Hello there, and welcome to our latest lightsaber review – this time we’re testing the SabersPro Obi Wan EP3 lightsaber.
Unlike most lightsaber replicas and toys we’ve reviewed in the past, this isn’t an officially licensed Star Wars product, but rather a loving tribute from a third-party company. Visually, it’s one of the most impressive lightsaber replicas I’ve ever seen. However, that lack of Disney supervision means it’s a little less ergonomic than the official lightsabers I’ve handled. There are also some… strange choices with the sound and lighting profile options.
Nevertheless, the Obi Wan EP3 lightsaber is one of the most impressive lightsaber replicas I’ve ever seen… which is good because it’s also one of the most expensive. It is certainly worth a place in our store best lightsabers guide, so let’s step off the high ground and get stuck into the review.
SabresPro Obi Wan Ep3 lightsaber: design and assembly
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SabersPro Lightsaber next to the box and user manual.(Image credit: Ian Stokes)
Close-up of the blade connection point.(Image credit: Ian Stokes)
The hilt of the SabresPro Obi Wan Lightsaber.(Image credit: Ian Stokes)
The pommel of the SabresPro Obi Wan Lightsaber, which houses the speakers.(Image credit: Ian Stokes)
- When installing, all you need to do is attach the blade using an Allen key/screws
- Hilt looks fantastic – super screen accurate
- Very sleek appearance – no weathering
It is delivered immediately in a beautiful box. Not hugely important, but when you spend $500-$600 on something you expect it to come nicely packaged, and SabersPro lightsabers do that too. Inside you’ll find the lightsaber handle, blade, bladeless top, charging cable, a pamphlet explaining the controls, an Allen key, and some screws.
Assembly is very easy, as the entire handle is pre-assembled. If you only carry it on your belt in its unlit form, you don’t need to do anything. However, no one buys a lightsaber without waving it around, so to attach the blade you just need to insert it into the slot and screw it into place with the small screws and Allen wrench provided. This process can be a little tricky, but tightening all the screws will hold the blade firmly in place.
As for the handle design…it’s definitely an elegant weapon from a more civilized era. This thing looks like the spitting image of the lightsaber Obi-Wan Kenobi wielded during the Clone Wars and Episode 3. SabresPro has gone all out when it comes to on-screen accuracy, and it shows. There is a screenshot below of the model they used in the recent Kenobi TV series and other than the weathering and the holes for the speakers on the pommel of the handle, it is a near perfect replica.
Weathering can be a make-or-break factor for some collectors, and this model looks fresh from the Jedi bench. So if you want this lightsaber to look like something you once saw in the Clone Wars, you’ll have to go through it yourself. Personally, I like the shiny and sleek look, but that won’t be for everyone.
SabresPro Obi Wan Ep3 lightsaber: features and performance
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SabresPro Obi Wan Lightsaber with a blue blade.(Image credit: Ian Stokes)
Me with the lightsaber, trying not to look as cool as Ewan MacGregor.(Image credit: Ian Stokes)
- Excellent light and sound effects
- Many different profiles
- Some strange inclusions…
When you order an Obi Wan Ep3 lightsaber from SabresPro, you will get a discount three choices for knives: Baselit V3, XenoPixel V3 or Proffie 2.2. We have the latter, more expensive option for our test model, which has higher sound quality and extra effects. You can also add your own custom sounds, although this process is quite complicated. To their credit, SabersPro did that detailed instructions on their site, although there’s no link to it on the actual product page, which is annoying.
By default, it comes with 22 pre-installed sound fonts and 12 sheet colors, ranging from sensible options like famous characters from the movies to bizarre additions like a Stargate And Jurassic Park profile. Have you ever wanted your lightsaber to make a bird of prey sound every time it collides? No? Well, here it is anyway.
Each profile has a voice line or sound effect to let you know which one you have chosen. The sounds and quotes are useful for telling you which profile you are on, but some are way too long and just seem like random quotes. Yoda and Darth Maul in particular have very strange quotes. Speaking of selecting profiles, it can be a bit of a hassle to change the sound profile, adjust the volume, etc., as everything is controlled by a single button. There are profound ones instructions about how to customize everything, but it’s not intuitive.
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SabresPro Obi Wan Lightsaber with a red blade.(Image credit: Ian Stokes)
Close-up of the SabresPro Obi Wan Lightsaber with a red blade.(Image credit: Ian Stokes)
Despite these strange choices, the leaf glow effect is super vibrant and clearly visible, even on a clear day. I often find that lightsabers look great in the dark, but the glow fades in sunlight, but that doesn’t happen here; it is by far the most beautiful lighting effect I have seen in a lightsaber. Likewise, the sound effects are loud and clear, with custom sound effects for everything from arming the saber to deflecting laser beams.
The motion and collision detection also works excellently, with every swing of the blade and every collision against another object being detected, resulting in an appropriate sound and light effect. I’m a little dubious about the legality of the copyrighted quotes and sound effects being used, and I suspect the whole “add your own sounds” thing is a way for SabersPro to cover themselves if the charges come.
SabresPro Obi Wan Ep3 lightsaber: battery
(Image credit: Ian Stokes)
- Good battery life
- Battery is difficult to get out
This particular SabersPro lightsaber comes with a rechargeable battery, which is a big plus. The downside is that there is no charging port on the outside of the lightsaber. Instead, you need to remove the battery and charge it with a custom-made charging box (this is included).
I found it was a huge pain in the ass to remove the battery from the holder. Because the battery holder is super tight and almost curls around the battery cell in the front, I ended up prying it out with a butter knife, which felt so uncivilized. Once you take it out, it fits easily into the included charging case and the charger has a USB-A connector to connect to multiple devices.
However, the battery holds a charge well and we haven’t had to recharge it after three weeks of playing with it. So while it’s not an issue you’ll have to deal with very often, it’s still not ideal and detracts from the Sabre’s otherwise exceptional build quality.
SabresPro Obi Wan Ep3 lightsaber: price
SabresPro Obi Wan Lightsaber with the blade disabled. (Image credit: Ian Stokes)
The SabersPro Obi Wan Ep3 lightsaber typically retails for $540 on the SabersPro website. That’s… not cheap. It’s about twice the suggested retail price Black Series Obi-Wan Kenobi Force FX Elite lightsaber with which it competes. Is it worth it? Um, it depends.
It’s certainly a more screen-accurate hilt, while the Black Series model allows for some concessions to make the lightsaber easier to craft and more comfortable to handle. The SabresPro saber also has better lighting, sounds and combat effects. At the same time, most people already consider a $260 replica an excessive purchase, so doubling that cost really makes this a niche product for affluent collectors and cosplayers.
Should you buy the SabresPro Obi Wan Ep3 lightsaber?
(Image credit: Ian Stokes)
Despite all the wonderful things I’ve said about it, the answer for 99% of the people reading this review will be no. It’s just too expensive for most people to consider, especially when you can get a Black Series Obi-Wan lightsaber for about half the price. Sure, this one is a little more screen accurate and has a few other unique sounds and lighting effects, but the value proposition is still strongly in favor of the Black Series model.
That said, if you have a lot of money and are a big Obi-Wan fan, then the SabersPro Obi Wan Ep3 lightsaber is the best replica of his lightsaber I’ve ever seen. Thanks to the light and sound effects, detachable blade and exceptional aesthetics, it works great for both display and cosplay. However, for most people the costs are impossible to justify.
If this lightsaber isn’t for you?
If you’re looking for something official and cheaper, we’ve also reviewed the latest official version of Kenobi’s lightsaber – the Black Series Obi-Wan Kenobi Force FX Elite lightsaber – and we were very impressed with it.
And if you prefer to follow the dark side of the force, there is also the Black Series Darth Vader Force FX Elite lightsaber at. Explore your feelings and discover which of these two iconic sabers suits you best, or check out our best lightsabers guide to even more great options.
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