In case you don’t feel like reading until the end, I’ll cut right to the chase. In the comparison of Mega Bloks vs Lego, the latter trumps the former in almost every way. When you purchase a Lego product, you’re purchasing the Lego promise too. It’s that simple.
For a comprehensive look at both brands of building blocks and the verdict on which is the better brand, keep reading.
- My Top Picks
- A Closer Look at Mega Bloks vs Lego
- The Lego Ideas Book: Unlock Your Imagination by Daniel Lipkowitz
- Best Lego theme for creative kids – LEGO Ideas Ship in a Bottle
- Best budget option for themed Lego product – LEGO Speed Champions
- Mega Bloks Let's Get Learning Building Set
- Mega Bloks Playful Panda
- FAQs
- Conclusion
My Top Picks
- The Lego Ideas Book: Unlock Your Imagination by Daniel Lipkowitz
- Best Lego theme for creative kids – LEGO Ideas Ship in a Bottle
- Best budget option for themed Lego product – LEGO Speed Champions
- Mega Bloks Let’s Get Learning Building Set
- Mega Bloks Playful Panda
A Closer Look at Mega Bloks vs Lego
When you’re looking to purchase construction play toys, more often than not your choice will be between Mega Bloks and Lego. Both brands are very well known and have fans situated around the world. If you’re on a tight budget then picking the right brand for your child is easy: Mega Bloks. However if budget isn’t a concern then the choice becomes more difficult. I hope the following information helps make this decision a little easier.
Why You Should Buy Them
Blocks are arguably one of the best play products you can expose your child to. And it’s not just me that says this – science backs this statement up. Construction play is instrumental in the development of hand-eye coordination, spatial reasoning, motor skills, cognitive abilities and can even lay the foundation for divergent thinking. Even when you remove these admittedly impressive benefits, a lone benefit remains: they’re fun!
Differences and Similarities Between the Two
There are many differences between the two brands. There are also a handful of similarities, which led to the Lego Company filing several unsuccessful lawsuits against Mega Bloks. The only features the two blocks have in common is that they’re classed as construction set toys and that you can buy them from retail outlets. Now let’s move on to the differences.
Differences Between the Brands
Lego was established in Denmark back in 1949 while Mega Bloks was established in 1967 in Canada. The Lego Company is a private company and the latter is a public company. In terms of price, the Lego Company is significantly more expensive than its Mega Blok counterpart and retails for at least $3 more per pack. The Mega Blok brand has the rights to Hello Kitty, Halo, Moshi Monsters and World of Warcraft themed products. The Lego Company holds the rights to produce Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Marvel, DC and Harry Potter themed bricks.
Differences Between the Blocks
Mega Bloks are much bigger than Lego blocks and because of this they are more suitable for younger children to use. Older children are better challenged by the small, intricate nature of Lego blocks. While both brands’ blocks come in all sorts of colors, only Mega Block offers metallic and camo shades. Both blocks feature chemical-free plastic construction however many feel that Lego blocks are better built and are more durable. A noteworthy fact is that the Mega Bloks Micro Bricks are compatible with most standard Lego blocks.
What to Keep in Mind When Buying Blocks for Your Child
Nothing in this world is entirely risk-free and the same logic applies to construction play blocks. In fact, it’s an internet meme that Lego blocks and the likes are mini pain-makers. Here are the dangers of building blocks:
- Swallowing parts
- Blocks being used as projectiles
- Skin can be pinched between two blocks
- Edges can sometimes be sharp
- Painful to step on. Like, really painful.
The Lego Ideas Book: Unlock Your Imagination by Daniel Lipkowitz
Before I dive in and discuss specific Lego products I must inform you of The Lego Ideas Book: Unlock Your Imagination, written by Daniel Lipkowitz. Two hundred pages will teach children aged 7 to 10 all about what they can accomplish with Lego blocks. The book is comprised of 6 chapters that will teach your child how to build everything from vehicles to treasure chests. Who knows, this book may just encourage your child to become an engineer.
Best Lego theme for creative kids – LEGO Ideas Ship in a Bottle
I got a message in a bottle saying that this product makes for the creative kid’s closest companion. An incredible amount of thought went into the 21313 Expert Buiding Kit and this is reflected in the finer details such as the crow’s nest and cannons. This product consists of 962 pieces and will keep kids aged 12 and up busy for hours – and their parents too!
Best budget option for themed Lego product – LEGO Speed Champions
Lego has a reputation for being expensive, but the 75895 Building Kit is the perfect example of a budget-friendly build. This building kit has 120 pieces and is suitable for children aged 7 years and older. The kit comes with all the pieces needed to build a 1974 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.0 as well as a driver, helmet and three cones. If you’d like to digitize the experience, you can purchase the FORZA Horizon 4 Lego Speed Champions expansion pack.
Mega Bloks Let’s Get Learning Building Set
The Mega Bloks Let’s Get Learning Building Set is a truly wonderful product. 150 rainbow-colored blocks are big and bold so toddlers can easily grip them and build with them. Printed designs mean that they encourage association skills and help little ones learn their shapes, numbers, colors, letters and maths. These blocks are designed to be used by children aged 12 months all the way up to 5 years.
Mega Bloks Playful Panda
Lastly, we have the Mega Bloks Playful Panda – big blocks made for little hands. These blocks have been made with children between the ages of 12 months and 5 years in mind. 25 big blocks are perfect for improving those fine motor skills while the panda-shaped bucket allows the imagination to run wild.
FAQs
Why is Lego so expensive?
Lego is much more expensive than its competitors. The reason for this is two-pronged. Firstly, you’re paying for the brand name as Lego products have a reputation for being extremely high quality. Secondly, themed Lego products – such as Star Wars Lego – have licensing fees worked into the cost consumers pay.
Are Mega Bloks safe?
Yes, all Mega Bloks products are considered safe and meet the toy safety requirements of both Canada and the US. They are also free from PVC and BPA and are designed by a team of product experts to make them as child and toddler-friendly as possible.
Conclusion
Both brands have a lot going for them, that much is for sure. But which is best and why?
In my opinion, Lego is the superior brand. This is purely because the brand has a well-deserved reputation for producing the best quality products that are well worth the cost as they are known to be longlasting. But if you’re primary purchasing influencer is your wallet then the Mega Bloks are also a solid option – they just won’t last as long and once your toddler grows up the blocks will become inappropriate and obsolete. It’s up to you.
In the past, I’ve compared Mega Bloks vs Duplo, Lego vs Lepin as well as Lego vs Knex, so you might want to take a look at those articles, too.
Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
