The LEGO Group unveiled SMART Play yesterday, sparking virtually every emotion possible in the community, from confusion to excitement.
The LEGO Group took to the stage at CES 2026 on January 5 to unveil SMART Play, a new type of LEGO elements that can interact with one another to trigger sounds, lights, and music. The very first sets to be revealed including the new SMART Brick and other parts are a trio of LEGO Star Wars models, which you can see in action here.
One day on from the reveal, the LEGO community and beyond have had plenty to say about the latest development. Here's a breakdown of the major takeaways and reactions so far.
Sorry, what?
For the casual observer, the promotion of SMART Play on the LEGO Group's social media has left many confused. If you haven't seen videos of the new bricks and tiles in action from CES, the video on Instagram has sparked more questions than excitement.
"What if you could explain what it actually is and how it works?" commented bsteels on the LEGO Group's post, gaining over 18,000 likes in agreement at the time of writing.
Admittedly, SMART Play is tricky to sum up in photos or words. Seeing the new bricks interact with one another is the best way to understand what's on offer, and the more sets that come out featuring the SMART Brick, the better the average builder will understand.
What happened to imagination?
Once people understood what was actually going on with SMART Play, some people expressed resistance to new features that seemingly take away from some of the imaginative side of LEGO building. Everyone who's ever swooshed a LEGO Star Wars ship through the air has inevitably made a noise out loud to go with it. With those sound effects now possible via SMART Play, there's some criticism of the magic of LEGO sets being taken away by technology.
"What happened to good old imagination?" asked thebrickpost on Instagram, to which the LEGO Group responded: "Still absolutely vital! Imagination will always be key in creating your own stories."
Over on reddit, similar sentiments abound, with ulysees321 commenting: "But I don't want a SMART Brick to make the sounds, I want to make the sounds."
The other side of the brick
At the other end of the spectrum, there's also plenty of excitement from fans who are keen to try out the new interactive elements.
"THIS IS WHERE THE FUN BEGINS!!!" wrote lukesoutpost on the LEGO Group's announcement post on Instagram. "Cannot wait!!!"
There's also an acknowledgement from adult LEGO fans that these are clearly geared towards kids. The official lifestyle images all feature children and younger builders and the interactive features are certainly more suited to those interested in play rather than display.
"Since I only build [LEGO sets] to put on display, I don’t see this brick being added to my collection," mused LoserZombie on reddit. "Well, maybe one of them just out of curiosity."
"Excited to see it in kids’ hands and how they like it!" commented brickinnick on Instagram.
SMART Play aside, these are some tempting builds
While SMART Play is certainly front and centre on these sets, looking beyond the new technology also reveals some new ideas and sleek building in the sets. The A-wing in 75427 Throne Room Duel & A-wing certainly embodies its own unique style, leaning more into bricks and tiles than plates, when compared to previous versions. For those who aren't interested in SMART Play, this is a bit of a double-edged sword of wanting the new set, but not the hefty SMART price tag.
"Real talk, besides the big red button on the back, this A-Wing kind of rock," wrote PenPlays_ on X. "With how many Smart Play sets are actually just normal LEGO sets that you don't need to have the Smart Brick to enjoy, but can work with it if you have one, why not release this on its own for $20?"
And for how much?
Speaking of price, that is certainly the number on complaint circulating about SMART Play. The LEGO Star Wars sets range from £59.99 to £139.99 and the price per piece is largely higher than typical LEGO Star Wars sets. That's often the case when the LEGO Group introduces new types of bricks, especially ones related to technology, but it's particularly galling when it comes to LEGO Star Wars after 2025 was plagued with complaints about the price of sets in the popular theme.
"This is awesome because regular LEGO sets just weren’t expensive enough!" wrote marcusdiddle on Instagram.
"I genuinely like the idea of the SMART Brick (with all the added functions to play, like LEGO Mario) but these are TERRIBLE first impressions," wrote @KatanaManEnjoye on X. "$100 as an entry point is atrocious, and compared to other sets the LEGO Group has at the same time and price, it's just a tough sell."
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