Whenever Lego has added technology to its brick sets, the results have always been a mixed bag. Storms are still good for encouraging coding and engineering, but Super Mario sets infused with Lego technology feel half-baked. So I wasn’t sure what to expect from Lego’s “Smart Play” Smart Brick, a standard 2 x 4 brick packed with sound, light, and motion sensors that would allow sets and minifigs to communicate when they’re in close proximity.
After a 30-minute demo at CES 2026, I’m happy to say that I think Lego might be onto something. Yes, I know that Lego fans—especially those star Wars sets—disappointed that the three Smart Play sets are priced for the number of pieces they offer. But the value proposition here is a new kind of fun that feels more like the Lego spirit of making your own stories while playing with brick creations.
If you’re an adult and shook your head at the announcement video because it didn’t offer enough, I’ve got bad news for you: Smart Play sets aren’t for you. They are made for children, innocent and with pure, infinite thoughts; not for your critical, grown-ass with real responsibilities.
To reiterate, the Smart Brick is an all-sensory piece. When a smart tile or a minifig with a tile embedded in its body is brought into contact with the Smart Brick, the 2 x 4 will react. How? It may make noises; it may shine; it may detect movement.
Here are some extended demo examples that I have shown. In another scenario, four Lego ducks with Smart Bricks attached to their backs are lined up in a row. A larger duck, also with a Smart Brick on its back, is placed in front of them. When they are all facing the same direction, the little ducks start to misbehave and explode. Turn the mother duck to face the ducks, they are all silent. This was to show how distance and orientation affected the gaming experience.
Oh, these Lego Smart Play Smart Brick ducks are crazy, they go crazy when the mother duck isn’t looking at them lol 😂 #CES2026 pic.twitter.com/SW0rotdPLu
– Ray Wong (@raywongy) January 7, 2026
Duck car racing with Lego Smart Play Smart Brick #CES2026 pic.twitter.com/yH8D6e6PmS
– Ray Wong (@raywongy) January 7, 2026
In another game example, there is a trophy with a Smart Brick and several duck-shaped “cars”. In this case, you can set up a race and roll duck cars around the medal. The closest one is the winner, and the Smart Brick in the cup will light up in the same colors as the duck car. This was a demo of the distance and light sensor.
In Star Wars Smart Play sets, you can have a starfighter dogfight between a TIE Fighter and an X-Wing. One ship may be damaged after being shot down by another. Throwing the droid may give you different sounds. Flipping the shape of any of the pieces can do something completely different.
An extended demo of the Lego Star Wars Smart Play brick sets #CES2026 pic.twitter.com/HWTUbTnHi0
– Ray Wong (@raywongy) January 6, 2026
The interaction is completely dependent on the type of smart tile next to the Smart Brick. The tiles are sets to be programmed with actions to work with Smart Bricks, but it’s the unknown combination that excites me the most. What happens when you put a rex inside a TIE Fighter or X-Wing? Or have Luke Skywalker fend off a horde of Lego ducks? I don’t know, and that’s kind of the point—it encourages more play and exploration.
(In the gallery below, you can see the tiles attached to the different starfighters and embedded in the smart minifigs. These tiles tell the smart bricks how to interact with them.)
Personally, my biggest concern with the Lego Smart Play sets is how long the Smart Brick will last. Play time ranges from 40 minutes to several hours, depending on how long the Smart Brick is active and which sensors are involved. There is no power button. You shake the Smart Brick to wake it up, and it automatically turns off when it detects no use. To charge the Smart Brick, you place it on the included wireless charger. Will the hassle of charging the Smart Brick discourage kids from having the time of their lives? It is possible; maybe not.
It doesn’t mean I’m not a kid, so I won’t spend hours in my room bumping into minifig lights or running around trying to have starfighter battles. But if I wasn’t excited to see how my friends’ kids would love it the way they loved playing with Skylanders pictures and making those come true within a video game.
Gizmodo is in Las Vegas all week bringing you everything you need to know about the technology unveiled at CES 2026. You can follow our CES live blog here and find all our coverage here.
