to the Communicator, which has an analogous design.
The information discs are a slight departure from the unique Tricorder. Though there’s something behind the higher door on the TV prop, its perform was by no means explored in any episodes. Wand took some liberties with their function and elegance. Wand made every disc to be color-coded and tied to a particular perform of the Wand Tricorder. With capabilities like audio logs, ship standing, atmospheric readings, and many others., the discs activate these capabilities on the Tricorder to make it have real-world performance, and never only a static toy for a show shelf.
Additionally within the higher compartment is the moirè disc. This swirling piece of psychedelic imagery harkens again to the age when Star Trek first got here out. The swirling sample can also be a part of the unique Communicator design, which was additionally designed by the identical one who designed the Tricorder.
The decrease compartment is usually empty, nevertheless it seems prefer it has been designed for future or proprietor embellishment. Included within the package deal are three dividers that may separate the decrease compartment into smaller sections. The dividers are made in such a approach to home a handheld scanning system, typically seen within the TV present together with the Tricorder. Wand has not launched a scanner to slot in this compartment, however I’m certain some enterprising makers can be making and promoting one very quickly.
The Tricorder has an connected “leatherette” shoulder strap connected to its sides, simply as the unique had.
The again has a single screw that, when eliminated, permits the again to open and reveal a single Li-ion battery (18650), which is replaceable. This can be a good design function, because the Communicator and Phaser’s batteries are inner and require nearly full disassembly to exchange.
Additionally on the again is a USB-C port for charging the inner battery.
The Tricorder comes with a magnetic show stand that it rests upon when on show. The underside of the Tricorder has a shallow recess to suit on the stand. The stand is made out of pretty thick steel and weighs sufficient to assist maintain the Tricorder in an upright place.
Setup
After a number of hours of charging the Tricorder, I powered it up. After a couple of seconds, the very first thing to arrange is the present date and time, and the proprietor’s title. I used “Mr. Spock”. That’s all that’s required at first start-up.
The Settings display additionally has a couple of extra issues you’ll be able to modify, the display’s brightness, quantity degree, a start-up passcode, and many others.
Efficiency
The Wand Star Trek Tricorder is the proper mixture of obsessive consideration to element, craftsmanship, and fan service. The Tricorder simply exudes high quality. It feels stout, however not too heavy. It neither seems like nor looks like a toy. It’s as if retro and future tech had a child. It brings about the identical emotions I had once I first purchased the Wand Communicator again in 2016. (You may learn my overview of the Wand Communicator right here.) It feels simply because it ought to, if the Star Trek universe have been actual.
The included magnetic show stand is a pleasant contact. It completely enhances the show stands for the Wand Communicator and Phaser. Nonetheless, the magnet within the Tricorder stand isn’t very sturdy, and the Tricorder can very simply be knocked off the stand. In distinction, the magnets within the different show stands for the Communicator and Phaser are very sturdy and securely maintain them in place.
Hood
The hood of the Tricorder, positioned on the highest of the unit, flips open simply to disclose and display, buttons, standing lights, and the speaker grille. Urgent the center buttons begins the Tricorder, which takes a couple of seconds till the primary display is displayed.
The buttons are responsive and really feel well-engineered. Sadly, possibly a little bit too properly. As you press the buttons, positioned on the backside of the hood, the hood rotates towards the closed place. I’ve to carry the hood open as I press the buttons.
From the primary display, you may have three choices: activate the chosen knowledge disc (see under), put the display into Prop mode, or go to the settings display (described above).
Prop mode places the Tricorder right into a state that mimics the best way the Tricorder was displayed on the TV present. A clean grey display. In prop mode, urgent one other button adjustments the lights’ colours and such.
Information discs
Underneath the hood, within the higher compartment, there are eight knowledge discs which can be detachable. The information disks are machined aluminum and labeled/coloration coded for his or her assigned perform. The discs are stored in a little bit rack throughout the higher compartment, and are eliminated by urgent them to launch them, after which will be pulled out, one after the other. The extent of engineering right here may be very spectacular and satisfying.
Every disc has a unique coloration and performance. Every is labeled with the corresponding perform it invokes. Consider them as old-school floppy discs on Seventies house computer systems. Pop one in to run a program, and put in one other to run a unique program. The disc within the right-most slot is the perform the tricorder will run. These capabilities may also be run from the Settings display, however it’s a lot simpler to take away them and pop them into the “run” slot. There are 9 capabilities, but solely eight discs. The Engineering perform doesn’t have a corresponding disc. It’s run from the Settings menu solely.
The 9 capabilities are described right here:
- Standing: shows the Tricorder’s standing (battery degree, inner temperature, and different data. You can too see the standing of the USS Enterprise. Issues like dithium crystals, shields, and hull integrity.
- Planetary: exhibits pictures and information of the planets and a few moons inside our photo voltaic system.
- Logs: An archive of each Captain’s and ship’s log from the TV episodes. All 233 of them! Additionally, the flexibility to document six private logs of as much as 30 seconds every.
- Archive: pictures proven on the Tricorder screens throughout episodes. Does anybody keep in mind “The Metropolis on the Fringe of Without end”? Jim, Edith Keeler should die…
- Orientation: A compass achieved Star Trek type.
- Ambiance: Shows real-world temperature, relative humidity, and barometric stress.
- Radiation: Detects and shows electromagnetic (EM) radiation, similar to from electrical wires.
- Audio: An ambient audio analyzer.
- Engineering (no disc): An inner Tricorder system diagnostic and show perform.
Here’s a gallery of the person screens for every perform (click on on every picture for a better view):
A problem I discovered within the Logs perform was when recording private logs. If the higher compartment door is open and the moirè disc is spinning, the recording would have noise within the background from the moirè disc motor. Not an enormous concern, as it’s simply solved by closing the higher compartment’s door earlier than recording.
One other small concern is that the rightmost button on the hood takes extra effort to press than the opposite two buttons. Once more, not an enormous concern, however I’m certain it wasn’t designed that approach.
Ultimate ideas
If Star Trek is an obsession of yours, as it’s to me, the Tricorder is a must have buy. It’s not an affordable toy, however a museum-quality prop reproduction, and its value confirms that. Initially introduced to value about $350.00, the tariffs in 2025 put the ultimate value at $415.00. I had waited 9 years after the Communicator’s launch and 5 years after its announcement for the ultimate piece of the away workforce set. I wasn’t going to let the fee hold me from shopping for it. The Wand Firm’s Star Trek Tricorder is my 56-year-long reply to this fan’s prop trifecta.
What I like about The Wand Firm Star Trek Tricorder
- An actual reproduction of the unique prop
- All of the nostalgia
- Obsessive consideration to element and craftsmanship
- Purposeful knowledge discs
What must be improved?
- One button is finicky
- The hood is a little bit too unfastened
- Moirè disc motor interferes with recordings
- Costly (however price it – IMO)
Worth: $415.00
The place to purchase: Amazon
Supply: The pattern of this product was bought by the reviewer. The Wand Firm didn’t have a remaining say on the overview and didn’t preview the overview earlier than it was revealed.
