LEGO Unveils Smart Play: Breathing Life into Bricks Without Screens
At CES 2026, LEGO made a groundbreaking announcement – the introduction of its Smart Play system. This marks a significant milestone in the LEGO System-in-Play, the most noteworthy since the advent of minifigures in 1978. The new technology infuses life into LEGO creations with responsive, interactive elements, eliminating the need for screens, apps, or internet connectivity.
Central to the system is the Smart Brick, a standard 2×4 brick embedded with a custom-made chip smaller than a LEGO stud. This brick is equipped with sensors, accelerometers, a mini speaker with an onboard synthesizer, and an LED array. The Smart Brick interacts with Smart Tags and Smart Minifigures through near-field magnetic technology. This interaction enables the builds to respond with suitable sounds and lighting effects based on the context. For instance, the Imperial March plays automatically when Darth Vader approaches a Smart Brick.
The bricks communicate amongst themselves via BrickNet, a Bluetooth-based wireless system that requires no setup. LEGO is set to launch three Star Wars sets on March 1, 2026, priced from $70 to $160. The sets include:
- Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter
- Luke’s Red Five X-Wing
- Throne Room Duel & A-Wing
Pre-orders will open on January 9. LEGO has emphasized that the technology boasts over twenty patented world-firsts, yet remains fully compatible with existing LEGO pieces.
Source: LEGO Smart Play Announcement