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6 Jan 2026
In a groundbreaking reveal at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the Lego Group has introduced LEGO SMART Play, a revolutionary platform centered around the new Smart Brick – hailed as the most significant evolution in Lego’s iconic System-in-Play since the minifigure debuted in 1978.This screen-free innovation brings physical Lego creations to life with real-time interactive sounds, lights, and responses, blending cutting-edge technology seamlessly into the classic brick-building experience.
What Are Smart Bricks?
At the heart of SMART Play is the Smart Brick, a standard 2×4 Lego brick that looks identical to traditional pieces but houses a custom-designed microchip smaller than a single Lego stud.Packed with over 20 patented technologies, including:
- Accelerometers and motion sensors
- Light and color detection
- Sound sensors and onboard synthesizer with miniature speaker
- LED lights
- Near-field magnetic positioning for spatial awareness
The Smart Brick detects movement, orientation, proximity to other elements, and even interprets “personalities” from nearby components – all without screens, apps, or complex setup.
The SMART Play Ecosystem
SMART Play consists of three fully compatible elements that work with existing Lego bricks:
- Smart Bricks: The powered core that processes interactions and outputs lights/sounds.
- Smart Tags: NFC-enabled 2×2 tiles that trigger specific behaviors (e.g., colors, environments).
- Smart Minifigures: Figures with embedded IDs encoding character traits and actions.
Multiple Smart Bricks communicate via a proprietary Bluetooth protocol called BrickNet, allowing complex, coordinated responses across builds.Wireless charging pads make powering up effortless – simply place bricks on the pad, even after years of inactivity.
Launching with Star Wars Sets
The first SMART Play sets debut in the beloved Lego Star Wars theme, perfect for dynamic storytelling:
- 75421 Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter – $69.99
- 75423 Luke’s Red Five X-wing – $99.99 (includes Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Smart Minifigures)
- 75427 Throne Room Duel & A-wing – $159.99 (features Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, and more)
Expect humming lightsabers, roaring engines, blaster sounds, and character-specific reactions – all triggered by physical play.Pre-orders open January 9, 2026, with global launch on March 1, 2026.
Why This Matters
After eight years of development involving hundreds of engineers, Lego has created a platform that enhances imagination without replacing it. As Julia Goldin, Chief Product & Marketing Officer, stated: “As the world evolves, so do we – innovating to meet the play needs of each new generation.”Fully backward-compatible and forward-expandable (with future updates and themes), SMART Play promises to redefine physical-digital hybrid play while staying true to Lego’s screen-free roots.
This CES announcement has already generated massive buzz, positioning Lego as a leader in interactive toys for the digital-native generation.What do you think – game-changer or unnecessary tech? The bricks hit shelves soon – time to start saving!
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