We have our ears to the ground on all things CES 2026 right now, and one of this year’s stand-out announcements is the Lego Smart Brick – and we’re already excited by its smart features.
The Lego Smart Brick is a 2 x 4 brick containing a chip and other tech that enables it to emit light, sound effects, and dialogue when used with connected Minifigures and Smart Tags in Lego’s new line of Smart Play sets.
It’s a revolutionary way to enhance the player experience for young users, but that’s not stopping us big kids from being just as pumped for its arrival.
Lights, sound, motion, and more
Firstly, the Lego Smart Brick looks like your standard long brick, but inside it packs a chip that’s smaller than a single Lego stud, enabling it to adapt to different play surroundings.
It can detect when a Smart Minifigure or Smart Tag is nearby, which is all down to its ASIC chip. This impressive spatial awareness also allows the Smart Brick to map the position of a Minifigure using flashing lights when it’s placed anywhere along its perimeter.
The Smart Brick also has a small speaker that delivers dialogue and sound effects, as well as an LED light for added visual effects, not to mention its motion sensors.
It all sounds pretty unique doesn’t it? But it gets better.
We’ve covered the Lego Smart Brick’s technical smarts, but here’s what it can do when Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags come into play.
While the Smart Brick is packed with its own functions, so are Smart Minifigures and Tags, which come with individual digital IDs that allow the Smart Brick to react differently when paired with each one – and it can work with existing models too.
Do you have a Lego helicopter, spaceship, or even a toilet model kicking about? When you clip an accompanying Smart Tag to the Smart Brick and place it on the appropriate model, the Tag helps the Smart Brick to know which model it should become, and which sound effects it should react with.
From there, the Smart Brick can detect the way the model moves, and which direction it twists and turns. For example, if you’re using a Lego car, the Smart Brick will emit engine noises, and even a crash sound if the vehicle is turned over.
The same goes for Smart Minifigures, which have their own personalities. When in play, the Smart Brick unveils their individual moods, reactions, and sounds, adding another layer to the experience.
New and smarter Lego sets will follow
The adaptability of the Lego Smart Brick with classic vehicle models is one way to enhance the way you interact with your sets, and this innovation means that more new Lego Smart Play models will follow.
Initially, as mentioned, Lego is launching three Star Wars sets under the Smart Play name, featuring many of our favorite characters and spaceships from the franchise – and I think the Catina Band would be a great addition. But imagine what else the Smart Brick could make possible.
How about a Lego Smart Play range packed with new Harry Potter models where you can battle it out with the sounds of spells crashing in the background? Or perhaps an iconic landmark such as Big Ben, or the Eiffel Tower with a soothing accordion soundtrack to give the effect of being in the city of love itself.
That said, I can’t imagine how a Lego Smart Play Titanic model would be received…
TechRadar will be extensively covering this year’s CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.
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rowan.davies@futurenet.com (Rowan Davies)
