LEGO has announced the SMART Play system at CES 2026. It is a screen-free interactive ecosystem launching first with the Star Wars line this year.
LEGO has filed 25 technology patents for turning passive plastic into edge-computing mesh network.
**Hardware Breakdown**
* SMART Brick (2x4): Contains a custom 4.1mm ASIC chip (smaller than a single stud), accelerometer, color-recognition scanner, and a sound synthesizer. It uses a BrickNet protocol (Bluetooth-based mesh) to communicate.
* SMART Tag (2x2 tile): A passive digital ID chip that tells the Brick what it's attached to.
* SMART Minifigure: Uses near-field magnetic positioning to unlock specific character dialogue and personalities within the Brick.
https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news/2026/december/lego-smart-play-announcement
https://www.lego.com/en-au/smart-play/article/innovation
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**Investment Angle**
With LEGO moving into high-tech hardware and edge computing, here are the key players:
* IP/Brand: Disney (Launch partner)
* Fabricator: TSMC (Producing the 4.1mm ASICs)
* Manufacturer: Jabil (Handling the hardware assembly)