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By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
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LEGO has announced a huge update to its bricks, which the company is calling "one of the most significant evolutions" it's made in 50 years of LEGO history.
What Change is LEGO Making?
According to its official press release, on March 1, 2026, LEGO will launch Smart Bricks—an interactive evolution of the classic 2×4 brick.
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Each Smart Brick houses a custom-designed computer, sensors, and wireless technology, enabling it to detect special Smart Tags embedded in new LEGO elements and minifigures.
This innovation allows sets to respond with dynamic sound and light effects, creating immersive, screen-free play experiences.
The first wave includes Star Wars-themed sets, featuring iconic audio cues such as the hum of lightsabers, blaster fire, and even the Imperial March when characters like Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine take their places.
Lego's Smart Bricks differ from earlier tech-enabled Lego products by using wireless charging pads (avoiding disposable batteries) and boasting batteries that will still perform after years of inactivity.
Their technical capabilities include:
- Light and sound output, powered by a customizable synthesizer and built-in speaker
- Light and inertial sensors that detect movement, tilt, and gestures
- Bluetooth mesh networking to communicate with other Smart Bricks
- A microphone used only as a sensor for physical input, such as blowing to trigger actions
Each LEGO set includes Smart Bricks, smart tags, and interactive minifigures that display unique personalities and reactions. The sets are notably smaller in scale than traditional LEGO Star Wars sets, in part to offset the cost of the new technology.
What LEGO is Saying
Julia Goldin, Lego’s chief product and marketing officer, said: "For over 90 years, the LEGO Group has sparked imagination and creativity in children around the globe. As the world evolves, so do we—innovating to meet the play needs of each new generation. LEGO SMART Play™ is the next exciting chapter in our LEGO System in Play and something we are super excited about being able to bring to the world at this scale."
Tom Donaldson, Senior Vice President & Head of Creative Play Lab at the LEGO Group said: "The launch of LEGO SMART Play™ brings creativity, technology, and storytelling together to make building worlds and stories even more engaging, and all without a screen. We truly believe we are setting a new standard for interactive, imaginative experiences and can’t wait to see this innovation in the hands of kids when we launch this year."
What LEGO Fans Are Saying
Traditionalist fans expressed concerns over the digital direction, and one fan posted on Reddit: "It’s unfortunate that we keep robbing today’s children of the simple pleasure of play without constant sensory input, the space a quiet bedroom gives their imagination to grow. Everything must be a gadget that 'smartly' connects to some other gadget, ever-increasing the cost of toys."
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