Lego's brainy brick makes an X-Wing sound like an X-Wing, and no app is needed to fly it

Lego has launched Smart Play, its first serious attempt at bringing modern mobile tech into the world of the brick-based construction toy, and it appears it may have a real winner on its hands.

What is Smart Play?

The real Lego Technic?

Smart Play consists of three main elements, a Smart Brick, a Smart Tag, and a Smart Minifigure. All three work together to introduce interactive play elements to sets, through the use of sound and light.

The Smart Brick looks very similar to a normal 2x4 Lego brick, but it contains a custom Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip which is smaller than one of the studs on the brick itself. It’s joined by an accelerometer and a copper coil, and Lego has created its own Play Engine and Neighbor Position Measurement (NPM) system.

Together, this means the Smart Brick recognizes and reacts to movement and the proximity of other Smart Play elements, where it plays responsive, context-aware audio based on what the brick is doing, where it’s facing, and what it’s attached to. Built-in LED lights react in the same way.

The Smart Tag is based on a single 2x2 flat Lego tile, and it uses NFC to connect to the Smart Brick, while Smart Minifigures have a chip inside. Both use a digital ID to send information to the Smart Brick, which is communicated using Lego’s BrickNet Bluetooth protocol.

Finally, the Smart Brick is recharged using a wireless charging pad, and Lego claims the battery is designed to continue performing even after being left alone for years. Notice anything here? That’s right, there’s no app control at all, and this may be Smart Play’s secret weapon.

No app is a big deal

Lego stays in control

It was almost assumed Lego’s Smart Play would use an app, but this is not the case at all. The only time Lego’s Smart Assist app will be required is to install firmware updates, and never during play itself.

Outside of its collector grade sets designed for display, Lego is a toy for kids, and forcing an app into their hands would have been a serious mistake. Instead, kids get to enjoy building toys, and then bringing them to life using the Smart Play system, all without looking at a screen.

What’s more, this means there won’t be any compatibility issues, and no need for Lego to maintain an app for Android and iOS long-term. It has complete control over the ASIC, NPM, and the Play Engine. There’s also no chance of any in-app purchases or subscription fees being introduced. No app is a very good thing.

In the demonstration videos, the Smart Brick gives cars an engine sound, animals a roar or a purr, and Minifigures react to their environment. Because the Smart Brick reacts to play, and doesn’t just repeat pre-loaded sounds, it should feel natural, exciting, and best of all, fun.

To kids, Smart Play sets may not look like a high-tech toy, but I love that underneath, there’s some intriguing, custom-made mobile tech including 20 world-firsts. Lego’s attention to detail has always been impressive, and it’s fantastic to see Smart Play get the same treatment.

Smart Play and Lego Star Wars

The first Smart Play sets will be part of the Lego Star Wars range.

Luke’s Red Five X-Wing ($100)

The first of three sets is based on Luke Skywalker’s classic X-Wing starfighter. It has 584 pieces, a Smart Brick, Luke and Leia Smart Minifigures, and five Smart Tags. Also included is an R2-D2 droid, a Stormtrooper, and a Rebel crew member, plus separate builds for a gun turret and a command center.

Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter ($70)

The second set is the ideal partner to the X-Wing. Along with a Darth Vader and Rebel Fleet Trooper Smart Minifigure, the 473-piece set has the TIE Fighter, a fueling station, and a Rebel Outpost to build.

Throne Room Duel and A-Wing ($160)

The final set is also the largest, with 973 pieces making up the iconic throne room duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, both of which come as Smart Minifigures. There’s also a small A-Wing, a gun turret, and various other Minifigures including a Smart Emperor Palpatine.

In all the sets, expect to hear laser sounds, engine sounds, the hum of a lightsaber, and even The Imperial March played through the Smart Brick’s speaker.

All good news?

Proof will be in the playing

I hoped Lego’s first ever CES announcement would bring something special, and it didn’t disappoint. Smart Play appears to have the right level of tech without losing sight of what makes building Lego fun for kids, yet there’s still enough of a mobile tech connection to make it worth talking about here.

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That said, there are still some concerns. The kits are obviously aimed at children rather than collectors, especially due to the odd proportions of the X-Wing in particular, but the cost of each set is high. The Throne Room Duel’s $160 price tag is eye-watering considering it has 973 pieces.

It’s also difficult to fully understand how the Smart Bricks will interact with the Smart Tags and Minifigures, and just how organic the sounds and lights will feel, or if any latency issues will cause problems.

While Smart Play is in play-ready sets now, it’ll be interesting to see if they are combined with collector-level sets in the future, where they may be used to provide ambient lighting effects rather than audio.

When will the Smart Play sets be released?

The first three Lego Star Wars sets with Smart Play features will be available to pre-order on January 9 ready for release on March 1, through Lego’s own online store and other retailers.