2025 Technic Sets Discussion

[mpj]

Pneumatic and licensed could be an expensive possibility. Or pneumatic with a motorized pump...

Just speculating. 

Edited February 20 by mpj

[Ngoc Nguyen]

1 hour ago, mpj said:

Pneumatic and licensed could be an expensive possibility.

This is contradicted by  the 42157 though. Also the set with pneumatic is thought to be the Volvo loader.

[Timorzelorzworz]

15 hours ago, Oh_Hi_Mao said:

Technic is selling like never before - thanks to the cars

Yes, the 1:16/1:17 Cars as a collector series are very popular. Small sets for reasonable prices as "gifts" for inbetween. The only thing to complain about is that the 42098 Car Transporter can't handle this large amount of cars and that there is definitely some new adidtional Transporter needed.

[AVCampos]

10 minutes ago, Timorzelorzworz said:

the 42098 Car Transporter can't handle this large amount of cars and that there is definitely some new adidtional Transporter needed.

Just buy more of it!

[M_longer]

21 hours ago, kbalage said:

But considering how Powered Up has "evolved" in recent years

You spell "fallen down" in a funny way :)

[AVCampos]

Talking from experience seeing forums when PF replaced 9V, you guys will miss the "good old days" of PU when it eventually gets replaced...

[Ngoc Nguyen]

4 minutes ago, AVCampos said:

Talking from experience seeing forums when PF replaced 9V, you guys will miss the "good old days" of PU when it eventually gets replaced...

There's no good old days regarding PU since those days are neither good nor old.

[M_longer]

16 minutes ago, AVCampos said:

Talking from experience seeing forums when PF replaced 9V, you guys will miss the "good old days" of PU when it eventually gets replaced...

Powered Up never had good days.
Its  parts are 2-3 times more expensive than PF counterparts, motors are weaker than PF ones - while being larger, does not come with physical remote (don't get me start laughing over that 2 dial one, please), did not had any support from LEGO from start (Racing Brick had made an enormous work for making a tutorials for PuP). To easy make and use something more than shown on the box, you need to use 3rd party app like Brick Controller 2.

First set - 42100 - was a great motors pack. But after that we did not get anything like previous 8293 set - a cheep affordable set allowing to power up sets like 42068 with single motor. LEGO left the idea of single motor powering various models.
Instead we got a few models that had overdesigned gearboxes, just to justify presence of THE APP. 42131 barely moved, everything took ages to work and it came with 4 motors only. With same price as 42100 with 7 motors at start.

The whole policy about each motor being servo and propulsion motor made the motors much, much more expensive.
Now imagine how much would cost 42131 with 6 PF motors and some decent bluetooth device :)

All I see now is a quiet withdrawal of that nonsense after 6 years, (LEGO just put lefotvers from PuP on sale - only new 2in1 block from Porsche is "new") where Power Functions was used for 12 years, and only thing it needed was Bluetooth and maybe more powerfull rechargeable battery.
And a as a designer who make models with instructions - nobody asks for converting my models to C+, but people asks if I'll gonna use PF for next RC model, becuase it's easier to obtain and much cheaper (let's be honest, people buy MK and CaDa motors).

Prove me wrong :)
 

[Ngoc Nguyen]

The only good thing that comes with the PU phase is the simple hub, which has much better connection points and shapes compared to the PF battery box.

[AVCampos]

I don't mean that PU's days are considered good now (I do, but that's just my personal opinion as someone also into robotics), but rather in the future, when PU's successor is the norm and PU is in the past.

I'm drawing the comparison because, when PF appeared, fans were decrying it as awful for things like cumbersome connectors and wires instead of the neat conductive plates that integrate with System builds, large elements instead of the compact motors and battery boxes, non-detachable cables, and, especially for trains fans, the need to use batteries. When PU gets phased out, its positive aspects will surely come up more often than now.

[gyenesvi]

14 minutes ago, M_longer said:

Prove me wrong :)

Unfortunately, I can only agree with the above and what people have written before above. First I was enthusiastic about PU and programmability, but soon I learned that PF was easier to use and less complicated, and more compatible with 3rd party stuff. I agree that the position sensor in all motors is mostly pointless (bulkier, more expensive), even though I saw a lot of potential in it in the beginning. Here's why I don't find it too useful for technic:

• For steering it's just slow and inaccurate. Proper servos are much more precise, smaller, faster and cheaper.
• They were never really used for speed regulation. Maybe the Zetros profile works in that mode, but the model is so slow to begin with that you only want to go full speed anyway.
• The only truly useful thing is positioning of LAs with these motors, as in 42100. It's a fun gimmick, but for that one thing they could have just used a dedicated motor (or rather system like all the Mindstorms stuff).

Also, many people say that the app control is a disadvantage, which I agree with, but very few people talk about another pain point: calibration. This can be frustrating even for simple models, like a car with steering or gearbox. Apps often loose calibration info, and it does not always work properly. Even when it works, it just feels overcomplicated compared to plug-and-play PF or RC toys. A servo with marked center position would not need calibration either. I think the frustration from this was also underestimated. Though true that for models like 42100 the calibration is needed.

I guess for the robotics use case, the features of PU would be great, but I agree that it should be separated from plain RC stuff. And technic model could incorporate both. Most technic models would require simple RC stuff, and every now and then there could be a few models that incorporate robotics-like electronics, like 42100. Why wouldn't that be a viable option? I see electronics as a completely independent subsystem in lego, that could be incorporated into different products and multiple of such electronics systems could co-exist, like PF and EV3 did.

[M_longer]

29 minutes ago, gyenesvi said:

calibration.

Ah yes. The perfectly working 42114, after few weeks on shelf, decides to lift the bed at 3rd gear and move forward on tipping bed mode. Been there, my customers had similiar complaints. This system is a joke.

[Maaboo the Witch]

The only CON+TROLL models I own are 42099 (because it was half price) and 42114 (because it's a Volvo A60H).

Other than that, I refuse to give this overpriced, overcomplicated, overhyped rubbish any of my time.

[allanp]

56 minutes ago, AVCampos said:

I don't mean that PU's days are considered good now (I do, but that's just my personal opinion as someone also into robotics), but rather in the future, when PU's successor is the norm and PU is in the past.

I'm drawing the comparison because, when PF appeared, fans were decrying it as awful for things like cumbersome connectors and wires instead of the neat conductive plates that integrate with System builds, large elements instead of the compact motors and battery boxes, non-detachable cables, and, especially for trains fans, the need to use batteries. When PU gets phased out, its positive aspects will surely come up more often than now.

Well if they will go backwards in terms of feeling like an authentic Lego building experience with pre-built stuff then what should they expect. Integrated rotation sensors, integrated non detachable wires, integrated gear reduction, app control, all of that are steps away from an authentic Lego experience IMHO. You can have separate elements, like a basic ungeared motor, a planetary reduction box, an encoder and detachable wires instead of a pre built all in one thing, and still make cool robotics. You'd just have far more flexibility and sets can be cheaper as they only include what's actually needed. And the brick based wires and plates made 9v actually feel like Lego.

Sorry sorry, we're meant to be talking about 2025 sets 

[AVCampos]

1 hour ago, gyenesvi said:

A servo with marked center position would not need calibration either.

That's why I always complain about PU linear motors (originated in Technic) not having those marks, while angular motors (originated in MINDSTORMS) do.

[dmaclego]

2 hours ago, M_longer said:

(..)  Power Functions was used for 12 years, and only thing it needed was Bluetooth and maybe more powerfull rechargeable battery.
 

And a micromotor :) . Still can't believe they hadn't come up with that before the Chinese did. 

 

[tomfow]

So current estimation is Volvo Loader with Pneumatics and second set being most likely motorized demolition excavator? Sounds cool if you ask me. Two non cars.

Just thinking if we can see possibly pneu + motor combination ala 42080. Im still waiting for some proper pneu engine/air tank/new stuff....

[Ngoc Nguyen]

3 minutes ago, tomfow said:

Just thinking if we can see possibly pneu + motor combination ala 42080.

I'd rather not as it will blow the cost out of necessary. I don't really get how TLG set prices for Pneumatic sets, as 42121 and 42157 are very good in terms of value for money, but 42144 is just excessive.

[Aurorasaurus]

4 hours ago, AVCampos said:

Talking from experience seeing forums when PF replaced 9V, you guys will miss the "good old days" of PU when it eventually gets replaced...

Maybe we will miss the position sensors or the "low prices" by inflationary standards. But I think the power of these motors is objectively lacking. I really hope the new sets have a new power system. Sadly it seems we may have to wait until later in the year for an rc set.

[Satisfied]

The PF era lasted from 2007 to 2019, and now the PU era has been more than 7 years from 2019 to 2025. When will it be replaced? seven years later?

[AVCampos]

Well, the 9V era lasted from 1986 to 2007, I don't think age can be used to extrapolate how long PU will last.

[tomfow]

5 hours ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

I'd rather not as it will blow the cost out of necessary. I don't really get how TLG set prices for Pneumatic sets, as 42121 and 42157 are very good in terms of value for money, but 42144 is just excessive.

Understand. But it is sad, Im waiting for new pneu elements or at least return of Air tank..or would love to see some. :)

[Rokswi]

42215 Volvo EC500 hybrid

2359p, $400, August release

[Ngoc Nguyen]

15 minutes ago, Rokswi said:

42215 Volvo EC500 hybrid

2359p, $400, August release

Are you sure it's "hybrid" and not "high reach"? Because there is a demolition version of the EC500 that is named EC500 High Reach.

 

 

Edited February 20 by Ngoc Nguyen

[Rokswi]

6 minutes ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

Are you sure it's "hybrid" and not "high reach"? Because there is a demolition version of the EC500 that is named EC500 High Reach.

 

 

Yup