Hey,
Welcome to a new issue of Experiments in Progress.
This week’s issue looks at:
LEGO’s new smart playsets and why the idea makes more sense than the launch
Apple quietly testing foldable display tech, without committing to a foldable iPhone
And LG’s latest monitors, which might matter more than most of the flashy CES announcements
Three very different products.
Let’s dive in👇
🧱 Smart LEGO: A Clever Idea With a Strange Launch
LEGO that reacts to how you build.
Physical play with digital feedback.
On paper, this is a great direction.
🧩 What LEGO actually built
The new system is made up of three parts:
A smart brick
Rechargeable. Knows its orientation.Smart tags
Tell the brick what it’s “inside” (vehicle, character, etc.).Smart minifigures
Trigger sounds and behavior based on the character.
Right now, all of this powers LEGO’s new Star Wars smart playsets.
Source: LEGO website
✨ Why this is genuinely interesting
Bricks are aware of position and direction
Components communicate with each other
Builds respond with sound, character, and context
In a CES full of screens, AI demos, and robots, this felt refreshingly physical.
Source: LEGO website
⚠️ Where it starts to break down
The launch is locked to Star Wars
The sets are expensive
There’s very little support for free building
Source: LEGO website
🤔 Why that matters
Star Wars sets price out many younger kids
The designs aren’t accurate enough for serious collectors
Kids who love building random cars, helicopters, or animals don’t really get to do that here
The smart brick is at its best when it’s flexible and right now, it isn’t.
Source: LEGO website
🌐 The reaction online
The backlash hasn’t been about LEGO going “too smart.”
It’s been about the system not matching how people actually play with LEGO.
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📰 News worth knowing
📱 Apple’s foldable display tech quietly shows up at CES
Apple didn’t announce a foldable iPhone but its foldable display tech reportedly showed up behind the scenes at CES, restarting speculation around an eventual iPhone Fold.
→ Why this matters:
Apple isn’t rushing this. If a foldable iPhone happens, it’ll be because the compromises finally disappeared not because foldables became trendy.
Worth watching. Not worth waiting for.
Source: inkl
🖥️ LG’s latest monitors remind me where upgrades actually matter
LG showed off its next wave of monitors at CES, continuing to refine panels, refresh rates, and creator-focused displays.
→ Why this matters:
A better monitor improves everything you already do without changing how you work. It’s one of the few upgrades that pays off daily.
Low hype. High impact.
Source: Techpowerup
🖥️ Next Issue: Mac vs Windows in 2026
This debate never dies.
But in 2026, it’s quietly… shifting.
In the next issue, I’m breaking down what’s actually happening to Mac and Windows right now — beyond brand loyalty, nostalgia, or hot takes.
Here’s what you’ll get:
Why Windows is starting to feel worse (and what the next AI-heavy version might change — or break)
How Mac keeps getting more refined, not louder — and why that matters more than raw power
Where AI genuinely helps… and where it adds friction you didn’t ask for
Real-world usage, not marketing: stability, focus, updates, and daily annoyances
A question for Windows users: what’s actually working for you right now — and what isn’t?
If you’re choosing your next machine (or questioning the one you already own) this one’s for you.
🗓️ See you Thursday.