Differences between Lego and Mega Bloks

Lego vs. Mega Bloks

Lego and Mega Bloks are brands of construction toys based on interlocking plastic bricks. The Lego Group, a Danish company, first produced its bricks in 1949. Mega Bloks, a Canadian company now owned by Mattel, began producing smaller, Lego-compatible bricks in the 1980s to compete with Lego. While the two brands' standard-sized bricks are designed to be compatible, allowing them to be interconnected, the two product lines have several key differences.

Comparison Table

Category	Lego	Mega Bloks (Mega Construx)
Parent Company	The Lego Group (privately held)	Mattel, Inc.
Plastic Quality	Generally regarded as higher; bricks noted for being denser and shinier.	Quality has improved over time but is often considered less consistent than Lego's.
Clutch Power	Known for a consistent and strong "clutch power," the force that holds bricks together.	Generally considered to have a weaker or less consistent clutch power.
Figure Style	Iconic "minifigure" with interchangeable parts but limited articulation.	"Micro action figures" that are more detailed and highly articulated, but parts are not always interchangeable.
Color Consistency	High consistency in color matching between different sets and production batches.	Colors can sometimes be inconsistent between batches.
Price Point	Generally higher priced.	Generally offers a lower price point for similar-sized sets.
Key Licensed Themes	*Star Wars*, *Harry Potter*, Marvel, DC Comics.	*Halo*, *Pokémon*, *Call of Duty*.

Venn diagram comparing Differences between Lego and Mega Bloks

Bricks and construction

The primary difference noted by users between the two brands is build quality. Lego bricks are manufactured to strict tolerances, resulting in a consistent "clutch power" that allows bricks to be connected and separated with a predictable amount of force. This consistency is a key feature of the Lego System of Play, ensuring that bricks produced decades apart remain fully compatible. Lego primarily uses acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, which gives the bricks a dense, glossy finish. Mega Bloks are also made from plastic and are compatible with Lego bricks, meaning they can be snapped together. However, consumers and reviewers have noted that the clutch power of Mega Bloks can be less consistent, with some bricks fitting too tightly and others too loosely. Observers have also pointed out differences in color and finish, with Mega Bloks sometimes appearing less vibrant or shiny than their Lego counterparts. Mega Bloks does produce some unique brick types not found in the Lego system, such as camouflage-patterned bricks.

Figures and themes

The figures included in playsets represent a major design difference. Lego's "minifigure," introduced in 1978, has an iconic appearance with limited articulation in the hips and shoulders. A key feature is the interchangeability of its head, torso, legs, and accessories.

Mega Bloks (which rebranded its sets for older children to Mega Construx) features "micro action figures." These figures are more realistic in proportion and feature a much higher degree of articulation, including joints at the knees, elbows, and wrists. While this allows for more dynamic posing, the parts are often from unique molds and are not as interchangeable as Lego minifigures. Both companies rely heavily on intellectual property licenses. Lego has long-standing partnerships with major franchises like *Star Wars* and *Harry Potter*. Mega Bloks holds the licenses for other popular franchises, most notably video game series like *Halo* and *Pokémon*.