Fictional Tech Reviews: Analyzing the Rotom Phone, Pip-Boy, and 3 Body Problem VR Headset
Exploring the Latest in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Tech: Fictional Gadget Reviews
Modern technology is constantly evolving, but the truly exciting advancements often exist only in the realm of imagination. The expansive worlds of gaming, TV, and film feature incredibly cool gadgets that audiences universally wish were real—from an impossible VR headset to a ghost-powered smartphone. Therefore, we treat them as if they were actual consumer products, reviewing these science fiction gizmos with the same depth we reserve for the latest iPhone or Switch. Keep up with all our fictional tech reviews right here.
Spotlight: The Pokémon Rotom Phone
Though the Pokémon games’ Rotom Phones haven’t undergone a significant design overhaul in recent years, each new generation has introduced critical functionalities that make upgrading a necessity. The first-generation Rotom Phone from Sword / Shield included a simple camera, perfect for snapping wide-angle screenshots in the Galar region’s Wild Area. The second-generation Rotom Phone’s camera in Scarlet / Violet was a marked improvement, but the device’s real standout feature was its lifesaving ability to prevent users from plummeting to their death from a great height.
While neither of these early models possessed the unique aesthetic of Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ deific Arc Phone, both cemented how the Pokémon universe’s consumer tech has become increasingly streamlined and robust. That trend is set to continue in Pokémon Legends: Z-A with a new Rotom Phone that appears custom-designed for intensive urban exploration.
Timeless Design: RobCo Industries’ Pip-Boy
It is a true challenge to define what makes a technology design timeless. Some classic gadgets are simply beautiful, while others remain supremely functional decades after their debut. The list of truly timeless products in the tech sphere is small, but one name absolutely looms large: RobCo Industries’ Pip-Boy. Sure, the device is relatively simple, and some of its features function optimally only if the user is stuck underground. But when a device’s fundamental design hasn’t changed in 200 years, you know it possesses genuinely good engineering.
For those who have been living under an irradiated rock, the Pip-Boy is a rugged, wrist-worn computer that—despite its origins in the pre-war world and Vault-Tec vaults—has become an indispensable tool for survival out in the irradiated wasteland. It is large and highly rugged, yet neither heavy nor particularly uncomfortable, and is outfitted with satisfyingly chunky dials and physical buttons. Aesthetically, it is versatile, pairing perfectly with everything from a Vault-Tec jumpsuit to cobbled-together raider armor. You never have to worry about when and where it’s socially acceptable to wear one of these fantasy survival devices.
Revolutionary VR: The 3 Body Problem Headset
Arthur C. Clarke famously said that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,” and that sentiment has never been more accurate than with The 3 Body Problem VR Headset. This device is so far ahead of everything else on the modern market that it feels scientifically impossible. There is no doubt: this is the best way to experience virtual reality. Sadly, there is currently far too little software to take advantage of its advanced tech; at launch, there is only a single app available. Even though that one app is a pivotal game that could single-handedly alter the fate of mankind forever, it doesn’t quite nudge the headset into the territory of a “must-buy” product.
Let’s focus on the hardware because it is, in a word, incredible. It is a sleek, metallic headset that is so light you can barely feel it at all. It is completely wireless, and unlike rivals like the Apple Vision Pro, it appears to work for virtually everyone straight out of the box. There is no fussing around with complex visual settings or specially-fitted seals. Just put it on and you’re immediately immersed. Beyond this, there are zero loading times, and the battery life appears to be infinite. How the creators managed to squeeze all of that functionality inside such a tiny device is baffling. We are eagerly anticipating the moment iFixit gets their hands on it for a full tear-down analysis.
The Legend of Zelda’s New Utility: The Purah Pad
It is never easy to follow up a universally beloved device, especially one that successfully fused ancient, mystical technology with a modern-day phablet form factor. But the Purah Pad—the spiritual successor to the powerful Sheikah Slate—manages to add substantial utility to a device that previously allowed the user to control the very laws of physics. It still does not offer much in the way of entertainment options, but its new design and feature set are ideal for deep exploration for those traveling around Hyrule, particularly if paired with a wearable that grants power over space and time.
In terms of fantasy hardware, the Purah Pad features a slightly more streamlined setup than its predecessor. It boasts a seven-inch display, flanked by physical controls and buttons on the sides, and a USB Type-C port at the bottom. It has a rather ornate design that perfectly fits among any other ancient technology a user might possess, but this focus on form over function results in a gigantic bezel that can obscure the edges of the display. We must also note that somehow, once again, this device features the miraculous benefit of infinite battery life.
What fantastical gadget do you wish was real and would you review next? Share your thoughts below and/or share this on social media!
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