Lego Unveils 'Smart Bricks' with Sound and Light for Star Wars Sets

New tech-enabled bricks add immersive effects to classic Lego building, but some fans worry it could dilute the brand's imaginative appeal.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 2:42pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a Lego Star Wars TIE fighter model, with the internal smart brick components illuminated by neon cyan and magenta lights, suspended against a dark, moody background and evoking a sense of futuristic technology and the drama of an epic space battle.Lego's new smart bricks bring the iconic Star Wars universe to life with dynamic sound effects and lighting, blurring the line between physical toys and digital experiences.Las Vegas Today

Lego has introduced a new line of 'smart bricks' that can produce sound effects and lighting to enhance its Star Wars construction sets. The bricks, which feature miniature speakers and custom chips, aim to bring more realism and interactivity to Lego play without the need for screens. However, some fans express concerns that the technology could undermine the brand's focus on open-ended creativity.

Why it matters

Lego's move to incorporate smart technology into its iconic building blocks represents a significant shift for the company, which has long prided itself on encouraging imaginative, screen-free play. The new smart bricks could attract younger generations raised on digital gaming, but there are worries it may detract from the freeform building that has defined the Lego experience for decades.

The details

The smart bricks, when installed in Lego Star Wars sets like the X-wing fighter and Darth Vader's TIE fighter, can produce authentic sound effects like engine noises and blaster fire. They also communicate with each other, triggering destruction effects when a ship is 'hit' during dogfight scenes. Additionally, the bricks can play music, setting the mood for epic space battles. However, the tech-enabled sets come at a premium, with the X-wing costing £79.99 and the TIE fighter priced at £59.99.

  • Lego unveiled the new smart bricks at the CES consumer electronics show in Las Vegas in April 2026.

The players

Lego Group

The iconic Danish toy company that manufactures the popular construction sets.

Tom Donaldson

Senior vice president at the Lego Group, who stated the new smart bricks aim to 'bring creativity, technology, and storytelling together, making building worlds and stories even more engaging, all without a screen.'

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What they’re saying

“I can go 'swoosh' and 'pew-pew' too. Unimpressed.”

— Reddit user

“I can go 'swoosh' and 'pew-pew' too. Unimpressed.”

— Reddit user

What’s next

Lego plans to expand the smart bricks technology to more of its popular building sets, potentially including iconic models like the Titanic and other franchises beyond Star Wars.

The takeaway

Lego's introduction of smart bricks with sound and light effects represents a significant technological advancement for the brand, but it also raises concerns about whether the new tech-enabled features could undermine the open-ended creativity and imagination that have long defined the Lego experience. As Lego seeks to attract younger, digitally-native consumers, it must balance innovation with preserving the timeless appeal that has made the brand a beloved classic for generations.