Lego has unveiled its groundbreaking Smart Brick technology at CES 2026, marking a significant leap into interactive play. This innovative system seamlessly blends physical building with digital experiences, allowing Lego creations to come alive with sounds, lights, and responsive actions, all without the need for screens.
Key Takeaways
- The Smart Brick is equipped with proximity sensors, an accelerometer, color sensors, and a speaker, powered by a compact chip.
- It works in conjunction with Smart Tags or Smart Minifigures to provide context and instructions for play.
- The technology aims to foster social play among children by making Lego sets more interactive.
- Initial releases will feature popular Star Wars-themed sets.
The Smart Brick System Explained
The new Lego Smart Play system comprises three core elements: the Smart Brick, Smart Tags, and Smart Minifigures. The Smart Brick itself is a standard-sized Lego brick packed with advanced technology, including sensors that detect motion, orientation, and proximity to other Smart Bricks. It also features a built-in speaker for audio feedback and an LED array for visual cues. Crucially, each Smart Brick is identical, with its specific function determined by the accompanying Smart Tag or Smart Minifigure.
Smart Tags are small tiles that provide the Smart Brick with information about the set or object it’s part of, such as identifying a vehicle or character. Smart Minifigures, similarly, contain digital IDs that inform the Smart Brick about the character’s presence and potential actions. This contextual information allows the Smart Brick to generate appropriate sounds, lights, and reactions, bringing the Lego builds to life.
Interactive Play Scenarios
Lego demonstrated the Smart Brick’s capabilities through various interactive scenarios. For instance, a Lego car build equipped with a Smart Tag could produce engine sounds that intensify with faster play, and even simulate screeching tires when tilted. In Star Wars-themed sets, Smart Minifigures like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker can trigger iconic sounds, such as Vader’s breathing or lightsaber hums, when placed in specific positions or engaged in simulated duels.
The initial wave of Smart Play sets will be based on the Star Wars franchise, including:
- Luke’s Red Five X-Wing
- Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter
- Throne Room Duel & A-Wing
These sets are designed to be more durable for active play, with vehicles like the X-Wing and TIE Fighter capable of producing distinct engine and laser sounds, and even simulating damage and explosions when pitted against each other. The Throne Room Duel set allows for interactive lightsaber battles with character-specific sound effects.
A New Chapter for Lego
Lego describes the Smart Play system as "the next exciting chapter" for the company, aiming to enhance the "System in Play" by integrating technology without relying on screens or apps. This approach is intended to encourage hands-on building and promote social interaction among children. While Lego has a history of technological ventures, including the successful Lego Mindstorms and the more recent Lego Super Mario, the Smart Brick represents a significant evolution in embedding intelligence directly into the building blocks themselves. The company is optimistic that this innovation will set a new standard for interactive and imaginative play experiences.
Sources
- Using Smart Brick technology to get kids to play together, Engadget.
- LEGO introduces SMART Play technology for responsive interactive builds, Fox Business.
- Can LEGO overcome its chequered history of melding technology and bricks?, Jay’s Brick Blog.
- LEGO Reveals the Smart Brick, a Technology-Packed Toy Piece Dubbed ‘The Next Exciting Chapter’ for the
Company’s Future, Launching Inside New Star Wars Sets, IGN. - Lego unveils a technology-packed Smart Brick at CES 2026, Engadget.
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