LEGO’s Smart Play Brick Finally Brings Builds to Life, All Without a Single Screen

CES usually has a habit for delivering some pretty unexpected surprises, and this time around, LEGO really pulled out all the brakes with something that’s been on fans’ wishlists for decades: a normal 2×4 brick, called Smart Play, that practically comes alive.

From the start, the LEGO Smart Brick appears to be simply another red, blue, or yellow brick from your childhood collection. When you add one to a construction, however, you suddenly have a lot more going on. Do you know what we have within this tiny brick? That’s right, a tiny computer (think smaller than a stud!) with a variety of sensors that detect movement, tilt, light levels, and even sounds surrounding it. The end product is an inbuilt speaker that produces effects based on how you move the item, as well as a pair of LED lights that just illuminate in response.

When builders match the brick with little tags concealed under flat tiles or special tiny minifigures, all sorts of fascinating things happen. When you place a Darth Vader minifigure near a smart brick in a TIE Fighter build, the speaker simply hums his breathing rhythm. Take the ship for a swoop and you’ll hear engine roars that vary in speed as you move it, and if you knock it over and flip it upside down, you’ll hear the alarm siren until you turn it back the proper way up.

If you have multiple smart bricks wirelessly connected to each other via a mesh network known as BrickNet, they will begin to exchange awareness of where they are and where they are pointing. As a result, they can all collaborate to produce some really complex coordinated reactions across larger models. Perhaps one brick notices a tag nearby that informs it about an X-wing cockpit, while another brick senses landing gear contact and activates the touchdown sounds.

The power comes from a small internal battery that can be charged wirelessly on a flat surface that can accommodate numerous bricks at once. Nice touch: that battery retains its charge surprisingly well even after years of sitting dormant on a shelf. If you need to upgrade anything, a phone app allows you to install new firmware, ensuring that your sets continue to evolve long after you’ve purchased them.

LEGO set out to achieve a specific design goal: the entire thing should blend in seamlessly with the existing bricks. Smart tags fit perfectly onto studless tiles, and smart minifigures are identical to conventional minifigures but for a tiny implanted identifier. There are no obtrusive connectors, screens, or cords to detract from the original construction experience.

The first sets will be available on March 1, 2026, with pre-orders commencing much earlier on January 9. So, for $69.99, you can get Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter kit, which includes 473 pieces like as a smart brick, a charger, the Vader minifigure, and a vehicle tag. If you prefer, Luke’s Red Five X-wing costs $99.99 and includes 584 pieces, two minifigures, and five tags for turrets, transporters, and repairs. Or, if you really want to go all out, the Throne Room Duel & A-wing kit, which costs $159.99 and includes 962 pieces, will provide you with two smart bricks for lightsaber battles as well as the Imperial March as the Emperor takes his seat.
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