Mega Construx and Lego are two of the biggest names in building block toys. Both offer interconnecting plastic bricks that can be assembled into a variety of models, figures, and structures. But which one is better? Here we will compare the key differences between Mega Construx and Lego to help you decide which building block brand is right for you or your child.
History
Mega Construx
Mega Construx (originally called Mega Bloks) was founded in Montreal, Canada in 1967 by Victor Bertrand and his wife Rita. The company was originally called Ritvik Toys, but later changed the name to Mega Bloks. In 2010, Mega Bloks was acquired by Mattel and rebranded as Mega Construx in 2015.
Over the years, Mega Construx has partnered with major brands like Pokémon, Halo, Call of Duty, Power Rangers, and more to produce licensed construction sets. They also produce a wide range of original construction toys for preschoolers, school-aged builders, collectors, and adults.
Lego
The Lego Group was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen in Billund, Denmark. The company began by producing wooden toys and didn’t start making the signature interlocking plastic bricks until 1949.
Since then, Lego has become one of the most iconic and successful toy companies worldwide. They have partnered with major movie franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel, DC Comics, and more for licensed Lego sets. Beyond just brick-building sets, Lego has expanded into books, movies, video games, board games, and theme parks.
Brick Quality
Mega Construx
Mega Construx bricks are made from ABS plastic. They are designed to fit together tightly and securely. The studs and tubes lock together firmly and pieces interconnect well.
Mega Construx bricks tend to be thicker and chunkier than Lego bricks. This can make some constructions more stable, but limits detail in smaller models. The plastic also feels slightly softer and more flexible than Lego.
Over the years, Mega has improved the clutch power and precision of their bricks substantially. But issues like uneven clutch power and easily broken/bent pieces still occasionally crop up.
Lego
Lego bricks are manufactured from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic in a patented molded design. Lego elements are known for snapping together tightly while still being easy to separate.
Lego prioritizes precision and consistency across their bricks. Their modern manufacturing processes allow for a very small margin of error in brick production. Each brick measures exactly the same to ensure full compatibility and interlocking ability.
The ABS plastic formula used by Lego results in bricks that feel rigid and sturdy. This allows even small pieces to lock together tightly. Lego bricks are regarded as having unmatched quality and durability.
Set Variety
Mega Construx
Mega Construx offers a wide range of set themes and sizes:
– Licensed sets from popular brands like Pokémon, Halo, Call of Duty, Power Rangers, and more
– Original model sets like City and Town with houses, vehicles, and mini figures
– Basic brick boxes and Big Building Tubs for freeform building
– Micro Action Figures with vehicles and playsets
– Preschool sets like Stack’ems and Build’ems
– Model kits for older builders like Halo, Pokémon, and real-world vehicles
– Collectible minifigures
From small preschool builds to intricate licensed sets with thousands of pieces, Mega Construx has options for builders of all ages.
Lego
Some of the main Lego set themes include:
– Licensed themes like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel, DC Comics, Disney, and more
– City sets with townscapes, vehicles, infrastructure, and mini figures
– Technic sets for mechanical and movable models
– Architecture sets for building famous landmarks
– Ideas sets brought to life from fan submissions
– Classic themes like Ninjago and Nexo Knights featuring original characters and storylines
– Playsets tied to Lego movies and shows like The Lego Movie and Lego Friends
– Expert builder sets for adults
– Basic brick boxes and Creative Building sets
Lego produces an incredibly diverse range of sets from simple creativity starters to intricate movie recreations. Their variety spans interests from young kids to serious adult collectors.
Set Difficulty
Mega Construx
Mega Construx sets range from very simple builds with a dozen large pieces for preschoolers to intricate builds with 500+ pieces for experienced collectors. Here are some general guidelines for difficulty levels:
– Stack’ems: Ages 1-3. Very basic stacking and building with mega-sized bricks.
– Build’ems: Ages 3-5. Simple structure builds with chunky bricks. 20-30 pieces.
– Vehicles, creatures, and characters: Ages 5+. Straightforward builds with instructions. 100-300 pieces.
– Detailed models and dioramas: Ages 8+. More complex builds requiring attention to detail. 300-1,000 pieces.
– Licensed collectible sets: Ages 10+. Intricate recreations of real-world objects or scenes from popular media franchises. 500-3,000 pieces.
Younger elementary school kids can start with Mega Construx builds and then progress to more challenging sets as they get older. Even advanced adult builders will find sufficiently complex Mega Construx sets to test their skills.
Lego
Lego sets are designed for the following age groups and skill levels:
– Duplo: Ages 1.5-5. Oversized bricks for early building.
– 4+: Ages 4+. Simple builds with chunky pieces. Less than 100 pieces.
– 5+: Ages 5+. Slightly more complex builds. 100-200 pieces.
– 6+: Ages 6+. Intermediate skills required. 200-500 pieces.
– 8+: Ages 8+. Challenging builds requiring attention to detail. 500-1000 pieces.
– 10+: Ages 10+. Complex techniques and piece counts. 1000-2000 pieces.
– 12+/Expert: Ages 12+. Advanced skills required for intricate builds. 2000+ pieces.
– 18+/Adult: Ages 18+. Expert-level builds requiring advanced techniques. 1000-10,000 pieces.
Like Mega Construx, Lego has beginner sets for preschoolers all the way up through incredibly challenging sets for Lego masters. The graded age ranges help indicate appropriate difficulty levels.
Set Prices
Mega Construx
Here are the typical price ranges for Mega Construx sets:
– Preschool builds: $5-$15
– Vehicles and character sets: $10-$25
– Detailed model sets: $25-$75
– Big Building Tubs: $20-$30
– Licensed collectible sets: $50-$500
On average, Mega Construx prices tend to be 10-20% lower than comparable Lego sets. Small simple sets run just a few dollars while big licensed sets with thousands of pieces can cost up to $500.
Lego
These are standard Lego set price ranges:
– Classic Lego brick boxes: $5-$30
– Small creative sets: $10-$40
– Medium-sized builds: $40-$100
– Large advanced builds: $100-$500
– Expert collector sets: $500-$800
Large intricate Lego sets aimed at advanced adult builders can cost up to $800. But Lego also offers many affordable options under $30 for budget-minded shoppers.
Availability
Mega Construx
You can buy Mega Construx sets from these retailers:
– Major retailers like Walmart, Target, Amazon, etc.
– Mega Construx’s official website
– Specialty toy stores like Toys R Us
– Grocery stores and pharmacies with toy aisles
Mega Construx sets are widely available both in stores and online. You can easily find a good selection of the most popular Mega Construx themes and sets. However, availability may be more limited for obscure or discontinued sets.
Lego
Popular places to buy Lego sets include:
– The official Lego website and Lego stores
– Mass retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc.
– Independent toy stores
– Department stores with toy sections
Outside of niche sets that are out of production, you can find nearly all current Lego sets either in stores or online. Lego’s dominance in the building block market ensures wide availability of their products.
Compatibility
Mega Construx
All Mega Construx bricks are fully compatible with each other. Bricks from Mega Construx sets blend together seamlessly regardless of set theme, release date, or intended age range.
Mega Construx bricks are also cross-compatible with other major building block brands like Best-Lock and Cobi. You can integrate Mega Construx bricks with these other brands.
However, Mega Construx bricks are not compatible with Lego bricks. The shaping and spacing of the studs differs between brands. Mega Construx and Lego pieces will not properly interconnect.
Lego
All Lego bricks ever made fit together perfectly. Lego bricks from the 1950s still lock seamlessly with elements produced today. This ensures complete compatibility and interchangeability across Lego sets.
For mixing and matching, Lego bricks are also cross-compatible with other compatible brands like Cada, Best-Lock, and KidKraft.
But as mentioned above, Lego bricks do not fit with Mega Construx bricks due to differences in the stud shaping and spacing. The two brands are incompatible.
Special Parts
Mega Construx
Some special parts found in Mega Construx sets include:
– Thick oversized bricks for younger builders
– Micro action figures with movable joints
– Angled plates and hinges for posing models
– Window pane elements
– Stickers and printed decals for detailing
– Pre-assembled sections to speed up builds
– Glow-in-the-dark bricks
– Rubber tires
While Mega Construx offers some unique elements, their selection of specialized pieces is not as extensive as Lego’s.
Lego
Some of the unique Lego elements found across different sets include:
– Millions of minifigures with diverse designs, clothing, accessories, and expressions
– Flexible tubes, axles, and joints for mobility
– Specialized vehicle frames and cockpits with angled building
– Advanced decorative elements like panes, lattices, foil stickers
– Unique costume pieces, armor, weapons, and tools
– Diverse array of bricks and plates for architectural styles
– Plants, animals, fantastical creatures
– Light bricks, motors, and other electric components
– Microscale accessories
No other building block brand rivals Lego’s vast library of specialized elements. Advanced Lego builders have nearly endless ways to accessorize and customize their builds.
Licensed Sets
Mega Construx
Some major entertainment brands that Mega Construx has partnered with for licensed sets include:
– Pokémon
– Halo
– Call of Duty
– Power Rangers
– Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
– Super Mario
– World of Warcraft
– Hot Wheels
– Barbie
– Monster High
Mega Construx produces building sets based on characters, vehicles, scenes, and key moments from these popular franchises. These detailed model kits appeal to collectors and fans.
Lego
Many of the biggest movie, TV, video game, and comic book franchises have been transformed into Lego sets:
– Star Wars
– Harry Potter
– Marvel Superheroes
– DC Comics (Batman, Superman, etc.)
– Disney (Frozen, Encanto, Mickey Mouse, etc.)
– Jurassic World
– Minecraft
– Sonic the Hedgehog
– Ghostbusters
– Back to the Future
– Overwatch
Plus many more! Lego’s partnerships span every major entertainment brand. Lego Ideas also allows fans to submit concepts for licensed sets they’d like to see made.
Exclusives
Mega Construx
Some sets that are Mega Construx exclusives include:
– Comic book and video game themed sets that Lego doesn’t produce, like Halo, Call of Duty, and Assassin’s Creed
– Automotive brand tie-ins like Monster Jam and Hot Wheels
– Athletic brand tie-ins like UFC and WWE Wrestling
– Several lines of realistic military-themed model kits
– Obscure entertainment properties like Kubros and Monster High
– Detailed animal sets, especially dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures
– Regiment, a classic building toy acquired by Mega in 2019
Lego
A few notable themes and licenses exclusive to Lego:
– Lego City – original cityscapes with transportation, emergency services, etc.
– Lego Friends – sets starring original characters
– Advanced vehicle replica series like Technic, Architecture, and Creator Expert
– Partnerships with additional kids’ entertainment brands like Thomas the Tank Engine
– Lego video game licenses like Lego Star Wars
– Exclusive rights to iconic franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Disney properties
– The Lego Movie, Lego Batman, and other Lego cinematic universe films/TV shows
Conclusion
In summary:
– Mega Construx and Lego both offer high-quality interconnecting plastic bricks suitable for builders of all skill levels.
– Lego has a longer history and better brand recognition. Mega Construx is a smaller but faster-growing competitor.
– Lego bricks edge out Mega Construx in terms of clutch power, durability, and precision. But Mega has been rapidly improving.
– Both brands produce sets across a wide variety of themes, licenses, and difficulty levels. Lego has more exclusives, but Mega covers some niches Lego neglects.
– Mega Construx sets tend to be more affordable, while Lego sets are widely available both online and in stores.
– Lego has vastly more specialized pieces, but Mega Construx incorporates some unique parts like oversized bricks.
– Mega Construx holds licenses for brands like Halo, Pokémon, and Call of Duty that Lego lacks. But Lego has partnerships with huge franchises like Star Wars and Disney.
Ultimately:
– For superior brick quality and set variety, Lego is still the leader. It has appealed to generations of builders with iconic interlocking bricks and countless themes.
– But for greater affordability and focus on certain niches, Mega Construx is a strong alternative. It also offers plenty of licensed themes that Lego overlooks.
– Serious collectors will likely still favor Lego overall. But families on a budget or seeking certain themes may appreciate Mega Construx sets.
– Both brands can coexist and appeal to different demographics. Mega Construx gives Lego some healthy competition while fulfilling areas of demand Lego neglects.
So choose Lego for a best-in-class building experience with endless variety and specialty pieces. Or go for Mega Construx for affordability, niche licenses, and unique elements like glow-in-the-dark bricks. Either way, you really can’t go wrong with these two excellent interlocking brick brands! Building block play encourages creativity, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. With quality sets from Lego, Mega Construx, or both, kids and adults alike can construct amazing worlds brick by brick.
