I tried Lego Star Wars Smart Play sets at CES — and the tech fades into the background when play begins

It’s been a busy few days here in Las Vegas at CES 2026, but I’ve managed to find the time to spend about an hour trying out Lego’s biggest change to its iconic brick since 1958.

That change takes a very familiar form. At first glance, it’s a classic 2 x 4 brick – complete with the familiar studs – topped with a clear, transparent cap and housed in a black shell. But under the hood, it’s packed with technology.

Inside is a custom ASIC chip, alongside a motion sensor, gyroscope, speaker, and LEDs. This Smart Brick serves as the central brain of the new Lego Smart Play system, triggering lights and sounds in response to nearby Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags.