Lego Smart Bricks Review: Are the Interactive Sets Worth It?
Discover if Lego's new interactive Smart Bricks are worth the price. Read our hands-on review of the Star Wars X-Wing set, coding features, and STEM value.
By Team Gimmie
Updated September 2, 2026
THE SMART BRICK REVOLUTION: TESTING LEGO’S NEW INTERACTIVE SETS WITH MY KIDS
I was about to be the coolest dad in the history of Tuesday afternoon. I had the magic words prepared, the kind that make any elementary schooler’s eyes go wide: I’m picking you up from school early because we need to test the new Lego Smart Bricks.
It worked. My kids didn't just walk to the car; they practically floated. But behind my "Cool Dad" exterior, I held a healthy dose of professional skepticism. When the Lego Group announced in January that a tiny, programmable computer brick would be the company’s most significant evolution in nearly 50 years, my first thought was: Really? We’re adding batteries and Bluetooth to the world’s most perfect toy? My initial fear was that we’d be paying a premium for bricks that make "pew-pew" sounds that kids are perfectly capable of making with their own mouths.
However, after a week of building the new Star Wars Throne Room and the motorized X-Wing sets, I’ve realized I was looking at this all wrong. These aren’t just toys with sound effects; they are a gateway to a new kind of creative logic.
WHERE BUILDING MEETS THE DIGITAL BRAIN
The heart of this new system is the Smart Brick—a compact, studded hub that acts as the "brain" for your creations. Unlike the static sets of our childhood, these bricks allow for active, dynamic interaction. You aren't just building a model to sit on a shelf; you’re building a machine that can perceive its environment.
We started with the new Star Wars X-Wing. On the surface, it looks like the classic silhouette we all know. But tucked inside the fuselage is the Smart Brick, connected to a small motor and a motion sensor. Using the accompanying app, my ten-year-old didn’t just follow building instructions; he started experimenting with logic.
He spent twenty minutes hunched over a tablet, dragging and dropping visual code blocks. He created a sequence where, if the motion sensor detected his hand passing over the cockpit, the motor would engage to open the S-foils into attack position while playing the iconic roar of a T-65 engine. Watching his face light up when the physical plastic responded to his digital command was the moment my skepticism evaporated. It wasn't about the screen; the screen was simply the remote control for his imagination.
