Lego®, a household name for many, is probably the most recognized of all brick manufacturers. From childhood to adulthood, these vibrant, interlocking bricks have been loved by individuals of all ages for decades. However, as expansive as their collection is, Lego can't cover every conceivable theme. This has opened the door for the best Lego alternatives like Mega Construx, part of the MEGA brand, to pique interest with their unique offerings. While Lego does have a range that caters to more mechanically interested builders, known as Lego Technic, there are also Lego Technic alternatives for those seeking something different. In this guide, we delve into the differences between Lego® and Mega Construx, presenting an ultimate comparison.
History of the two brick manufacturers
Every great story has a beginning, and so does the story of these two renowned brick manufacturers, Lego® and Mega Construx. Understanding their history allows us to appreciate their respective journeys to success and how they have evolved to accommodate the changing interests of children and adults alike.
Lego®: The company behind the famous bricks
Since its establishment in 1932 as a humble carpentry workshop in Denmark, Lego® has undergone a significant transformation, becoming a globally recognized entity noted for its ingenious interlocking brick system. Throughout its journey, the company has marked several noteworthy milestones. One of these is the 1955 creation of the Lego system in play, which presented users with a series of interlocking bricks to promote imaginative play. In 1978, another milestone was reached with the launch of the Lego minifigure, a tiny articulated figure that added another dimension of play to their sets, enriching some of the Lego sets with the most minifigures.
Mega Construx became part of MEGA Bloks
Mega Construx, introduced by Mattel in 2016, represents a recent addition to the landscape of toy manufacturers. Despite its relatively recent launch, it has made substantial progress in crafting niche play and construction sets targeted at diverse audiences, including children and collectors. This brand emerged from the foundational MEGA Bloks brand, a renowned toy line established in 1984. Mega Construx expands upon its predecessor's legacy by providing an extensive assortment of both licensed sets, inspired by popular franchises, and original sets, which offer unique themes and designs.
Comparison of Lego® and Mega Construx
Mega Construx and Lego® are distinguished by unique characteristics. Exploring the offerings of these two manufacturers reveals that the selection between them often hinges on preferred themes and target demographics. A thorough analysis will cover specific themes, target demographics, and the renowned minifigures of both companies.
Themes and target groups
Lego® and Mega Construx are known for their varied offerings of licensed sets that cover a broad spectrum of themes, appealing to different consumer interests. The products they develop are closely tied to the selected themes, featuring unique designs and intricate details reflective of the theme's characteristics. However, the target audience varies between the two brands. Mega Construx's product line appears to cater more specifically to the adult demographic and avid collectors, with a portfolio rich in intricate and elaborate models often tied to popular franchises. On the other hand, Lego maintains a universal appeal with its diverse product range.
Lego® themes: From film sets to architecture highlights in miniature
Lego® offers a broad array of sets designed for every age group. Sets themed around renowned movies and series, including Star Wars and Harry Potter, are particularly appreciated. These sets provide fans with the opportunity to reconstruct scenes from their favorite universes, with the Lego Harry Potter 71043 Hogwarts Castle being a notable example.
The Lego Harry Potter 71043 Hogwarts Castle is an expansive, meticulously detailed set, offering over 6,000 pieces. Recognized as one of the biggest Lego Harry Potter sets, it includes 4 minifigures and 27 microfigures.
The set incorporates iconic elements from the series such as Hogwarts Castle, Hagrid's Hut, and Whomping Willow, presenting a truly immersive and rewarding building experience.
Enthusiasts can also explore some of the best Lego sets from movies and series. Additionally, sets from the Architecture theme, such as the Lego Architecture 21058 Great Pyramid of Giza, enjoy widespread popularity due to their miniature depictions of eminent landmarks and buildings.
Mega Construx: Clamp building brick sets for video game fans
Mega Construx differentiates itself by offering sets based on well-known video game classics and series like Halo, Pokémon, and Game of Thrones, making it a favorite among gaming fans. An example is the Mega Construx Game of Thrones Battle of Winterfell GMN75.
- Game of Thrones Battle of Winterfell
- Number of pieces: 1,209
- Micro action figures: 6
- View here
In addition to the Game of Thrones license, this is an inexpensive alternative to Lego castles. This is because the Danish manufacturer of building blocks has only a few castles in its range, and they are usually much more expensive, but also larger. The Games of Thrones castle from Mega Contrux costs about $70.
Another thematic area not covered by Lego is sets from card and video games, such as Pokemon. Mega Construx offers here the MEGA Pokémon Motion Pikachu Building Set among others a set that is especially suitable for collectors to display.
- Pikachu Building Set
- RRP: $96.99
- Number of pieces: 1,092
- View here
Sets for children of different ages
Both manufacturers provide sets for children of various ages. Mega Construx offers a smaller selection like Hot Wheels for boys and Barbie sets for girls. In contrast, Lego® selection is significantly larger, offering themes like Lego Friends, Lego City, Lego Technic, and licensed sets like Lego Ninjago and Disney.
The Lego City and Friends sets are especially popular with children and offer a great variety.
Minifigures comparison
The collectible and versatile nature of minifigures in these sets brings an additional dimension to the building experience. Although both brands boast their unique style and appeal, there is a marked difference in their approach toward minifigure design. Below we present the differences between the Lego® and Mega Construx minifigures.
Lego® Minifigures: Iconic and Simple
Lego® minifigures, some of which are among the coolest Lego minifigures, have become an icon in the toy world with their distinctive blocky design. They are simple, yet charming, featuring a broad range of characters fitting all their diverse themes.
The popularity of these minifigures has even led to dedicated collector series. Quality has always been a strong point for Lego, and their minifigures live up to this standard, offering durability and consistency.
However, the simple design of Lego minifigures has its limitations. Despite some variation in accessories and printing, the overall articulation and posing options are quite limited.
Mega Construx Minifigures: Highly Articulated and Detailed
In contrast to Lego®, Mega Construx has taken a different path with its minifigures. These figures have highly articulated joints, allowing for a wide array of poses. They are also highly detailed, often featuring unique accessories and intricate printing that lends to their character authenticity, especially within their licensed ranges.
Mega Construx's approach seems to be more targeted towards older builders and collectors, providing a micro action figure that can rival average action figure brands in terms of posing options. However, it's worth noting that the quality of Mega Construx minifigures can sometimes be inconsistent, and they can be harder to find in the market compared to their Lego counterparts.
Price-performance ratio
It is not easy to make a concrete comparison of the price and performance ratio. This is due to the fact that the two brick manufacturers Lego® and Mega Construx offer different themes and consequently the sets also differ in terms of basic type.
In the following, we compare the price and performance ratio of the Lego Star Wars 75337 AT-TE Walker and the MEGA Halo Banished Phantom Aircraft Halo Infinite Building. Both sets are similar in terms of basic construction and have a license. The AT-TE Walker is available at an RRP of $139.99 and is composed of 1.082 pieces.
The Halo sets from Mega Construx have an RRP of $117.99 and 1.214 parts. The cost per piece for the Lego Star Wars sets is about 13 cents. For the Halo sets, it is 10 cents per piece. The Star Wars set includes 5 minifigures, while the Mega Construx set includes 4, with a more detailed design.
- MEGA Halo Banished Phantom Aircraft Halo Infinite Building
- RRP: $117.99
- Minifigures: 4
- Pieces: 1.214
- Cost per piece: 10 cents
Accordingly, the Mega Construx set is slightly cheaper than the Star Wars set from Lego. However, it cannot be said that Mega Construx is significantly cheaper. The difference is minimal.
Conclusion
Both Lego® and Mega Construx have their unique strengths and weaknesses. Lego, as the more established brand, offers a vast selection of themes and sets with high-quality, iconic minifigures. Their range caters to all ages, from children to adults, with a focus on simplicity and quality.
Mega Construx, though a newer entrant, has successfully carved a niche in the construction toy market. They offer detailed and highly articulated minifigures that cater to an older demographic and collectors. Mega Construx has been successful in acquiring licenses that Lego has not, providing an alternative for fans of certain franchises.
In the end, neither brand is inherently better than the other. The choice between Lego and Mega Construx boils down to individual preference. It depends on the themes you're interested in, the level of detail and articulation you desire in minifigures, and the quality and accessibility you expect from a brick manufacturer.
As the world of plastic bricks continues to evolve, both brands remain important players, each contributing their unique flavor to the landscape of constructive play.
Mega Construx vs Lego®: FAQ
Are Mega Construx and Lego® bricks the same price? Below we address the most important questions about Lego and Mega Construx bricks.
Is Mega Construx compatible with Lego®?
Yes, Mega Construx blocks are compatible with most Lego® blocks to some extent. However, they're not exactly the same and the sizes, shapes, and quality may differ, so some blocks may not fit perfectly.
What is Mega Construx?
Mega Construx is a brand owned by Mattel, specializing in building blocks that are similar to Lego®. These construction toys allow children and collectors alike to build a variety of models from kits or create their own designs. The brand often focuses on detail and complexity, appealing to older children and adult collectors.
What is the difference between Mega Blocks and Mega Construx?
Mega Bloks and Mega Construx are both brands owned by Mattel, but they are designed for different age groups and have different levels of complexity. Mega Bloks are larger, more colorful, and easier to handle, making them ideal for toddlers and younger children. Mega Construx, on the other hand, are smaller, more detailed, and more complex, making them more suitable for older children and adult collectors.
Are Mega Construx bricks cheaper than bricks from Lego®?
There's a general perception that Mega Construx products may be less expensive than their Lego® counterparts. However, the cost can vary depending on the specific product, the complexity of the set, number of pieces, and where you purchase it from. One factor contributing to a possible price difference is that Lego elements tend to have thicker walls than Mega Construx elements, which may account for a different "feel" and level of durability. Always be sure to compare prices and check reviews before making a purchase decision.
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