LEGO just changed the game for how kids play with their favorite building blocks. The toy giant announced its Smart Play system at CES 2026, and here’s the best part: these high-tech bricks work without any screens at all.
What Are LEGO Smart Bricks?
Think of Smart Bricks as regular LEGO pieces with superpowers. The Smart Play system includes three main parts: a 2×4 Smart Brick, Smart Tag tiles, and Smart Minifigures. These pieces can “talk” to each other to create sounds, lights, and movement based on how you play.
The magic happens through Smart Tags—small 2×2 flat tiles that tell the Smart Bricks what to do. Each tag has its own digital fingerprint that the brick can read. When you’re building a helicopter, for example, the Smart Tag from that set tells the brick to light up and make propeller sounds.
How It Actually Works
Inside each Smart Brick sits a tiny computer chip smaller than a single LEGO stud. This chip packs some serious tech:
- LED lights that glow in different colors
- A small speaker for sound effects
- An accelerometer that senses movement
- Near-field positioning to detect nearby Smart Tags
The accelerometer is what makes these bricks feel alive. If you’re zooming your helicopter through the air, the brick knows it’s moving and changes its sounds and lights to match. Flip it upside down, and it reacts differently.
LEGO also created something called BrickNet, which lets multiple Smart Bricks work together. Your Star Wars X-wing and your friend’s A-wing can recognize each other during an epic space battle. The company promises this system has strong security to keep kids safe.
No Apps, No Tablets, No Problem
Parents will love this detail: Smart Bricks need zero setup. No pairing with phones. No downloading apps. No staring at tablets. Just snap the pieces together and start playing.
This screen-free approach stands out in today’s tech-filled world. Kids get interactive toys that respond to their imagination without the digital distractions.
What Can You Buy?
LEGO is launching two Star Wars sets on March 1, though you can preorder them starting this Friday. Here’s what’s coming:
- Luke’s Red Five X-wing ($69.99): Build Luke Skywalker’s iconic fighter with Smart Bricks that bring the ship to life. The Smart Minifigure of Luke can interact with Smart Tags for different actions.
- Throne Room Duel and A-wing ($159.99): This bigger set includes Princess Leia and features lightsaber duel effects. The Smart Tags let characters battle each other with lights and sounds.
Both sets use the Smart Play system to animate the Star Wars universe right in your hands. Imagine two minifigures actually “fighting” with lightsaber sound effects that change based on their movements.
Why This Matters
LEGO has always been about hands-on creativity. With Smart Play, the company found a way to add technology that enhances building instead of replacing it. Kids still use their imaginations. They still build with their hands. But now their creations can respond like they’re alive.
The timing is interesting too. While many tech companies push for more screen time, LEGO is betting parents want the opposite. They’re giving families a way to enjoy tech benefits without the downsides of tablets and phones.
The Future of Smart Building
These first two sets are just the beginning. LEGO’s website hints at more Smart Tags coming for different themes and scenarios. The company even mentioned a Smart Tag for animating LEGO toilets, which shows they’re thinking about all kinds of creative (and silly) possibilities.
The possibilities feel endless. Imagine building a city where street lights turn on as your car drives past. Or a castle where the drawbridge makes creaking sounds when you lower it. Smart Bricks could make every LEGO creation more immersive.
Bottom Line
LEGO’s Smart Play system gives kids the best of both worlds: classic hands-on building plus modern interactive features. At $70 and $160, these sets aren’t cheap, but they offer something unique in the toy market.
If you’re tired of screen time battles with your kids, or you’re looking for toys that spark creativity instead of passive watching, Smart Bricks might be exactly what your family needs. They prove technology and imagination can work together when done right.
Preorders open Friday, January 10, with official launch on March 1. May the Force (and the Smart Bricks) be with you.
Quick Facts:
- Launch date: March 1, 2026 (preorders January 10)
- Prices: $69.99 and $159.99
- No screens, apps, or setup required
- Uses proprietary BrickNet technology
- First sets are Star Wars themed