Key Takeaways:
- The Lego Smart Brick is a new, technologically advanced brick that can sense motion, orientation, and magnetic fields, and can communicate with other Smart Bricks and devices.
- The Smart Brick is part of the Smart Play system, which also includes Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags, and enables sets to respond to how they’re played with or built.
- The Smart Play system uses a local wireless layer called BrickNet, which allows bricks to communicate with each other without the need for apps, internet connections, or external controls.
- The first Smart Play sets will be released on March 1, and will be based on the Star Wars theme, with prices ranging from $70 to $160.
- The Smart Bricks and other Smart Play components are designed to be easy to use and require minimal setup, making them accessible to children and adults alike.
Introduction to the Lego Smart Brick
The Lego company is unveiling a new and innovative take on its classic brick shape at CES 2026, called the Lego Smart Brick. This standard-sized 2 x 4 brick is packed with modern technology, enabling sets to respond to how they’re played with or built. The Smart Brick is part of a new initiative called Smart Play, which also includes Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags. This new system is the biggest move Lego has made to infuse its products with connected technology, and it’s likely to revolutionize the way people play with and interact with Lego sets.
The Technology Behind the Smart Brick
The Smart Brick has a 4.1mm ASIC chip inside of it, which is smaller than a standard Lego stud. This chip runs the Play Engine, which can sense motion, orientation, and magnetic fields. The brick also has a tiny built-in speaker, an accelerometer, and an LED array. The speaker can produce audio that is tied to live play actions, rather than just playing pre-recorded clips. The Smart Brick can also sense distance, direction, and orientation of other Smart Bricks near it when building, thanks to integrated copper coils. This technology enables the Smart Brick to interact with other Smart Bricks and devices in a seamless and intuitive way.
The Smart Tag and Smart Minifigures
The Smart Tag and Smart Minifigures are simpler components of the Smart Play system. The Tag is a 2 x 2 studless tile with a digital ID embedded in it, which the Smart Brick can read via near-field magnetic communication. The Smart Minifigure also has a digital ID readable by NFC. The purpose of the Smart Tag and Smart Minifigure is to provide context to the Smart Brick, telling it how it should behave in different situations. For example, a Smart Tag in a Lego Star Wars X-Wing set will contain the unique ID and instructions for how the Smart Brick should behave.
The BrickNet Wireless Layer
The Smart Play system uses a local wireless layer called BrickNet, which allows bricks to communicate with each other without the need for apps, internet connections, or external controls. BrickNet is based on Bluetooth and uses Lego’s proprietary "Neighbor Position Measurement" system, which lets the Smart Bricks know how close they are to each other and how they’re oriented. This enables the bricks to "talk" to each other directly, making it easy to set up and play with the Smart Play sets.
Power and Charging
The Smart Bricks and other Smart Play components require power to function, but Lego says that their batteries should still perform even after "years" of inactivity. The coils and power system are designed so that multiple bricks can be charged wirelessly on a shared charging pad, making it easy to keep the sets powered up and ready to play.
The First Smart Play Sets
Lego is launching the Smart Play system with its biggest licensed partner, Star Wars. There will be three "all-in-one" Star Wars sets available, all of which are on the smaller side and geared towards kids. The prices are inflated compared to non-smart sets, but not outrageously so. The sets will be available for pre-order on January 9 and will launch on March 1. The sets include Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter, Luke’s Red Five X-Wing, and the Throne Room Duel & A-wing, each with a range of Smart Bricks, Smart Minifigures, and Smart Tags.
Conclusion
The Lego Smart Brick and Smart Play system represent a significant innovation in the world of Lego, enabling sets to respond to how they’re played with or built. With its advanced technology and intuitive design, the Smart Play system is likely to revolutionize the way people play with and interact with Lego sets. While it’s still early days for the Smart Play system, it’s clear that Lego is committed to making this technology accessible and easy to use for children and adults alike. As the first Smart Play sets become available, it will be exciting to see how they are received by fans and how they evolve over time.
