Entertainment
A parents guide to Lego Smart Bricks
By now, you might have heard about Lego Smart Play system, which Lego calls the biggest evolution in brick-building technology in 50 years. You may have even heard of the Smart Bricks from your kids.
Or perhaps you saw Mashable’s own CES coverage of the unveiling, when Lego made its first appearance at the world’s biggest technology convention to officially announce Smart Play and Smart Bricks.
Lego’s first Smart Play sets, which are all part of the Lego Star Wars line, are now available for pre-order and will start shipping in early March.
Whether you know what Smart Play or Smart Bricks are or not, you probably have some questions: More tech for my children? Is this safe? Will their privacy be respected? Should I get Lego Smart Bricks for them?
Mashable is here to help.
What are Lego Smart Play and Lego Smart Bricks?
Lego, the iconic 93-year-old toy company, isn’t known for computer chips or gyroscopes or sensors; they’re known for their simple multi-colored interconnecting building bricks and square Lego people. Yet, at CES, Lego announced they were bringing those chips and gyroscopes, and sensors to their building bricks and Lego people with their Smart Play line, which includes Smart Bricks, Smart Tags, and Smart Minifigures.
Smart what now? Let’s break it all down.
Lego Smart Bricks
Credit: Lego
Smart Bricks are the new Lego brick with all that previously mentioned tech inside. They work just like any other Lego brick when it comes to building. Smart Bricks can snap into any regular Lego brick and vice versa. However, Smart Bricks can also play sounds, light up in different colors, and interact with the world around them.
For example, if you connect a Smart Brick to a Lego airplane, the plane will make different sounds depending on whether you’re a kid flying the plane right-side up or upside down. If the Lego plane is “crashing,” the Smart Brick will make screaming noises as if it’s emitting from the Lego minifigure pilot.
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Smart Tags are a thin, flat surface brick that snaps onto your Lego creation and informs the Smart Brick about what it’s connected to. Using that airplane example, you’d need the Smart Tag for that Lego airplane in order for the Smart Brick to know how to make those corresponding airplane wooshing sounds.
Smart Minifigures are Lego minifigures built specifically for Smart Bricks. The Smart Tag is basically built right onto the figure.
And Smart Play is basically just the name of this entire new interactive Lego toy line.
Lego Star Wars Smart Play TIE Fighter
Credit: Lego
Are Lego Smart Bricks safe for my kids?
Generations of kids have played with Legos without any sort of tech add-on. Now, our children will experience a whole new Lego. And, of course, whenever technology is introduced to children, there are certain concerns to be watchful for. Should parents be concerned?
The main worry is usually regarding privacy. Lego says its Smart Bricks technology does not connect to the internet in any way and is completely offline. Lego doesn’t collect any data. There are no cameras or audio recording devices inside or connected to Smart Bricks.
Another potential issue when introducing tech to kids is whether it’ll affect their playtime or development. This isn’t as straightforward as the privacy concerns, as each parent will likely have their own opinion on this. However, Lego said that it created the Smart Play line in order to enhance physical play. It’s not meant to take over a child’s imagination or creativity. There’s no AI involved, no app that Smart Bricks need to connect to, and there are no screens involved at all.
Kids still have to build their Lego creations in the Smart Play line.
A perfect example of Lego Smart Play enhancing physical play was demonstrated by Lego at CES. Lego had two children race their Lego racecars. Thanks to the Smart Play capabilities, the Smart Brick at the finish line was able to light up with the color of the racecar that won the race. In a neck and neck race, Smart Play can help avoid any potential conflict that might arise between two highly competitive kids, leaving time for more building or racing and less arguing..
What will the Lego Smart Play sets look like?
Lego seems to have a good idea of how to sell parents and kids alike on their new Smart Bricks technology. The first Lego Smart Play sets are all Lego Star Wars related.
Lego Star Wars Smart Play X-Wing
Credit: Lego
At CES, Lego announced three Lego Star Wars Smart Play sets: Luke’s X-Wing, Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter, and the Emperor’s Throne Room Duel.
Since then, Lego has announced five more Lego Smart Play sets — and once again, they’re all Lego Star Wars related: Millennium Falcon, Mos Eisley Cantina, Luke’s Landspeeder, Yoda’s Hut, and Attack on Endor.
Lego Star Wars Smart Play Throne Room Duel
Credit: Lego
The Landspeeder set is the most affordable, priced at $39.99. The Throne Room Duel is the most pricey of the Lego Star Wars Smart Play sets at $159.99.
When will Lego release Smart Play sets?
Lego will release the first Smart Play sets on March 1, but fans can pre-order them now at Lego and Amazon.
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Entertainment
Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on April 26
We’re now in the Waxing Gibbous phase of the lunar cycle. This means most of the Moon’s face is lit up at this point, making it especially bright in the night sky. Read on to see what details you can spot tonight.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Sunday, April 26, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. Tonight, 73% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide.
If you’re looking at the Moon with just your naked eye, you should be able to catch a glimpse of the Mare Crisium, Copernicus Crater, and Tycho Crater. If you have binoculars, the Mare Frigoris, Posidonius Crater, and Apennine Mountains should also come into view. And, finally, with a telescope you’ll see all this plus the Apollo 17 landing spot, Rupes Altai, and Rupes Recta.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.
What are Moon phases?
NASA says that the Moon completes a full orbit around Earth in about 29.5 days, during which it passes through eight stages. Although the same face of the Moon is always turned toward us, the portion illuminated by the Sun shifts as it travels along its path, producing the familiar cycle of full, half, and crescent shapes. These variations are referred to as lunar phases, and there are eight altogether:
New Moon – The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it’s invisible to the eye).
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Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon – The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous – The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) – Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent – A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts 2026: 40+ ideas for pampering, de-stressing, or making life easier
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. They teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain. So when it comes to showing your appreciation with a Mother’s Day gift, the game plan involves more than a generic mug or the last wilted bouquet from CVS.
There’s something so priceless about a gift that was obviously picked just for her, regardless of its actual price. Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a queen, there are opportunities for truly thoughtful gifts for mom on any budget. Here are our best Mother’s Day gift ideas for 2026:
Entertainment
This backup Mac might become your favorite at just $430
TL;DR: This near-mint MacBook Pro (2020) delivers strong performance, a sharp Retina display, and all-day usability for just $429.97 while stock lasts.
$429.97
$1,999
Save $1,569.03
Not every MacBook needs to be your “handle with care” device. Sometimes, you just want something powerful, reliable, and ready to go — without worrying about every scratch or spill. And this near-mint Apple MacBook Pro fits that bill.
It’s built to handle real work. With a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a fast 512GB SSD, it’s more than capable of juggling everyday multitasking, creative projects, or even some heavier workloads like video editing or coding.
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Apps launch quickly, files move fast, and everything feels responsive.
The 13.3-inch Retina display is still one of the highlights, offering sharp resolution and vibrant color with True Tone for easier viewing throughout the day. Pair that with the Magic Keyboard, the Touch Bar’s easy-access shortcuts, and Touch ID login, and you’ve got a setup that feels both familiar and efficient.
It’s also surprisingly versatile thanks to four Thunderbolt 3 ports, giving you plenty of options for displays, accessories, and fast data transfers. And with up to 10 hours of battery life, it’s easy to take it on the go without constantly thinking about charging.
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This Grade A refurbished model is in near-mint condition with the possibility of light scratching. Get MacBook Pro performance for just $429.97 (reg. $1,999) while stock lasts.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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