LEGO Star Wars downsizes BB-8 for the new droid collection

A brand-new LEGO Star Wars BB-8 build has been revealed, downsizing the droid compared to the 2017 set to fit in with a recent collection.

LEGO Star Wars 75452 BB-8 launches on January 1, 2026, for £79.99 / $89.99 / €89.99 with 569 pieces, and it's not quite the first LEGO BB-8 build in the theme. It follows in the footsteps, or ball-shaped tracks, of 2017's 75187 BB-8, but there are several major differences between the two builds.

While both feature a smaller figure and an informative plaque, the piece count between the two differs greatly. The 2017 model has nearly double the number of elements as the 2026 set. Looking at the cone-tipped antennae at the back of the build, which uses the same pieces between the two builds, we can also see that 75452 BB-8 is significantly smaller in size.

While the piece count difference can be partially explained by the switch from a brick-built ball to a simpler assembly using printed elements, there's another reason behind the size difference.

75187 BB-8 was released in the last era of LEGO Star Wars droid models, to scale with the retired R2-D2 and D-O models. 75452 BB-8 follows a similar path and is likely to scale with 75379 R2-D2 and the other recent droid sets. One look at the size difference between 75187 BB-8 and 75379 R2-D2, as demonstrated by BigZachsHouse, reveals just how out of scale it is compared to the new era of droid models.

75452 BB-8's decreased size is almost certainly a better fit for the newer droids, and it should go nicely with the likes of 75398 C-3PO and 75434 K-2SO when it launches next month. This was confirmed by the designers behind the build at LEGO Fan Media Days 2025, which we visited.

This compatibility with the newer droids doesn't quite explain the perceived price difference between 75187 BB-8 and 75452 BB-8 relative to the piece count. Note that with inflation, 75187 BB-8 would likely have an RRP of around £104.99 / $109.99 / €109.99, helping to explain why 75452 BB-8 costs £79.99 / $89.99 / €89.99 for 569 pieces. Whether that's worthwhile has yet to be seen, but at least we know why BB-8 has been downsized in the first place.

LEGO Star Wars 75452 BB-8 launches on January 1, 2026, for £79.99 / $89.99 / €89.99 alongside two other new Star Wars models. Catch up on the rest of LEGO Star Wars' confirmed and rumoured 2026 sets in the following table.

Every LEGO Star Wars set confirmed and rumoured for 2026

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