🧠 The LEGO Set That Costs More Than a MacBook — and Why People Still Want It

 If someone told me a LEGO set would one day cost over £1,000, I’d laugh and assume it was made of gold. But here we are — and the culprit is none other than the legendary LEGO Mindstorms. Amazon link:

You know, the robotics kit from the 2000s that let kids build walking, talking robots? Yeah… that one.

And today? It’s going for eye-watering prices on Amazon and eBay — sometimes over £1,200 for new-in-box versions. 🤯


So... why is LEGO Mindstorms so expensive now?

Let’s rewind.

Back in the early 2000s, LEGO released the Mindstorms NXT and later the EV3 sets. These weren’t your typical building blocks — they were programmable robots with sensors, motors, and software. Basically, LEGO meets engineering school.

They were ahead of their time, wildly popular in schools, and sparked a generation’s interest in STEM. You could build a robot, write code, and actually watch it move around your living room. For a lot of us, this was our first taste of what tech could do.

Fast-forward to now: LEGO discontinued the Mindstorms line, and suddenly, supply dried up. The result? The price shot up like a rocket.


Is it really worth four figures?

That depends.

If you’re buying it as a collectible — maybe. There’s serious nostalgia value, especially for those who used Mindstorms in school competitions or coding clubs.

But if you’re hoping to build and program something today, you might want to look at more current (and cheaper) options like:

  • LEGO Boost (kid-friendly robotics)

  • LEGO Spike Prime (educational, still supported)

  • Raspberry Pi or Arduino kits (for the DIY crowd)


Still… there's something iconic about it

LEGO Mindstorms was the kind of set that made you feel smart. It wasn’t just about snapping bricks together — it was about solving problems, writing code, and seeing your creation come to life. That’s rare.

And maybe that’s why people are willing to pay so much today.

Not just for the pieces. But for what it represented: curiosity, creativity, and the thrill of building something that actually works.


Would I?

Would I drop over £1,000 on a LEGO set?Amazon link:

Probably not.

But would I smile seeing one on a shelf — knowing how many hours I spent trying to make my robot turn left instead of crashing into the cat?

Absolutely.

And for some collectors, that’s the magic that’s worth every penny.

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