LEGO Smart Brick X-Wing – a Star Wars set that makes the pew-pew for you
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Every kid who ever held a LEGO X-wing did the sound effects themselves. The engine roar, the lasers, the explosion when it hit the sofa. Parents have heard a lot of spit-powered “pew pew”.
LEGO now does the pew pew for you. The LEGO Smart Brick is a regular-looking 2x4 brick with sensors, lights and a tiny speaker inside, and Luke’s Red Five X-Wing (75423) is one of the sets that comes with one. TechRadar called it the biggest LEGO change in 50 years. I mostly want to hear what it sounds like.
What is the LEGO Smart Brick?
LEGO showed the Smart Brick at CES in January 2026, and the first Star Wars SMART Play sets went on sale on March 1, 2026. Inside, according to the launch coverage, there’s a custom chip, a motion sensor, a light sensor, LEDs and a speaker driven by a synthesizer, so the sounds react to what you do instead of playing the same clip on loop.
The trick is in the Smart Tags. These are 2x2 tiles (and special minifigures) with a digital ID inside. Put the brick on a tag and it knows what it’s supposed to be: an X-wing engine, an Imperial turret, R2-D2. There’s no screen and no power button.
The Red Five X-Wing set has 581 pieces, an X-wing about 22 cm long, a turret, a fuel transporter and a little command center. It includes the Smart Brick with its charger, five Smart Tags, SMART Luke Skywalker and SMART Princess Leia, plus R2-D2, a Rebel crew member and a Stormtrooper. LEGO says it’s for ages 6 and up, the youngest age in the first wave.
How does it work?
Slot the brick into the X-wing and “fly” it: the engines roar. A sliding button fires the lasers, and the turret shoots back. The fuel pump and hammer make refuel and repair sounds. New Elementary’s reviewer also points out that two Smart Bricks can talk to each other, so ships can shoot at each other and react to hits.
A free LEGO SMART Assist app handles setup, volume and firmware updates. You don’t need it to play. The brick also has a microphone, but LEGO ships it switched off. Turning it on would need a firmware update and your permission.
What I like / What could be better
What I like:
- Screen-free play with sound. Kids still build and move the ship by hand.
- One brick works across every SMART Play set, so it isn’t stuck in this X-wing.
- It’s a kid’s toy first. New Elementary calls the builds chunky and made for rough play.
- Amazon buyers rate it 4.9 out of 5 from about 200 ratings.
What could be better:
- Battery life is about 45 minutes per charge, according to LEGO’s own listing. Keep the charging pad close.
- New Elementary found the minifigures “babble” instead of talking, and that all sets share the same fire and repair tricks.
- Brick Fanatics reports adult fans are the most critical, mainly about value and sound quality.
- Watch the box. Some SMART Play sets say “compatible” and have no Smart Brick inside.
Who is the LEGO Smart Brick X-Wing for?
Star Wars kids between about 6 and 10 who play with their LEGO more than they display it. If the X-wing is going to fly around the living room anyway, this one talks back.
Skip it if you’re buying for an adult collector. A display piece like the LEGO Game Boy or one of the sets in our gifts for LEGO lovers will make them happier. More ideas for the fan who has everything: our Star Wars gift guide.
Where can I buy the LEGO Smart Brick X-Wing?
The LEGO store on Amazon sells it for about 72 bucks at the time of writing (October 2026), down from a $89.99 list price. That’s the cheapest way to get a Smart Brick plus a full set to use it in. Wrap it, hide it, and enjoy the last quiet weeks before December 25.
Take my money. Pew pew.