Lego has introduced its Smart Bricks and Smart Play System at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 in Las Vegas. These new technology-integrated building blocks are designed to incorporate sound, light, and movement reactions into Lego sets. The system, which includes Smart Bricks, Smart Minifigures, and Smart Tags tiles, is scheduled to launch in March with a new Star Wars set.
Product Overview and Functionality
The Smart Bricks, measuring 2x4, contain embedded sensors, lights, a compact sound synthesizer, an accelerometer, and a custom-made silicon chip. These components enable the bricks to detect motion, position, and distance, allowing models to respond dynamically during play.
The Smart Play System extends beyond the bricks to include Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags tiles. These additional components feature digital identifiers that trigger specific sounds or reactions upon interaction with other system elements. All three components (Smart Bricks, Smart Minifigures, and Smart Tags) communicate wirelessly using a proprietary system developed by Lego to generate these responses through the Smart Brick.
Demonstrations at CES 2026 showcased the system's capabilities. One example involved a Lego birthday cake recognizing when its "candles" were "blown out," resulting in a celebratory sound and song. Another demonstration featured a Lego helicopter that produced whooshing sounds when moved, with its Smart Brick illuminating red upon simulated impact.
Lego's Vision for Digital Integration
Lego describes the Smart Play system as its most significant innovation in nearly 50 years. Julia Goldin, Lego's Chief Product and Marketing Officer, has stated that the company views digital technology as an opportunity to "expand physical play and physical building." She indicated that Lego does not perceive the digital world as a threat and aims for its smart range to integrate interactivity with physical products.
Expert and Advocate Reactions
The introduction of Smart Bricks has prompted discussion among experts regarding digital integration in traditional play.
Josh Golin, executive director of the children's wellbeing group Fairplay, expressed concerns that Smart Bricks could alter the traditional imaginative play associated with Lego. Golin stated that conventional Lego play already encourages children's imagination to create movement and sounds without additional electronic features.
Conversely, Andrew Manches, a professor of children and technology at the University of Edinburgh, noted that a core aspect of Lego's appeal involves "the freedom to create, re-create, and adapt simple blocks into endless stories powered by children's imagination." Manches also acknowledged Lego's efforts to integrate physical and digital play through tools that respond to user interaction within the Smart Play products.