Playmobil versus Lego: Which is the best USS Enterprise set?
SOURCE:Space.com|BY: Alexander Cox
Lego has recently released their first-ever Star Trek set, the 3600-piece U.S.S Enterprise, but is it better than Playmobil's model?
(Image credit: Ian Stokes / Future)
To own the best U.S.S. Enterprise model on the market is something every Star Trek fan would love to do. We've reviewed both the Playmobil Enterprise and the brand-new Lego Enterprise, so which is better? We'll get into that below.
If you're a fan of Star Trek — and let's be real, if you weren't, you probably wouldn't be on this page — you'll probably be interested in the best U.S.S. Enterprise models on the market. Playmobil has enjoyed the title of being the major toy manufacturer with a seriously impressive Enterprise model, but Lego has now released its first-ever Star Trek set. We'll look at design, the features, the extras, the price and everything in between to determine which is best.
Design
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We'll look at the design features of the Playmobil U.S.S. Enterprise compared to the Lego model. (Image credit: Future)
When it comes to comparing the design of the two models, there are several things you can look at, despite the two models replicating the same ship. Firstly, the number of pieces that come with each set that you need to assemble. Lego's set offers you 3,600 pieces of building, while Playmobil offers a meager 150. That's simply because with Lego's set, the idea is to build the ship using lots of little plastic bricks, while the purpose of Playmobil's set is to assemble fewer, larger parts so you can get to playing with and displaying the set, along with the characters.
Naturally, Lego's new set is considerably more challenging and time-consuming to assemble. 3,600 pieces means you need to set aside several hours, if not a couple of days, to build this set. Large parts of it are mirrored, but it doesn't feel boring or repetitive. There are a couple of fiddly and flimsy parts towards the end, but overall it's an enjoyable build. Whereas Playmobil's Enterprise model has larger parts that clip together without any issue. The only fiddly details came from some smaller parts for the interior of the ship and plenty of stickers, but overall it was a relatively quick and enjoyable build.
Both sets are behemoths, although the Playmobil model dwarfs Lego's, measuring at 39.4 x 18.9 x 13.4 inches as opposed to 11 x 19 x 24 inches. Yes, Playmobil's model measures over a meter in length and can be hung from the ceiling, using the hanging wires included, whereas Lego's set comes on an angled stand to display.
Both can be played with, although they make for seriously impressive display items. The interior of the Playmobil can be accessed through a detachable roof, and it features LED lights and sound effects, too. Lego's set doesn't offer you anywhere near the same level of playability and really is designed as a display model for collectors and super-fans only.
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Detail and Functionality
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The Interior of the Playmobil U.S.S Enterprise(Image credit: Future)
We touched on the playability of the Playmobil Enterprise and the lack of it in the Lego set. The Playmobil set does offer LED light effects as well as sound effects, so you can go boldly where no Playmobil set has gone in your own adventures, and you get an augmented reality app. The LEDs used are multicolor and the sound effects range from lines from fan-favorite characters to warning alerts and more. No such features appear in Lego's set.
That's not to badmouth Lego's set at all, it's an accurate and faithful recreation of the iconic ship. It comes with its own display stand and information plaque, which emblazons the back wall of the ship's bridge and features key facts about the Enterprise. While there are some stickers and printed parts (these include the ship's registration along with emblems and decor), these are great additions and not too much hassle to attach.
Both sets come with figures, or minifigures. In Playmobil's set, you get Captain Kirk, Spock, Uhura, McCoy, Sulu, Scotty and Chekov figures. Lego's differs though, as you get Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander William Riker, Lieutenant Worf, Lieutenant Commander Data, Dr. Beverly Crusher, Lieutenant Commander La Forge, Counselor Deanna Troi, Bartender Guinan and Wesley Crusher. They also come with accessories, which include a teacup, trombone with a stand, a phaser, tricorder, engineering case, PADD, bottle, portable tractor beam generator and a cat figure.
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All the figures from the Playmobil U.S.S. Enterprise. (Image credit: Future)
As mentioned in the section above, Playmobil's model also features some fine hanging wires, so your ship can hang from the ceiling and look as if it's venturing across the final frontier. While this isn't a feature of the Lego set, it probably wouldn't be a good idea, as a fall from any kind of height could put you back to square one with building it.
The key difference here is that one is so obviously a display piece and the other is a display piece with some cool playable features. The Lego set is aimed at those aged 18 and above, while the Playmobil set is for Trekkies over the age of 10. Yes, the Playmobil set is sturdier and has more playable features, but the Lego set has such great appeal.
Price
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The interior of the Playmobil USS Enterprise.(Image credit: Future)
A key factor in deciding if something is worth it, or indeed whether or not you'll actually buy it, is the price. Now, it's worth noting that Playmobil's U.S.S. Enterprise model has been around for a few years now, so it's come down in price since it first hit store shelves.
Playmobil's model first cost $500, which is a lot. It now typically retails for between $250 and $350, going off its price history, which is considerably less.
Lego's brand-new U.S.S. Enterprise will set you back $399.99. This is steep, but you get more than just the joy of showing it off or imagining your own adventures — the experience of building the whole thing is great, and it's not just clipping together some large parts. It's a journey and an experience as opposed to a play and display model.
Verdict
It would be easy to sit on the fence and say they're both good. But that's not why you're here. It's also not why we wrote the article, as tempting as it is. In short, however, it depends on what you want from your set.
If you're looking for playable options and extra effects, the Playmobil model is the better option. There's far less hassle in the building process, it's (now) cheaper, and it features a removable roof along with light and sound effects, as well as an app.
However, if you're a collector, a Lego fan or if you want to proudly display your ship, it's the Lego U.S.S. Enterprise by a country mile. Yes, the Playmobil model is larger, but bigger isn't always better. The satisfaction of the build, the incredible detail on the finished model and it being displayed at an angle really sells the Lego Enterprise as the better model if you're looking for anything other than playability.
STAFF WRITER, E-commerce — Alex joined Space.com in June 2021 as staff writer covering space news, games, tech, toys and deals. Based in London, U.K. Graduating in June 2020, Alex studied Sports Journalism in the North East of England at Sunderland University. During his studies and since his graduation, Alex has been featured in local newspapers and online publications covering a range of sports from university rugby to Premier League soccer. In addition to a background in sports and journalism, Alex has a life-long love of Star Wars which started with watching the prequel trilogy and collecting toy lightsabers, he also grew up spending most Saturday evenings watching Doctor Who.
