What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
The LEGO Smart Brick is not a VR product you need to buy to watch. It is the subject of an approximately 15-minute, uncut VR180 stereoscopic video filmed by The Verge inside LEGO’s CES 2026 suite. You can watch it in a compatible headset, on a normal screen, or by moving your phone.
The demonstration shows LEGO models, minifigures, and ordinary bricks responding to one another through sensors, wireless communication, sound, and spatial awareness. It is an impressive CES prototype demonstration—but it should not yet be treated as proof of a complete, widely available retail product.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
LEGO Star Wars SMART Play: Luke’s Red Five X-Wing 75423 | $71.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
LEGO Star Wars SMART Play: Throne Room Duel & A-Wing 75427 | $127.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
LEGO Star Wars SMART Play: Millennium Falcon 75426 | $79.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
LEGO Star Wars SMART Play: AT-ST Attack on Endor 75424 | $39.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Watch the LEGO Smart Brick demo
The video appears in Sean Hollister’s The Verge article published January 13, 2026. It was recorded after a demonstration by LEGO designer Maarten Simons and is designed to feel like a virtual visit to the CES suite rather than a conventional edited review.
“VR180” means the camera captures a stereoscopic 3D view across the viewer’s forward field of vision. It is not a fully navigable 360-degree world, and you cannot walk around inside the scene. A headset adds depth and presence, but it is optional.
#1 Best Overall
- INTERACTIVE BUILDING TOY – Bring Star Wars missions to life with Luke’s Red Five X-Wing (75423) All-In-One Set, powered by the LEGO SMART Play system, with a SMART Brick and charger
- POWER UP THE X-WING – Place the SMART Brick in the X-wing for motion-activated engine sounds and lights, laser-shooting noises, plus refueling and repair sounds
- 2 LEGO SMART MINIFIGURES – Bring SMART Luke Skywalker and SMART Princess Leia to life with the SMART Brick for immersive play, triggering reactions to situations they experience
- 5 SMART TAGS – SMART Tags for the X-wing, Imperial turret, transporter, command center and R2-D2 activate the SMART Brick with dynamic sounds and lights in response to how kids move and play
- LEGO SMART PLAY GIFT FOR KIDS – Boys and girls ages 6 and up who love Star Wars can enjoy screen-free action play with this innovative set that’s great for solo play or battling with friends
On Meta Quest
- Open the video from The Verge’s page or its linked YouTube video while signed in to Google.
- Open the YouTube VR app in the headset.
- Select your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
- Open History and select the newest video.
- Use the gear icon and choose the highest available quality.
The footage was uploaded in 8K, although The Verge reported that YouTube was not exposing the full resolution at publication. Playback quality can therefore depend on YouTube and the headset. If the main video is unavailable, The Verge also linked shorter hands-on coverage on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok; those are alternatives, not the same 15-minute immersive demo.
Without a headset
Use a regular browser and drag the viewpoint around the video. On a phone, moving or tilting the device may change the viewing direction when motion controls are enabled. This is less immersive than stereoscopic headset viewing, but it does not require VR hardware.
What the LEGO Smart Brick does
The Smart Brick is a small proprietary computer designed to make separate LEGO builds behave as part of a connected play environment. Rather than putting one large motorized mechanism at the center of a set, the system distributes interaction among smart bricks, smart tiles, minifigures, accessories, and models.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchNFC smart tiles can identify an object, vehicle, or character. The Smart Brick then uses that information alongside nearby compatible components. The demonstrations described color sensing, sound playback and manipulation, wireless communication, and measurements of relative distance and orientation.
Rank #2
- INTERACTIVE SET – Relive Star Wars: Return of the Jedi action with this Throne Room Duel & A-Wing (75427) All-In-One Set, powered by the LEGO SMART Play system, with 2 SMART Bricks and a charger
- POWER UP LIGHTSABER BATTLES – Place the SMART Bricks on the dueling arms to hear SMART Luke Skywalker and SMART Darth Vader’s Lightsabers hum as they duel
- 3 LEGO SMART MINIFIGURES – Bring SMART Luke Skywalker, SMART Emperor Palpatine and SMART Darth Vader to life with the SMART Brick for immersive play, triggering reactions to situations they encounter
- 5 SMART TAGS – SMART Tags for the A-wing, throne, Death Star turret and Lightsaber duels (2 tags), activate the SMART Brick with dynamic sounds and lights in response to how kids move and play
- LEGO STAR WARS GIFT FOR KIDS – Boys, girls and any fans ages 9 and up can enjoy screen-free imaginative play with this cool building toy that’s great for solo play or battles with friends
This is not the same as scanning a code to play a fixed sound. A model’s position, orientation, and proximity can affect what happens. The Verge’s hands-on report also described the system as operating without AI; it should not be presented as an AI-powered LEGO robot.
What happens in the CES demonstrations?
- Lightsaber battles: Two Smart Bricks and smart minifigures can stage an interaction between characters.
- Star Wars scenes: Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine interact near a throne, while a Dewback reacts when touched.
- Music: A Cantina Band-style scene changes tempo as the model is rocked.
- Vehicle combat: A dogfight uses proximity to influence hits, scoring, explosions, and sound.
- Police scenario: A police car reacts differently depending on nearby cop and robber figures. A cop’s behavior can also change depending on whether it is placed in front of or behind the Smart Brick.
- X-Wing refueling: After the system recognizes the model as an X-Wing, a standard blue LEGO tile can act as a fuel cue and trigger a refueling sound.
These examples demonstrate the platform’s intended capabilities, not a guarantee that every scene will ship in a consumer set. The Cantina and Dewback setup was described as apparently belonging to an unannounced set, with price and availability unknown.
How it differs from simpler interactive LEGO systems
The Smart Brick’s distinguishing idea is spatial interaction. A basic scan- or cue-driven system may respond when a figure passes over a marked surface or when a tile is recognized. The Smart Brick aims to let several objects respond to their relationships: how close they are, where they are facing, and which other components are nearby.
Recommended Free Tools
That makes it potentially more useful for open-ended builds and custom scenes. It also means the most compelling experiences may require multiple smart components rather than one isolated electronic brick.
Rank #3
- COMPATIBLE WITH LEGO SMART BRICK (NOT INCLUDED) - Create new adventures with iconic characters as they come to life with LEGO SMART Play. Place the LEGO SMART BRICK (included separately in All-in-One sets) in the ship to hear the sounds of the Millennium Falcon and the crew as they fight off the Empire
- 4 LEGO STAR WARS MINIFIGURES – Role-play Star Wars: A New Hope scenes with SMART Han Solo, SMART Chewbacca, SMART Luke Skywalker and SMART C-3PO, plus accessories including Luke’s blue Lightsaber
- BUILT FOR PLAY – Activate the 2 stud shooters, fold out/remove the top panels for easy, imaginative play inside the starship, play holochess, practice Lightsaber skills with Luke, and more
- ACTIVATE THE SMART PLAY SYSTEM – The 4 SMART Tags and 4 LEGO SMART Minifigures activate the SMART Brick from All-In-One Sets (sold separately) for responsive play with dynamic sounds and lights
- STAR WARS GIFT FOR KIDS – This highly detailed set makes a fantastic gift for kids, boys, girls and fans ages 9 and up who enjoy creative play
Hardware, battery life, and ownership questions
Earlier CES coverage identified a 473-piece Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter set containing one Smart Brick, one smart tag, and one smart minifigure, along with smaller Star Wars spacecraft sets containing one Smart Brick. These details come from the CES-era report and should not automatically be treated as current retail specifications.
According to LEGO’s demonstration, intensive play could last approximately 45 minutes. The bricks enter sleep mode quickly when idle, can reportedly be woken by shaking, and may sometimes need to be brought near their tags or figures again. LEGO reportedly said they could remain asleep for years and recommended charging them about every six months.
The wireless charger can charge two bricks at once and uses USB-C power. However, the available coverage did not resolve battery replacement, long-term battery aging, firmware support, or whether a weakened battery would be user-serviceable. The 45-minute figure was a company-provided estimate, not an independent laboratory test.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIs the LEGO Smart Brick available to buy?
LEGO demonstrated the Smart Brick at CES 2026, but the supplied evidence does not establish a complete current product catalog, final US pricing, a universal standalone starter pack, guaranteed compatibility across LEGO sets, or a long-term software-support policy.
Rank #4
- COMPATIBLE WITH LEGO SMART BRICK (NOT INCLUDED) - Watch out for the AT-ST! Help SMART Wicket defeat the Empire on Endor. Add a LEGO SMART BRICK (included separately in All-in-One sets) to this LEGO SMART Play Compatible set to hear AT-ST engine, walking sounds, and laser shooting noises
- 3 LEGO STAR WARS MINIFIGURES – Role-play action-packed Star Wars: Return of the Jedi scenes with SMART Wicket with his bow, and an AT-ST Driver and a Scout Trooper, each with blaster pistols
- 2 VEHICLES – Place the AT-ST Driver in the AT-ST walker’s cockpit, swivel the head of the AT-ST and fire its dual stud shooter and flick shooter at the speeder bike hijacked by SMART Wicket
- ACTIVATE THE SMART PLAY SYSTEM – The 2 SMART Tags and LEGO SMART Minifigure activate the SMART Brick from All-In-One Sets (sold separately) for responsive play with dynamic sounds and lights
- GIFT FOR KIDS – This exciting build-and-play toy makes a great Star Wars gift for imaginative kids, boys, girls and fans ages 8 years old and up
Readers should check their regional LEGO SMART Play listings for confirmed products and availability. Do not assume that a CES demonstration, an unannounced scene, or a generic theme page means the exact Smart Brick hardware is shipping.
One included brick may be enough to explore basic features, but many of the most interesting interactions appear designed around two or more Smart Bricks. The system also should not be described as compatible with every LEGO set: some ordinary bricks and tiles can participate in demonstrated scenarios, but compatibility depends on the hardware and software designed for each interaction.
Who should pay attention?
- LEGO families and children: The system could make several small models interact in more open-ended ways.
- Adult builders and makers: Spatial sensing and ordinary-piece integration may offer interesting possibilities for custom scenes, subject to final documentation.
- Educators: The platform may be worth watching, but classroom suitability, software requirements, durability, and support are not yet established.
- Traditional LEGO fans: If you prefer battery-free building, wait for clear pricing, maintenance details, and long-term support.
- Meta Quest owners: You can experience the CES video more immersively, but buying a headset solely for this 15-minute demo would be difficult to justify.
The bottom line
The CES demo is more ambitious than a LEGO model that merely plays a sound when scanned. Its promise is interaction between multiple small models, with distance, orientation, proximity, color, and wireless communication changing what happens. The video is worth watching, and a headset improves the experience, but the Smart Brick itself remains a product to evaluate cautiously until LEGO confirms the final range, pricing, battery-replacement options, compatibility, and support policy.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
