Exploring the Lego Smart Brick Experience
When The Lego Group unveiled its most significant innovation since 1978—a compact proprietary computer brick—opinions were mixed. Some expressed concerns that this could stifle creativity from a brand synonymous with imagination, while others found the concept intriguing.
I approached the Smart Bricks with a healthy dose of skepticism. My kids enjoyed Lego’s previous tech offerings, like the Lego Mario sets, but they quickly lost interest due to their predictable and cumbersome nature. However, I left pleasantly surprised. These Smart Bricks are far more advanced and creative than I anticipated.
Unlike the Lego Mario, which primarily triggers sound effects through barcode scanning, the new NFC smart tiles function as programs that inform the Smart Brick about the vehicle or character it represents. This allows for dynamic interactions with other smart components in the vicinity.
One of the standout features of Lego’s flagship set is the ability to engage in lightsaber battles. By colliding two Smart Bricks or smart minifigs, you can hear the iconic sounds of lightsabers clashing, complete with Darth Vader’s ominous breathing.
Another fun interaction involves placing Emperor Palpatine on his throne, which triggers a rendition of The Imperial March.
But the real magic happens when you set Vader next to his master by the Smart Brick throne; they engage in a conversation in a language that sounds like the characters, leaving your imagination to fill in the blanks.
You can also place a Smart Brick on a Dewback, the reptilian mounts of Stormtroopers, and gently stroke its tail to hear it react as if it were alive.
In the Mos Eisley Cantina, you can make a Lego version of the Cantina Band play music at any tempo by rocking the Smart Brick, allowing for a unique musical experience. If you place a smart minifig like Darth Vader in front of the mic, they can even add vocals!
The Cantina and Dewback seem to be part of a new, unannounced Lego Smart Play set, though details on pricing and availability are still unclear.
Even a dogfight between an X-Wing and Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter offers more than just the usual sound effects. As you “fire” at your target, the Smart Brick tracks hits and delivers explosion sounds, keeping score as you play.
The most impressive demo I witnessed wasn’t even part of a confirmed set. Lego interaction designer Maria Salgado showcased a small police car set that reacts to the presence of cop and robber minifigs, responding based on their proximity to the Smart Brick. If a robber approaches, the car alarm sounds; if a cop gets close, he can unlock it with a beep. If you place the cop in the back seat, he’ll doze off, while putting the robber in the front seat wakes him up with a shout. Each smart minifig is programmed with specific traits that dictate their interactions.
According to Lego’s SVP of innovation, Tom Donaldson, these Smart Bricks have been in development for about six years. The goal was to create a more interactive experience across various playsets, rather than relying on a single central robotic element.
I was surprised to find that even the smaller Lego Star Wars spaceship sets feel interactive. Initially, I thought it might be a drawback that Lego compromised on the size and detail of the X-Wing to include additional elements like a fuel truck and a scanner outpost. However, this allows for engaging interactions, such as a laser turret battling the X-Wing or a fuel truck audibly refueling it.
Kids and adults can repurpose these sounds and interactions in any build, making any Lego set feel like a spaceship with the addition of a Smart Brick and smart tile.
The X-Wing set also demonstrates that not every Lego piece needs to be smart for the Smart Brick experience to shine. The end of the fuel hose is just a standard blue tile, but once the brick identifies as an X-Wing, its built-in color sensor recognizes blue and triggers the sound of fuel gurgling into the spacecraft. This feature could be applied in various non-Star Wars scenarios as well.
Donaldson emphasized that the bricks needed to be wireless and spatially aware from the start, enabling complex interactions like the police car scene. However, he and others mentioned that Lego prefers to let kids and adults use their imaginations rather than designing every possible interaction.
While this approach may reassure some parents and long-time Lego fans, I still have my reservations. I want to ensure that investing in Smart Bricks will be worthwhile and that they won’t end up gathering dust like my kids’ Lego Mario toys. I’m also curious about their longevity, especially since these new bricks don’t use standard AAA batteries.
Regarding battery life, Salgado mentioned that the Smart Bricks should last about 45 minutes of active play, which seems sufficient. However, they quickly enter sleep mode when idle. You can wake them by shaking, but during our demo, they sometimes needed to reconnect with nearby smart tags and figures.
The company claims the bricks can remain in sleep mode for years, though they recommend charging every six months. You can charge two at a time on Lego’s wireless charger, which uses USB-C power. I’ve reached out to inquire about plans for battery replacement as they age.
Ultimately, I don’t think it will take long to determine if Lego’s Smart Bricks are worth the investment. This feels like a unique Lego product that deserves a closer look.
