The LEGO Group debuted its newest interactive innovation, LEGO SMART Play, at CES 2026, which allows physical builds to respond to play in real-time. The system is anchored by the LEGO SMART Brick, a standard brick packed with advanced sensors, accelerometers, and a miniature speaker powered by an onboard synthesizer. This "invisible" technology enables builds to "play back" by reacting to movement and touch with context-specific sounds and light effects—all without the need for a screen or smartphone app.
The platform also introduces SMART Tags and SMART Minifigures, which contain unique digital IDs that the SMART Brick recognizes via magnetic coupling. When a character like Luke Skywalker is placed near a SMART-enabled starship, the system can trigger iconic sound effects, such as lightsaber hums or engine roars.
Designed to be fully compatible with the existing LEGO System-in-Play, the technology uses a proprietary BrickNet Bluetooth protocol to let multiple bricks communicate, allowing creations to recognize each other's distance and orientation in 3D space.
LEGO SMART Play is scheduled for a primary launch on March 1, debuting with three "All-In-One" LEGO Star Wars sets. These initial offerings—including Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter and Luke’s X-Wing—will feature the SMART Brick, a wireless charging pad, and interactive figures.