LEGO Unveils Its Technology-Packed Smart Brick

LEGO has revealed one of its boldest innovations to date at CES 2026: the Smart Brick. Reimagining the classic LEGO brick with modern technology, this standard-sized 2x4 piece is packed with a speaker, LED lights, and a tiny chip that allows it to sense and interact with its surroundings. According to LEGO, this marks a shift from static building toys to interactive systems that respond to play itself.

The Smart Brick is part of LEGO’s new Smart Play initiative, which also includes Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags. While it remains to be seen how fans will react, this represents LEGO’s most ambitious attempt yet to integrate connected technology into its products.

Big Technology Inside a Tiny Brick

At the heart of the Smart Brick is a 4.1mm custom ASIC chip, smaller than a standard LEGO stud. Powered by what LEGO calls the “Play Engine,” the chip can detect motion, orientation, and magnetic fields. Integrated copper coils allow the brick to sense the distance, direction, and alignment of nearby Smart Bricks during construction.

Beyond sensing, the Smart Brick includes a small speaker, an accelerometer, and an LED array. LEGO emphasizes that the audio output is not limited to pre-recorded sounds; instead, it is dynamically generated based on real-time play actions, making each build feel more alive.

Smart Tags and Smart Minifigures Add Context

Smart Tags and Smart Minifigures are simpler but essential components of the system. The Smart Tag is a studless 2x2 tile containing a digital ID that the Smart Brick reads via “near-field magnetic communication.” While this resembles NFC, LEGO has not confirmed compatibility with other NFC devices. Smart Minifigures similarly contain digital IDs that can be recognized by the Smart Brick.

Their role is to provide context. As LEGO explains, the Smart Tag tells the Smart Brick “how it should play back with you.” In a LEGO Star Wars X-Wing set, for example, the tag informs the Smart Brick that it represents a starfighter, triggering appropriate sounds, lights, and behaviors.

BrickNet: Smart Connectivity Without Apps

To connect everything, LEGO developed BrickNet, a local wireless layer based on Bluetooth. Using LEGO’s proprietary Neighbor Position Measurement technology, Smart Bricks can determine how close they are to each other and how they’re oriented.

Crucially, this communication works without apps, internet access, or external controllers. The goal is to keep the experience as close as possible to traditional LEGO play—just enhanced with invisible intelligence.

Power and Wireless Charging

All this technology requires power, of course. LEGO says the batteries in Smart Bricks are designed to remain functional even after years of inactivity. Multiple Smart Bricks can also be wirelessly charged at once using a shared charging pad, thanks to the integrated coil system.

Star Wars Launch Sets and Pricing

• Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter: 473 pieces, 1 Smart Brick, 1 Smart Tag, and a smart Darth Vader Minifigure – $70
• Luke’s Red Five X-Wing: 584 pieces, 2 Smart Minifigures, 1 Smart Brick, and 5 Smart Tags – $100
• Throne Room Duel & A-Wing: 962 pieces, 3 Smart Minifigures, 2 Smart Bricks, and 5 Smart Tags – $160

While prices are higher than traditional LEGO sets, they are not excessively so considering the added technology.

Pre-orders begin on January 9, with a full launch scheduled for March 1. As an entirely new direction for LEGO, the Smart Play system raises many questions—but CES attendees should soon get a clearer picture of how these smart bricks truly come together in action.