Startling twist: Lego’s Smart Brick is here, and it’s redefining how these Star Wars sets play.
Cameron Faulkner, a Verge editor specializing in deals and gaming hardware, has been part of the team since 2018, with a brief two-year stretch at Polygon before returning to The Verge in May 2025.
Lego’s Smart Brick represents a major leap forward. Housed inside a classic 2x4 brick, it combines a miniature computer, a microphone, and NFC capability to unlock new experiences across select sets. The potential is so substantial that CES 2026 crowned it “best in show,” and now eight Star Wars-themed sets are shipping with Smart Brick support (some include the brick itself, others are compatible via Smart Play).
Three of the new sets come with at least one Smart Brick, plus a charging cradle and cable. The remaining five are “Smart Play compatible,” meaning you can unlock full interactivity only if you already own a Lego Smart Brick. The NFC tags and the smart minifigures hinge on having Lego’s advanced, programmable brick in your collection.
Among the lineup, the most affordable set to feature a Smart Brick is Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter, priced at $69.99 and available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Lego’s official store. The priciest option is the Throne Room Duel & A-Wing set, listed at $159.99 and sold through Amazon, Best Buy, and Lego, each bundle including two Smart Bricks.
Here’s a quick breakdown of each set and what’s inside, including both smart and standard components:
- $90: A 581-piece kit with one Smart Brick, five NFC tags, and smart minifigures of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.
- $160: A 962-piece kit with two Smart Bricks, five NFC tags, and smart minifigures of Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, and Luke Skywalker.
- $70: A 473-piece kit with one Smart Brick, one NFC tag, and a smart minifigure of Darth Vader.
- $50: A 347-piece kit with two NFC tags, a smart Wicket minifigure, plus standard AT-ST Driver and Scout Trooper minifigs. No Smart Brick included.
- $70: A 440-piece kit with two NFC tags, smart minifigures of Yoda and Luke Skywalker, plus a standard R2-D2 minifig. No Smart Brick included.
- $80: A 666-piece kit with three NFC tags, two smart minifigures (Greedo and Obi-Wan Kenobi), plus three standard minifigs (a Sandtrooper and two cantina band members).
- $100: An 885-piece kit that includes four NFC tags and four smart minifigures (Chewbacca, Han Solo, C-3PO, and Luke Skywalker).
- $40: A 215-piece kit with one NFC tag, one smart minifigure of Luke Skywalker, and two standard minifigs (a Jawa and a Gonk Droid).
If you’re curious about the exact configurations or want tips on pairing these with existing sets, I can map out recommended purchases based on your collection and budget. Do you plan to add any of these to a current Star Wars build, or is your interest more in exploring the Smart Brick’s tech potential?
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