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A deep dive into Lego's wireless charger for Smart Bricks
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Even though we’re a few weeks out from Lego unveiling its Smart Play system – one of the biggest changes to the iconic brick in years – there’s still plenty of discussion around the first three sets. Much of it centers on the all-important Smart Brick.
One of the more understated, but genuinely impressive, parts of Lego’s new Smart Play system isn’t the lights or speaker inside the Smart Brick. It’s how the brick stays powered – and how it gets recharged without disrupting play.
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Like the custom silicon and other technology inside the Smart Brick, the wireless charging system itself isn’t off the shelf. It’s not Qi-based and doesn’t rely on existing consumer wireless charging standards – and according to Lego, that was very much intentional.
“We didn’t just want that you could put it anywhere,” Tom Donaldson, Head of Lego’s Creative Play Lab, told me. “We actually wanted to be able to charge at height when you’re in a model.”
That distinction matters. The goal wasn’t simply the freedom to place Smart Bricks on a charging pad, but the ability to charge Smart Bricks while they’re still embedded in a build.
Donaldson confirmed in a one-on-one conversation with TechRadar that the underlying technology was designed with pass-through power in mind – meaning energy can travel through other Lego bricks.
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inboxContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.In practical terms, a Smart Brick could remain inside something like a Lego car and still receive power by driving or parking the model on the charger. Donaldson confirmed that capability, though he was careful not to dive into the technical specifics.
“This is an entry-level charger, so I can’t talk too much about it,” he said, before adding that the underlying technology was designed so bricks could stay inside a model while charging.
“That’s actually quite advanced compared to at least where we started the program,” Donaldson said. “And so we really set some pretty high ambition levels there – and that’s why we went proprietary.”
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Development of Smart Play’s charging technology began roughly eight years ago, long before today’s more flexible wireless charging approaches had matured. At the time, standard solutions simply couldn’t support Lego’s goal of uninterrupted play – where Smart Bricks behave like normal Lego bricks, not electronics that constantly need to be removed, aligned, or plugged in.
For now, bundled with the three Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets available for preorder, builders get a first-generation Lego wireless charger. It supports charging up to two Smart Bricks at once, in any orientation, and is vaguely reminiscent of Apple’s canceled AirPower concept – albeit one that actually ships.
In that sense, the charger isn’t just a technical solution. It’s a philosophical one, keeping the technology in the background so Smart Play still feels like Lego first, and tech second.
Lego Smart Play Throne Room Duel and A-Wing: US$150.49 at LEGOYou can also preorder it on Amazon in the United States here.
Lego UK: £139.99
Lego Australia: AU$249.99
View Deal
Lego Smart Play Luke's Red Five X-Wing: US$99.99 at LEGOYou can also preorder the X-Wing on Amazon in the US.
Lego UK £79.99
Lego Australia: AU$149.99
View Deal
Lego Smart Play Darth Vader's TIE Fighter: US$69.99 at LEGOIt's also available at Amazon in the United States here.
Lego UK: £59.99
Lego Australia: AU$99.99
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Jacob KrolSocial Links NavigationUS Managing Editor NewsJacob Krol is the US Managing Editor, News for TechRadar. He’s been writing about technology since he was 14 when he started his own tech blog. Since then Jacob has worked for a plethora of publications including CNN Underscored, TheStreet, Parade, Men’s Journal, Mashable, CNET, and CNBC among others.
He specializes in covering companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google and going hands-on with mobile devices, smart home gadgets, TVs, and wearables. In his spare time, you can find Jacob listening to Bruce Springsteen, building a Lego set, or binge-watching the latest from Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars.
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