TL;DR
LEGO unveiled a new SMART Play System that pairs a responsive brick with identifiable tags and minifigures to produce contextual sounds and reactions. The company positions the system as a major innovation and has posted a product video, developer notes and a pre-order countdown on its site.
What happened
LEGO introduced the SMART Play System, a packaged set of interactive components designed to add audio and reactive behavior to traditional building play. Central to the system is a SMART Brick that detects motion—such as twists and taps—and responds to nearby SMART Tags and SMART Minifigures. According to the product page, SMART Tags tell the Brick how to behave and what sounds to produce, with examples including vehicles and other everyday objects. SMART Minifigures are listed as items that prompt distinct sounds, moods and reactions from the Brick, enabling different play scenarios depending on which figure is present. LEGO published a video demonstration and a behind-the-scenes feature alongside a frequently asked questions section. The product page also displayed a countdown to a pre-order window, but specific release dates, pricing and technical specifications were not detailed on the page.
Why it matters
- Introduces on-brick interactivity to physical LEGO builds, potentially changing how sets are used in play scenarios.
- Combines identifiable markers (tags and figures) with motion sensing to create context-dependent audio and responses.
- Represents a step toward blending electronic feedback with traditional construction toys, which could influence future LEGO product design.
Key facts
- Product name: LEGO SMART Play System.
- Core components: SMART Brick, SMART Tags and SMART Minifigures.
- SMART Brick detects physical interactions such as twists and taps.
- SMART Brick can sense SMART Tags and SMART Minifigures to change its behavior.
- SMART Tags instruct the Brick what object to behave and sound like; examples listed include a car, a helicopter and a toilet.
- SMART Minifigures trigger unique sounds, moods and reactions when encountered by the SMART Brick.
- The LEGO site includes a demonstration video and a 'how we made it' behind-the-scenes feature.
- A pre-order countdown was displayed on the product page.
- A Frequently Asked Questions section about the system is available on the page.
What to watch next
- Exact pre-order start date, pricing and regional availability: not confirmed in the source.
- Technical details such as battery life, connectivity and durability: not confirmed in the source.
- Whether SMART Tags or SMART Minifigures contain speakers or need internal power: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- SMART Brick: A LEGO component described as responsive to physical interaction and able to detect nearby tags and figures to change its behavior.
- SMART Tag: An identifiable marker designed to tell the responsive brick which object it should emulate in sound and behavior.
- SMART Minifigure: A figure type that the system recognizes to trigger distinctive audio cues and behavioral responses from the SMART Brick.
- Pre-order countdown: An on-page timer indicating when customers will be able to place advance orders for a product.
Reader FAQ
What is the LEGO SMART Play System?
A collection of interactive components—SMART Brick, SMART Tags and SMART Minifigures—designed to add reactive audio and behaviors to LEGO play.
What can the SMART Brick do?
It responds to motion like twists and taps and senses nearby SMART Tags and Minifigures to alter sounds and reactions.
Do the SMART Minifigures make sounds?
Not confirmed in the source.
Do the SMART Tags have a speaker?
Not confirmed in the source.
Home LEGO® SMART Play™ System LEGO® SMART Play™ System Introducing the LEGO® SMART Play™ System! We’ve created a brick that plays back. It's our biggest innovation since… erm… ever! The…
Sources
- New Lego smart-play system
- LEGO SMART Play Announcement – CES – About Us
- LEGO SMART Play Star Wars Sets – Reveal
- Lego Smart Bricks introduce a new way to build
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