I Saw Lego’s New Smart Play Bricks at CES, and My Wallet is Scared

Credits: Lego

The LEGO Group introduced its Smart Play platform at the CES here, embedding advanced technology into classic building bricks to create interactive experiences without screens.

The centerpiece, a Smart Brick packed with sensors, lights and sound capabilities, powers three new Star Wars-themed sets launching in March at prices up to $159.99. Company executives presented the system as a major advancement in play, but the high cost and added electronics raise questions about whether builders truly need such features in their creations.

Yes, it includes a battery, a battery in a brick that minors are going to use as a toy that they will most likely to through away on the floors and at the ceiling. It scares me, like what if a brick catches fire just because the battery was damaged?

However, the Smart Brick, a standard 2x4 element, contains a custom chip smaller than a single stud, along with accelerometers, color sensors, a miniature speaker, and wireless charging, and I think that chip may reduce the chances of a blast (but we don't really know about it from the official press releases).

But, it interacts with Smart Tags and Smart Minifigures to trigger effects like engine roars from an X-wing or lightsaber clashes in a throne room duel.

LEGO described the platform in its announcement as "one of the most significant evolutions in the LEGO System-in-Play since the introduction of the LEGO Minifigure in 1978." The first sets include Darth Vader's TIE Fighter with 473 pieces for $69.99, Luke's Red Five X-wing with 584 pieces for $99.99 and the Throne Room Duel and A-wing with 962 pieces for $159.99.

Really, I was going to buy Throne Room Duel, but when I looked at the price, my wallet said "A BIG NO".

Wait, if you want to buy it the preorders begin Jan. 9, with availability starting March 1 in select markets.

To my surprise, LEGO's chief product and marketing officer, Julia Goldin, highlighted the system's potential during the reveal, stating:

"For the first time, with LEGO SMART Play™, a galaxy far, far away…. will play back!"

The technology draws from over 20 patents, allowing bricks to detect motion, recognize nearby elements and produce synchronized audio and visual responses.

Yet the integration of chips and batteries into timeless plastic bricks strikes me as an unnecessary complication, turning simple construction into a $160 gimmick that nobody asked for.

The best thing is the platform avoids cameras, AI or constant connectivity, relying instead on encrypted short-range links and optional app-based firmware updates.

LEGO positioned the launch as a bridge between physical and digital play, developed by its Creative Play Lab team in Billund, Denmark.

The move aligns with LEGO's history of innovation, from minifigures to licensed themes, but layering tech onto core bricks at premium prices feels like overreach in an era when basic sets already spark imagination without batteries.