To date, the LEGO Technic Powered Up electric components have been only available in LEGO sets. So, if you wanted to get more motors or hubs, you had to purchase extra sets that came with them. Recently, Gaute Munch, Director Product Technology (Product owner of Powered Up) announced that LEGO Technic Powered Up components are now available individually via the Online LEGO Shop. This news greatly delighted LEGO fans, until they say the prices… so, let’s talk about this.
First, here is the original announcement by Gaute, where he talks about the availability of LEGO Technic Powered Up components.
Great News on Powered Up components! – Until now, our LEGO Technic Powered Up components have only been available to buy as part of the sets, and we know that some of you have been interested in having the electronic components available to be sold separately.
Powered Up components are the hubs, motors, lights, sensors, and control handsets that can help builders bring their LEGO models to life. The components can be used to add motorized movement and light features to models, and control them through the Powered Up App. And now to the great news! As of June 1st 2020, fans will be able to buy the LEGO Technic Powered Up components individually at LEGO.com.
The new components available individually are listed below. They are also added to the Powered Up Components webpage, where you will find inspiration and ideas on how to use them.
➡ #88012 LEGO POWERED UP TECHNIC HUB
- 4 input/output ports for connection with LEGO Powered Up motors, lights and sensors.
- Integrated movement sensor.
- Connects via Bluetooth to the LEGO Powered Up app and the Control handset
- Designed for use with LEGO Technic elements.
- Requires 6 AA batteries (not included).
- Recommended for ages 8+.
- PRICE: $89.99 – BUY HERE
➡ #88013 LEGO POWERED UP TECHNIC LARGE MOTOR
- Use this motor for power and accuracy.
- Integrated rotation sensor and absolute positioning for accurate speed and position control.
- Designed for use with LEGO Technic elements.
- 32 cm connection wire for Powered Up Hubs.
- Requires a Powered Up Hub (sold separately).
- Recommended for ages 6+.
- PRICE: $39.99 – BUY HERE
➡ #88014 LEGO POWERED UP TECHNIC XL MOTOR
- Integrated rotation sensor and absolute positioning for accurate speed and position control.
- Designed for use with LEGO Technic elements.
- 32 cm connection wire for Powered Up Hubs.
- Requires a Powered Up Hub (sold separately).
- Recommended for ages 6+.
- PRICE: $39.99 – BUY HERE
As far as the prices, there are several things worth noting. The #88012 LEGO Technic Powered Up Hub is hard to compare, as it obviously does more than the old LEGO Power Functions Battery Box and IR receiver, but we can still compare it to the standard #88009 LEGO Powered Up Hub, which is available individually for $50.
The motors are easier to compare, as they just do what motors suppose to do. The old #88003 LEGO Power Functions Large Motor is still available for $14, and the #8882 LEGO Power Functions XL Motor is available for $10. The new regular LEGO Powered Up Motor is $17. Selling the LEGO Technic motors for $40 each is a staggering increase in price.
It’s also worth noting that the #42109 LEGO Technic App-Controller Top Gear Rally Car includes all three components (the hub, the L-motor, and the XL-motor, plus a bunch of regular LEGO Technic pieces), and sells for $130 (which was already considered very high). If you would purchase the three components separately, you would be paying a not so cool $170 – $40 more than the price of the Rally Car. So, buying the LEGO Technic Powered Up components separately doesn’t make any sense. It’s better to just get the Rally Car and either use or sell the extra parts.
So, unfortunately, after the initial excitement over the announcement, the news turned out to be not so exciting after all. Feedback has been provided about the pricing abnormalities to the LEGO Powered via the LEGO Ambassador Forum and customers are also voicing their displeasure via reviews at the Online LEGO Shop. We will have to wait and see if and how the LEGO Powered Up team is going to respond.
In the meantime, you may consider sticking with LEGO Power Functions, get a standard LEGO Powered Up set, or purchase the LEGO Technic Powered Up Rally Car (which is the cheapest and smallest set with all three of the LEGO Technic Powered Up components). Please remember that LEGO Power Functions and LEGO Powered Up are not compatible, so you can’t mix and match the components. You can check out the full selection here:
- LEGO POWER FUNCTIONS – THE ONLINE LEGO SHOP (old system)
- LEGO POWERED UP – ONLINE LEGO SHOP (new system)
What do you think? Have you had a chance to try out the new LEGO Powered Up system? Or are you still using LEGO Power Functions? Do you think it’s worth switching over to the new system? And what do you think of the current status of the LEGO Technic Powered Up Components? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below!
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This was good news. Until I read about the prices. What were they thinking?
They will get a reality check when the sets and the parts don’t sell.
I’m so confused by the powered up parts. Are the technic ones compatible with the regular powered up parts, or are they completely different? What goes with what? Why don’t they explain this somewhere?
As far as I understand, the hub is the main difference. The Technic hub works with the Technic app, which is different than the standard PUP hub and app. And there is also the Boost hub, which is also different, But the motors and lights can be used with all the powered up hubs.
That helps a lot. I was also confused about this. Still, the prices are outrageous. The Rally Car seems to be the best way to go. Or just wait until prices drop.
I might be wrong on this but the way I understand this, the motors are not quite comparable. These motors have position sensors and give feedback as to their actual position. They can also basically be used as stepper motors with fixed rotation steps.