LEGO Smart Bricks Unveiled at CES

LEGO recently hinted at a big change for its building sets on Instagram, promising a “whole new dimension.” It didn’t take long for them to reveal what that meant, and fans can start ordering the new sets in just a few days!

LEGO started this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas by introducing its new Smart Play platform. It uses special LEGO bricks that are the same size as regular bricks, but include sensors. These sensors let the bricks communicate with smart Minifigs and tags on LEGO sets and vehicles. This adds interactive features like lights and sounds that change based on how you build and which smart pieces you use.

PRE-ORDER LEGO SMART BRICKS

LEGO revealed new Star Wars sets arriving in stores this March, including Luke Skywalker’s Red Five X-Wing Fighter, Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter, and a 962-piece Throne Room Duel featuring Luke, Vader, and Emperor Palpatine. These sets include special features like sound effects and music from the original movies thanks to Smart Minifigs and Smart Tags.

As a long-time LEGO enthusiast, I was really pleased to hear how they’re approaching this new ‘Smart Bricks’ system. What I love is that they’re keeping it beautifully simple – no need for extra apps or controllers! LEGO is sticking to its roots, focusing on the hands-on building experience without dragging in screens or other digital stuff. Apparently, the bricks themselves communicate using Bluetooth, so they ‘talk’ to each other internally – pretty clever, and it keeps the focus where it should be: on the building!

Other Innovative LEGO Products You Can Buy Right Now

One of the best things about LEGO is its timeless simplicity – the fun of building with those classic plastic bricks has been enjoyed by people of all ages for decades. But LEGO hasn’t just stayed the same; the company has always found creative ways to update how people play and how sets look. Here are some LEGO sets that really stand out as innovative examples.

LEGO Icons: Sherlock Holmes Book Nook

SHOP AT LEGO FOR $129.99

“Book nooks” have become increasingly popular recently, thanks in part to DIY kits available on platforms like Etsy. These miniature scenes fit on a bookshelf, appearing to create a tiny, immersive world within the space of a book. LEGO joined this trend with a collaboration with Barnes & Noble, designing a Sherlock Holmes set that functions as both a book nook and a playset.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Landscape

SHOP AT LEGO FOR $139.99

As a film and art enthusiast, I’ve been really impressed with LEGO’s recent move towards adult-focused sets. It’s a fantastic idea – tapping into that childhood joy of building with LEGOs, but giving us something sophisticated enough to actually display in our homes. Forget just spaceships and superheroes; sets like the Japanese Cherry Blossom Landscape are genuinely intricate and beautiful pieces of art you can build yourself, and I think that’s pretty special.

Mineral Collection

SHOP AT LEGO FOR $59.99

This LEGO set is a surprisingly creative direction for the brand, appealing to a specific collector’s taste. It features a beautiful design with a unique use of translucent bricks, and even the stand is built from LEGOs. The result is a stunning display piece that looks like a collection of precious stones, while still offering the satisfying LEGO building experience.

Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera

SHOP AT LEGO FOR $79.99

This charming set is designed to look and feel like a real, vintage camera, with surprisingly realistic details. It even functions like one – you can ‘take’ pictures that come out as miniature Polaroid-style prints featuring LEGO Minifigures.

Adventures with Interactive LEGO Mario

SHOP AT LEGO FOR $49.99

Before officially announcing Smart Play, LEGO has been testing interactive sound features in its sets thanks to a collaboration with Nintendo. These sets use sounds and music from the original Super Mario Bros. game, and they’re designed to be combined and rearranged, letting builders create new levels or recreate iconic scenes from the game.

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2026-01-06 01:13