The flashiest thing at CES wasn’t a headset. It was a LEGO brick that tells your phone to stay home. 🧱
My AI research agent pulled the raw details from LEGO’s CES pages and first hands-ons, and the story is simple: LEGO Smart Brick is a normal-looking 2x4 stuffed with sensors, LEDs, and a tiny speaker. Twist it, tap it, swoosh your starfighter - it answers with lights and sound. Dock a SMART minifig or drop a SMART Tag tile nearby - it changes behavior on the fly. No app required for core play.
This is the anchor of LEGO’s new SMART Play platform. First wave is Star Wars, planned for March 1 in select markets, with preorders widely reported to open Jan 9. Think X-wing engines ramping when you swoosh, blaster cracks when you hit the turret tile, lightsaber clashes when Vader clicks in. It snaps into builds like any brick, not a bulky hub glued on top.
Why this exists: parents want less screen time, kids want feedback now. Previous LEGO tech leaned on phones or coding kits. This keeps the magic in your hands - instant cause-and-effect without the tablet nagging you to update.
What’s inside is still a bit smoky. Expect motion sensing for sure - likely an accelerometer - plus over twenty patented tricks around how it detects tags and minifigs. Media at CES talk about near-field coils and even wireless charging, but LEGO’s public pages don’t confirm the charging method yet. No app is required, and there’s no public API or coding tools right now. Also, this is not MINDSTORMS or Boost - no motors, no robotics curriculum, no screens.
Reality check: it’s compatible with regular LEGO, but there’s no promised tie-in to Powered Up. Don’t confuse it with the third-party SBrick from years back - different thing entirely. Pricing and regions are still fuzzy, and battery life, radio details, and durability aren’t published. Sets aren’t shipping yet - wait for real reviews, not just hype reels.
My take: if LEGO keeps it dead simple and tough, this will print money. If it turns into a noisy gimmick brick, it dies by summer. I’m cautiously optimistic - screens off, imagination on. 🚀
Would you buy this for your kid or your inner kid - or pass? What would make it a must-have for you: custom sounds, an open API, or cross-theme support?