Lego has unveiled Smart Bricks, a new generation of Lego pieces with integrated technology designed to respond through sound, light and movement. The announcement was made at CES 2026, the world’s largest technology fair, held in Las Vegas, according to the BBC.
The new bricks are part of a broader system called Lego Smart Play, which combines classic plastic pieces with sensors, chips and digital components. While they look identical to a standard 2×4 Lego brick on the outside, Smart Bricks contain motion sensors, lights, a small sound generator, an accelerometer and a custom silicon chip. Lego says the aim is to create a more interactive play experience while preserving physical construction.
Enthusiasm inside the company, concerns among experts
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Lego describes Smart Bricks as its biggest innovation in almost 50 years. The first sets, including one inspired by the Star Wars universe, are set to reach the market in March.
Not all reactions have been positive. Josh Golin, executive director of the Fairplay, believes Smart Bricks could “undermine exactly what made Lego so special,” namely its ability to stimulate children’s imagination. He argues that Lego bricks do not need sounds, lights or special effects to engage children.
“Anyone who has ever watched a child play with classic Lego knows the bricks already move and make noise through the power of children’s imagination,” Golin told the BBC.
A similar view is shared by Andrew Manches, professor of technology and child development at the University of Edinburgh. He says Lego’s appeal lies in “the freedom to create, recreate and transform simple pieces into endless stories, driven by children’s imagination.” At the same time, he welcomed Lego’s efforts to combine physical and digital play, while stressing the importance of remaining critical about safety and privacy issues surrounding smart toys.
From Lego’s perspective, digital technology is not seen as a threat. Julia Goldin, the company’s chief product and marketing officer, previously told the BBC that Lego views digital tools as an opportunity to extend physical play and classic building. “We don’t see the digital world as a threat,” she said, adding that Smart Bricks integrate interactivity “in a natural and fluid way.”
Photo: LEGO
