Play experts were dismayed this week when The Lego Group launched Smart Bricks — blocks that play sound, light up and react to movement — at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Their worry: Kids won’t use their imaginations. But the real risk is that Lego misses an opportunity to teach children robotics.

Lego's Smart Bricks Feel a Little Dumb

Unlike many devices unveiled at CES 2026, LEGO’s Smart Bricks system does not rely on AI or an internet connection and is instead controlled through a companion app.

CES 2026: LEGO introduces Smart Bricks that react, glow, and play sounds

At CES 2026, Lego unveiled Smart Bricks, a new version of its building blocks that includes electronic components. Powered by Lego Smart Play, the system allows creations to come to life with interactive features and sounds. These Smart Bricks will first appear in Star Wars sets, offering lights, sounds, and motion sensors.

Lego Smart Bricks: LEGO is launching a new interactive platform called LEGO SMART Play. This innovation uses Lego smart bricks that allow physical builds to react with lights and sounds based on movement. The screen-free system debuts on March 1, 2026, with LEGO Star Wars sets. This marks a significant evolution for the toymaker, blending creativity and technology for engaging play experiences.

What are LEGO Smart Bricks and how do they work? Price, pre-order details and release date inside

The new bricks have miniscule micro chips inside them - smaller than a Lego stud - that power a range of sensors that react to children's movements in real-time.

LEGO introduces its first 'smart brick' which is full of miniscule micro chips and reacts to children's movements in real time

React Bricks

n this tutorial, we will walk through the process of fetching a cat image from The Cat API, and rendering it in a React Bricks application.

Integrating React Bricks With an External API

Matteo Frana, CEO and Founder at React Bricks, talks about his experience as a tech founder and how it feels to be one of Hackernoon’s Startups of the Year 2023

Meet React Bricks, Runner-up of the Startups of the Year in Lombardy, Italy

Once upon a time (few weeks ago) I’ve been asked to work on a new product. “<em>Start solo with UI &amp; FE, it’s greenfield, feel free to experiment.”</em><br>I guess that my response, something like “all right”, was a bit underplayed.

Speaking of web layouts. Introducing the Magic Hat technique ✨

I decided to make a video tutorial to see in action how the basic concepts of React work together to build a simple React JS application from scratch. And to make it fun we will build a simple game, like the one below:

Video course: Learn React — how to build a simple Rock Paper Scissors game

In this article, we are going to look into the concept of state in React, and how it makes React components dynamic and interactive.

Why State Matters: Building Dynamic Web Applications in React

I have this love and hate relationship with Angular for quite some time now. It was funny because I was learning and in the middle of making a simple app when I got stuck. For weeks.

Why I’m switching from Angular to React and Redux in 2018

On the web it is common to see this kind of layout when you’re browsing a plethora of content with no discernible structure:

Masonry in React: A Performance Hell

HackerNoon's open sources original data about where startups are trending relevant to population in cities all around the world. 

The Top 100 Trending Startup Cities

Explore how GenAIbots use engaging analogies, foundational perspectives, and personalized approaches to deepen students' understanding of chemical reactions.

GenAIbots' Strategies for Explaining Chemical Reactions to Students 

Learn everything you need to know about Digital Transformation via these 206 free HackerNoon stories.

206 Stories To Learn About Digital Transformation

Learn everything you need to know about Performance via these 132 free HackerNoon stories.

132 Stories To Learn About Performance

Learn everything you need to know about Coding Skills via these 229 free HackerNoon stories.

229 Stories To Learn About Coding Skills

CMS with Visual editing based on React components

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React Bricks's stories on HackerNoon

Integrating React Bricks With an External API

Meet React Bricks, Runner-up of the Startups of the Year in Lombardy, Italy

Speaking of web layouts. Introducing the Magic Hat technique ✨

Video course: Learn React — how to build a simple Rock Paper Scissors game

Why State Matters: Building Dynamic Web Applications in React

Why I’m switching from Angular to React and Redux in 2018

Masonry in React: A Performance Hell

The Top 100 Trending Startup Cities

GenAIbots' Strategies for Explaining Chemical Reactions to Students

206 Stories To Learn About Digital Transformation

132 Stories To Learn About Performance

229 Stories To Learn About Coding Skills

React Bricks's latest news & mentions

Lego's Smart Bricks Feel a Little Dumb

CES 2026: LEGO introduces Smart Bricks that react, glow, and play sounds

CES 2026: LEGO introduces Smart Bricks that react, glow, and play sounds

What are LEGO Smart Bricks and how do they work? Price, pre-order details and release date inside

LEGO introduces its first 'smart brick' which is full of miniscule micro chips and reacts to children's movements in real time

React Bricks's Related Companies

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REACT BRICKS

reactbricks.com

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REACT BRICKS

EVERGREEN INDEX #2796

React Bricks's stories on HackerNoon

Integrating React Bricks With an External API

Meet React Bricks, Runner-up of the Startups of the Year in Lombardy, Italy

Speaking of web layouts. Introducing the Magic Hat technique ✨

Video course: Learn React — how to build a simple Rock Paper Scissors game

Why State Matters: Building Dynamic Web Applications in React

Why I’m switching from Angular to React and Redux in 2018

Masonry in React: A Performance Hell

The Top 100 Trending Startup Cities

GenAIbots' Strategies for Explaining Chemical Reactions to Students

206 Stories To Learn About Digital Transformation

132 Stories To Learn About Performance

229 Stories To Learn About Coding Skills

React Bricks's latest news & mentions

Lego's Smart Bricks Feel a Little Dumb

CES 2026: LEGO introduces Smart Bricks that react, glow, and play sounds

CES 2026: LEGO introduces Smart Bricks that react, glow, and play sounds

What are LEGO Smart Bricks and how do they work? Price, pre-order details and release date inside

LEGO introduces its first 'smart brick' which is full of miniscule micro chips and reacts to children's movements in real time

React Bricks's Related Companies

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