Nanoblocks 4 All!

So there are two main types of tiny blocks on the market. The first is Nanoblocks. They are imported from Japan and have international distributors, are available in multiple major retailers, yada, yada, yada. The second is a company called Loz Blocks. They are based out of China and they make Chinese knockoffs of Nanoblocks. I am investigating the possibility of a third coming out of South Korea, but I'm going to buy some and see what size they actually are. So what is the difference?

Well, the differences between Nanoblocks and Loz Blocks are brick style, IP, and price.

Nanoblock on top, Loz block on the bottom.

Nanoblocks use strips of plastic to hold pieces together. It works, but it is kind of difficult to get the tiny pieces to line up, resulting in frustration. Loz blocks use the Lego tube style, and hold together very well. The 1x pieces from both manufacturers use open strips, so you don't completely get rid of the frustration factor by going with Loz blocks.

IP and price go hand and hand. Whereas Nanoblocks pay licensing fees to produce many of their products, Loz blocks does not, and many of their designs are actually Nanoblock designs with minor changes. This makes Loz blocks super cheap. I've purchased three sets so far and they have all been around $2 on Ebay with free shipping. You can certainly pay more and get exactly what you want right away, but I'm choosing patience over price to build my collection.

If you want to be a collector, stick with Nanoblocks. They make better models, are properly licensed, and have a much larger selection. However, if you just want a bunch of bricks to play with, pick up a few of the Loz block sets on Ebay. They are inexpensive and the tube system is easier to work with.

So my boyfriend and I were at Toys R Us the other day wandering through the Legos and Lego-like products. He wanted to try the Ionix brand toys (but that's a whole different post!) and I settled on this little guy:

Well, at the time he wasn't nearly so cute because he was in pieces, but still, I thought the tiny little bricks were a neat idea, and I wanted to get something too. I think I'm hooked.

Reasons Why You Should Get Nanoblocks

1. They are absolutely adorable.

To prove this point, I present my second purchase which arrived today, Alfred the Alpaca:

2. They are very collectable.

Nanoblocks have been quietly building an empire in Japan for several years now. That means that there are not only a decent number of sets to buy and build. There is the same push as with other block sets to create licensed products including Disney and Hello Kitty.

3. You can't mix them with Legos.

I know many of you think that this is a bad thing, but keep in mind that a 2x4 brick in this size is almost identical to a 1x2 plate in Lego scale. There is no way these things could do what they do and fit with Legos. This is a distinct advantage for me because I don't have to worry about getting them mixed with my boyfriend's Lego collection, but your experience may vary.

4. They really are Legos for adults.

For some reason these are being marketed in the US as good for kids (thus they are being sold at Toys R Us) but I can't imagine my childhood self being getting these and not losing the tiny, tiny pieces quickly. In addition, the reason for the smaller size is to make more detailed models. YouTube user WaterGazerRed used the Nanoblock directions to create the same model in Nanoblock and Lego, and you can really see the level of detail that is possible with Nanoblock.

Reasons not to Get Nanoblocks

None! But for real...

1. You think that small children or pets might get into them.

These things are definitely a chocking hazard. While I'm not an expert, my guess is that the tiniest blocks are small enough that they would pass pretty easily, but if you are concerned, wait until your kids are old enough to handle the small blocks responsibility.

2. Cost and Availability.

Nanoblocks do tend to be on the pricier side, but not to the point where the smaller sets are out of most budgets. There is an official American distributor, so the sets they carry tend to follow the same pricing trends as Lego, or about $.10 a brick for the smaller sets. Pricing control is not as strict though, so on the larger sets you can nab them online without the standard retail markups, bringing things down to $.05 a brick or less.

However, many sets, particularly the limited edition ones, are not released in the US. That means you will spend quite a bit of time scouring Amazon or Ebay if you want to get your hands on Nanoblock Mega Man.

3. Difficulty

These things are tiny. Like, you can get licenced tweezers tiny. In addition, the system does not use the tubes that Lego uses to lock bricks in place, making the builds rather fragile. This goes to the "Legos for adults" idea, but if you are not a patient person, these may not be for you.

So What?

Personally, my third set is already on order, and I'm scheming away at ideas for supporting my habit. If you aren't sure I would suggest picking up that Nanoblock Bulbasaur and trying them for yourself.