Star Wars' 5 Most Iconic Gadgets, Ranked

It might feature some rickety old gear throughout its history, but there's no doubt the "Star Wars" franchise also features impressive technology we wish we could get our hands on in real life. Forget your Force powers; they take too long to learn and master, and history shows you can sometimes find yourself on the Dark Side, force-choking people with careless abandon. Instead, give us something tangible we can power up at our leisure, with a delivery time of at least 12 parsecs and only a mild chance of injury. 

But what specifically is worth adding to our dream basket from this cornerstone of science fiction? George Lucas' world is full of nifty little gizmos and doohickeys that, no matter how worn and torn, get the job done in a dreamlike fashion. With that in mind, we've bundled the five best gadgets from the "Star Wars" universe we'd love to see become real, so we can add them to our Christmas list. Some might be incredibly dangerous and, depending on your moral standing, a questionable long-term purchase. Even so, in a world where technology is king, we think the likes of laser swords and methods of transport that could melt your face off trump any electric car on the market, whether it flips or not.

Like many gadgets on this list, jetpacks aren't exactly family-friendly. You're taking a highly volatile, incredibly exposed rocket and strapping it to your back. That said, whenever someone dons one in the "Star Wars" universe, whether they're a cutthroat mercenary or a polished-up stormtrooper, they look incredibly cool taking it for a spin. That is, unless you're Boba Fett and get sent spiraling into a Sarlacc pit.

The legendary bounty hunter was the first to wear a jetpack in the "Star Wars" universe in "The Empire Strikes Back," even though he never actually flew with it. Since then, it has become a prominent gizmo in the franchise, thanks to The Mandalorian, aka Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), and his other masked buddies. Mando uses it not only as transport but also as a weapon against anyone who crosses him, showing that the jetpack can be used in a variety of ways if the right person wears it.

Like much of the technology in this massive universe, though, the jetpack has some drawbacks. The biggest problem with this dream bit of kit is that, like our boring methods of transport, it requires a full tank of gas that can run out. That's not so much an issue when you're stuck mainly on the ground, but running on fumes thousands of feet in the air can lead to far more catastrophic results. In that case, we'd be happy to try a jetpack on for size, just as long as we know how topped up it is first.

Maybe it's due to this writer's absolute hammering of the recent racing video game, "Star Wars: Galactic Racer (highly recommended, by the way), but a podracer tops just about any mode of transport in the "Star Wars" universe. It debuted in "Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace" and was conceived from George Lucas' love of racing. Presented as a technological upgrade to the chariot races in "Ben-Hur," a podracer has two engines that replace the horses, dragging the rider behind at ridiculous speeds as they rip across Tatooine's dusty dunes in the prequel movie.

Like every other ship or ride that requires steering, podracers aren't pristine-looking; they're a mish-mash of mechanics in various shapes and sizes, with the cockpit often looking twice as small as the engines yanking them along the track. They also meet the criteria of making an unmistakable sound, like TIE Fighters or the Speeder Bike, one of sci-fi movie history's greatest motorcycles. Podracers chuddered, hummed, and screeched their way into the franchise, becoming another unmistakable part of Lucas' world. Highly dangerous and infectiously thrilling to watch, podracers add another brilliant spin on a classic trench run. Our only slight issue is that we take no blame if a small child gets behind the sticks and sends a podracer zipping down the street. That is, unless that child is the one who will bring balance to the Force, or go on to chuck Samuel L. Jackson out of a window years later.

From FaceTime to Meta's AR Glasses, we're getting closer to real-life hologram calls in the not-too-distant future. Whatever they end up looking like, though, be prepared for a bit of disappointment: they'll be nothing like the blue-tinted telecommunications we glimpsed way back in 1977 with "A New Hope." When the teeny-tiny Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) appeared, catching the eye of her own brother (ick), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and asking Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) for help, it was a fascinating sight we would see plenty more times after that. Since then, making calls in the "Star Wars" universe has been one of the coolest bits of gadgetry, and it never gets old. From distributing orders that led to the mass genocide of the Jedi Order to a simple "hello, there" to old friends, holographic communicators are one thing from the "Star Wars" universe we could bring into the real world and could compete with any foldable.

The only consistent issue we've noticed so far, however, is the audio. We get that it's a long time ago, and everything, but why do calls often sound like they're being recorded through a HAM radio wrapped in tin foil? When our technology finally catches up, we can only hope the sound quality is so good it'll make us wonder whether a force ghost is talking to us in our heads instead of in the middle of a snowstorm on an ice planet.

First, we acknowledge that R2-D2 is his own droid. Through all his bleeps, bloops, and highly charged squeals, he's proven time and again how brave a little fella he is, and that he is not (contrary to what some gold-plated translators might tell you) a nearsighted scrap pile. That said, if a thrifty band of Jawas rocked up at the BGR office offering us droids for sale, and this little legend was in the pile, we would absolutely snatch him up and love him as if we made him ourselves.

Seriously, though? Who wouldn't want R2-D2 as their own? He isn't just any R2 unit, but a heroic, daring, and loyal servant to Luke Skywalker who got him out of more scrapes than we care to count. Beyond being a brilliant X-wing co-pilot and a great place to put your lightsaber, R2-D2 has a host of gadgets that can help you when you're in a pickle. From unlocking doors and hacking systems to tasering anyone who meddles with him, R2 can do it all, like a highly advanced whistling Swiss Army knife. Most importantly, none of the gadgets on this list could hit you right in the feels when they let out either a depressing hum or an overly excited dance when they get things right. Perhaps the only downside is that, as charming as this little blue-and-white garbage can might be, he often gets himself into a variety of scuffles you might have to sort out. You've been warned.

What other gadget could top a lightsaber in "Star Wars"? There isn't one, and if there is, it cuts through the competition just like everything else on this list. The highly advanced letter opener wielded by both Jedi and Sith isn't just one of the greatest gadgets in the galaxy, but one of the greatest gadgets in all of science fiction history. As easy to keep on your person as it is to take your own eye out with it, the lightsaber is a highly dangerous but incredibly effective weapon. It also makes cool sounds when you swing it.

Need to light up a room? Lightsaber. Got a door you can't get through? Lightsaber. Have to settle a bar dispute in a hive of scum and villainy? Lightsaber, but only if someone is absolutely asking for it. What could make this thing even better? You can personalize it, too. The hilt can have a different look; the blade can change color depending on the Kyber crystal you get your hands on, and if you want to get adventurous, you can make a dual lightsaber, letting you kebab two people at once or even a whip. We're not saying that such violent scenarios are needed for lightsaber owners, of course. Instead, you can simply wander the galaxy and show just how cool you are. We just advise never looking directly down the barrel when your thumb is near the 'ON' switch.