Lego’s new Smart Brick adds sound, light and movement to builds – with zero screens, apps or AI in sight
Lego’s new Smart Brick adds light, sound and motion-reactive play to classic builds—no screens, apps or AI needed. Packed with sensors but designed for hands-on, imagination-led fun, it’s a big leap for Lego that keeps kids in control of their play.
Lego has announced what it calls one of its biggest changes in decades, a new Smart Play brick that adds lights, sounds and interactive play to classic Lego builds, all without screens, cameras or artificial intelligence.
Launching on 1 March 2026, the new Lego Smart Play platform will debut with a trio of Lego Star Wars sets designed to make play more immersive while still feeling hands-on and imagination-led. For parents wary of yet more screen-based toys, this is a rare bit of tech news that may actually feel reassuring.
At the heart of it all is a new Smart Brick, the same size as a standard 2x4 Lego brick, but packed with sensors that respond to movement, sound and how children play with their builds.
What is Lego Smart Play?
Lego Smart Play is a new interactive platform that brings together three elements: the Smart Brick, Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags.
According to Lego, the system includes more than 20 patented technologies, all designed to make builds respond in real time to play. That means engines roar when ships move, lightsabers hum during battles, and scenes change depending on which characters are involved.
Crucially for families, there are no screens required and no app needed for everyday play. The bricks connect to each other automatically and work straight out of the box.
Julia Goldin, chief product and marketing officer of the Lego Group, 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.”
No AI, no camera, and no recording
With concerns growing around smart toys, privacy and AI, Lego has been keen to spell out what Smart Play does not include.
Speaking to The Verge, Lego Group spokesperson Jessica Benson explained that while the Smart Brick does contain a microphone, it is not used for recording.
I’ve seen it where you blow on it, if you put it on a birthday cake, for instance, it makes things happen. It’s very much used as another sensor point, it’s not recording any details, it’s just picking up those inputs that are to do with sound and reacting in real time to what the kids are doing with it.
Benson also confirmed there is no AI in the product at all, and no camera, meaning it is not scanning faces, voices or surroundings. Without a camera, the new sets are also not compatible with Lego Mario barcode tiles.
For parents, that combination of interactive play without data collection is likely to be a big selling point.
How the Smart Brick works
According to Wired, the Smart Brick contains a custom-made chip smaller than a Lego stud, alongside accelerometers, light sensors, a sound sensor, LED lights and a tiny built-in speaker.
The sound effects are generated in real time, rather than played from pre-recorded clips. Wired reports that Lego “insists there are no prerecorded clips of lightsabers or other pieces of audio being used as a cheat.”
The brick is powered by an internal battery designed to last for years, even if left unused, and it charges wirelessly on a dedicated charging pad. Multiple Smart Bricks can be charged at once, which may be a relief in busy households.
Tom Donaldson, senior vice president and head of Lego Group’s Creative Play Lab, told Wired: “We didn’t want a power switch on the side, or even a reset button. But ultimately, the idea was it has to be as simple to use as the OG, right?”
The Lego Star Wars Smart Play sets launching first
All of the first Smart Play sets are Lego Star Wars, and they are available for pre-order from 9 January, ahead of their March launch.
- Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter, £59.99: A 473-piece set with one Smart Brick, a Smart Tag for the TIE Fighter, and a Smart Minifigure of Darth Vader. It includes interactive engine sounds and battle effects.
- Luke’s Red Five X-Wing, £79.99: A 584-piece set with one Smart Brick, five Smart Tags and Smart Minifigures of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. Sounds include laser fire, engines, refuelling and repairs.
- Throne Room Duel and A-Wing, £139.99: A 962-piece set with two Smart Bricks, Smart Minifigures of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, plus an A-Wing. Players can recreate the final duel from Return of the Jedi, complete with lightsaber hums and even “The Imperial March”.
Why Lego says this is about real play, not display
There has been growing criticism in recent years that Lego has leaned heavily into adult display sets, rather than toys designed for ongoing play. Researchers quoted by Wired suggest Smart Play could help rebalance that.
Katriina Heljakka, a researcher in play learning at the University of Turku, said the new system could encourage more family play. “This might be the way to connect technology with a traditional toy like Lego and get families doing toy play together,” she said.
For parents, that seems to be the promise Lego is making: interactive, exciting builds that still leave space for imagination, storytelling and kids being firmly in control.
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Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.