LEGO Smart Brick: This is the new smart brick that wants to revolutionize physical play

The LEGO constructions are about to take a major leapFrom now on, a seemingly ordinary brick will be able to turn on lights, play sounds, and react to movements without the need for mobile phones, screens, or external controllers. The Danish company has unveiled in the CES 2026 in Las Vegas a new technological platform called SMART Play, which integrates advanced electronics into standard-sized blocks.

LEGO defines this system as the most significant evolution in its gameplay since the arrival of the minifigure in 1978The goal is for the classic models to remain traditional plastic constructions, but with an "invisible" layer of interactivity that is activated only when playing with them, keeping the focus on physical play and not on screens.

What is LEGO Smart Brick and how does it work inside?

The heart of the platform is the LEGO Smart BrickA 2x4 brick that, from the outside, is almost indistinguishable from a classic brick. The difference lies within: it houses a custom ASIC-type chip of just 4,1 millimeters, smaller than a stud, along with a rechargeable battery and a series of sensors and output elements.

This smart brick incorporates accelerometers and inertial sensors to detect movement and orientationlight sensors to record changes in the environment, a small microphone used only as an event trigger (for example, by blowing or hitting), a matrix of LEDs to emit light patterns and a miniaturized speaker powered by a internal synthesizer capable of generating a multitude of audio effects in real time.

LEGO insists that the system has been deliberately designed without screens or cameras and that the microphone is not for recording conversations, but rather acts as input sensor without storage or voice transmission capabilitiesThe company emphasizes that the approach focuses on maintaining privacy and reducing dependence on external devices, relying on more than twenty patented technologies.

One of the key aspects is that the Smart Brick can interpret how the construction is being usedIf a spaceship tilts, accelerates, crashes, or turns, the brick responds with sounds, lights, or contextual effects. During demonstrations at the fair, a LEGO duck was seen quacking when moved, and a character protested when run over by a car—all controlled from the same smart brick.

The company has also shown more everyday examples, such as a birthday cake that detects when the candles are blown out and responds with a festive chorus, or a helicopter that It plays rotor noise and changes color when it crashes.The idea, according to LEGO, is that play remains free, but with tangible reactions that reinforce the stories children invent.

Smart Tags and Smart Minifigures: the complete Smart Play ecosystem

The Smart Brick does not work in isolation: it is part of a larger system that includes Smart Tags and Smart MinifiguresSmart Tags are 2x2 studless tiles with unique digital identifiers which allow you to tell the brick what kind of element is nearby: a space fighter, a cake, a land vehicle or even a more peculiar object, such as an animated toilet that LEGO itself has mentioned on its website.

By bringing a specific smart tag close to a Smart Brick, this It behaves differently depending on the tag code.It can activate the roar of spaceship engines, the whir of propellers, emergency lights, or comedic effects. In this way, a single smart brick can be reused in hundreds of different constructions, something LEGO highlights as one of the system's greatest advantages.

The Smart Minifigures also integrate digital identifiers which gives them “personality” in the game. Some figures can be more serious or “grumpy,” others more cheerful, and their states are reflected in the sounds the Smart Brick plays when it detects their presence. This approach allows that the characters react to where they are placed and what elements they interact with, without the need for cables or prior configuration.

At a technical level, communication is carried out through a It uses a proprietary Bluetooth-based protocol called BrickNetwhich acts as a mesh network between bricks. In addition, there is a system of Magnetic positioning and NFC (as explained by LEGO in technical presentations) that helps to accurately determine the relative position of tags, minifigures and other Smart Bricks in the same scene.

The company also talks about a future feature called Neighbor Position Measurement (NPM)This technology is designed to further improve detection between neighboring bricks. With this type of technology, several models can be coordinated: cars that recognize which one crosses the finish line first, ships that react to collisions, or dioramas that change lighting when a character enters a specific area.

Wireless charging, durability, and no screens

A common concern with electronic toys is the battery dependency and loss of functionality over timeLEGO is trying to address these criticisms with a long-lasting internal rechargeable battery and a wireless charging system inspired by simple devices like an electric toothbrush.

The Smart Bricks are recharged on a inductive charging base that supports multiple bricks at once and it doesn't require them to be placed in a specific position. The company claims that the battery design allows the smart brick to continue functioning correctly even after years without usewhich would be key in homes where sets spend periods of time in storage.

From the user's point of view, one of the most repeated messages by LEGO is that No app is needed, no connection setup is required, and no devices need to be paired.Simply load the brick, integrate it into the model, and start playing. The system is designed to work in a local and private, with BrickNet protected by reinforced encryption to minimize security risks.

Although the core experience does away with screens entirely, some manufacturers and analysts point out that there could be firmware updates via an app in the future. According to information presented at the fair, this approach would serve to expand behaviors and sound effects, but without turning the game into a mobile-dependent experience.

This balance between technology and physical play reflects the approach that the Danish company has been repeating for years: Use digital tools to complement, not replace, brick-and-mortar constructionAfter the end of the Mindstorms line in 2022, Smart Play is presented as a new official commitment to integrating computing into the LEGO universe, but in a way that is less focused on programming and more on narrative and direct interaction.

European release: dates, sets and prices

Smart Play's commercial launch will arrive on March 1, 2026, with an initial rollout focused on the brand's oldest license: LEGO Star WarsThe alliance with Lucasfilm and Disney, which has already lasted more than 25 years, will serve as a showcase to clearly demonstrate the potential of lights, sounds and reactions in ships and classic scenes from the saga.

In Europe, including Spain and the rest of the European Union, they will initially go on sale three sets equipped with a Smart Brick, at least one Smart Minifigure and several Smart TagsPrices will be significantly higher than those of equivalent sets without electronics, something that LEGO itself acknowledges as part of the cost of integrating this new technology.

The first three models The following have been announced:

• Darth Vader's TIE Fighter – 473 pieces. Includes a Smart Brick, at least one Darth Vader minifigure with smart functions, a Rebel Trooper, and several Smart Tags associated with the ship and specific actions. In Europe, it is around 70 euros.
• Luke's Red Five X-Wing – 584 pieces. Includes a Smart Brick, smart figures of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, plus R2-D2, along with several stickers that activate Engine sounds, gunshots, and repair effectsThe price is moving close to 90-100 euros, according to the market.
• Throne Room Duel & A-Wing – 962 pieces. This is the most complex set of the first wave, featuring Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Emperor Palpatine as the main minifigures. It includes a Smart Brick and multiple Smart Tags that allow you to recreate the final duel of Return of the Jediwith lightsaber whirring, A-wing engines, and the iconic "Imperial March" when the Emperor sits on the throne. The official price is around $160 (about €140 excluding taxes).

According to the company, the Reservations open in early Januarywith general availability from the beginning of March. In the case of Spain and other European countries, the sets are expected to arrive in both physical stores and the LEGO online store, as well as in large specialized retailers.

Beyond Star Wars, the Danish group has already announced that Smart Play will be extended to other linesHowever, it hasn't yet specified which licenses or game models will benefit first. Given its recent history of collaborations with brands like Nintendo, Epic Games, and its own franchises aimed at children, it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect future applications in the adventure, city, or fantasy genres.

Industry reactions: between innovation and concern

The announcement of LEGO Smart Brick has generated considerable interest in the toy and technology industriesbut it has also awakened debate between experts in children's play and welfare associationsSome experts fear that the increasing integration of electronic components could dilute what made the traditional brick special.

Child-focused organizations argue that the value of LEGO lies in children's ability to imagine sounds, movements, and dialogues without the need for external effects. According to this critical view, adding lights and audio could, in certain cases, over-direct the gameplay experience and reduce the creative freedom offered by classic blocks.

Academics such as technology and early childhood education professors point out, however, that reduction in size and cost of electronic components It opens up opportunities to integrate digital technology more discreetly into physical toys. They value positively that These solutions do not depend on screens or require a permanent connectionand that respond directly to the children's gestures and actions.

In parallel, they maintain concerns about privacy and security In the realm of connected toys, this is especially true when sensors, microphones, or potential future cloud functions are combined. Although Smart Brick doesn't use artificial intelligence or record audio, according to LEGO, experts recommend continuing to critically analyze how these technologies are designed and how they influence children's daily lives.

LEGO itself maintains that its objective is expand the possibilities of physical play, not replace it.Company executives point out that today's children are digital natives and that, to remain relevant, toys must find a way to coexist with this environment. Along these lines, the company states that it sees the digital world as an opportunity to enrich construction with bricksalways keeping control in the player's hands.

As the sector adapts to this new generation of products, Smart Play is emerging as a long-term platform LEGO plans to update this platform with new features and future waves of sets. If the balance between technology and imagination is maintained, the Smart Brick could become a common item in the drawers of many homesOtherwise, this experiment will remain just another attempt to mix plastic and chips in a brand that, until now, had relied mainly on the simplicity of its classic bricks.