LEGO VIDIYO 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox review

As LEGO VIDIYO gears up for a more involved second wave of sets, can 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox make enough noise to warrant your attention?

43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox is the smallest of the seven VIDIYO sets released as part of the augmented-reality theme’s second wave, and is disappointingly following directly in the footsteps of the highly-criticised first wave of sets released in March 2021.

Whilst these seven new additions to the LEGO VIDIYO line-up mostly provide a new, refreshing take on the theme – across sets including 43115 The Boombox (review) and 43114 Punk Pirate Ship (review) – 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox and the similarly-styled 43110 Folk Fairy BeatBox are unfortunately not a part of this positive trend.

— Set details —

Theme: LEGO VIDIYO Set name: 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox Release: June 1, 2021

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Price: £17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99 Pieces: 86 Minifigures: 1

LEGOAvailable now

— Build —

The build functions as a small carry case, which could create an impressive collection in tandem with the other BeatBox sets LEGO VIDIYO has to offer – if you can justify the high price tag for completing that collection, as we’ll touch on later.

Presented across the back of the carry case are an assortment of tiny plates and tiles, in step with the rest of the BeatBoxes. Their configuration into a castle feels less relevant to the Metal Dragon than we’ve seen across other characters’ carry cases, though – something more musical might have been appreciated – and laying them down is really just more tedious than fun.

Just like the rest of the BeatBoxes, 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox’s main advantage over the rest of the VIDIYO sets is its dedicated area to store the excess BeatBits included, as only 12 out of the 16 are able to be displayed on the miniature stage. They are nicely tucked away within the wedge of white plastic behind the stage, and there’s still room to add in your extras from other sets.

— Characters —

A single minifigure is included with 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox, and it should be no surprise that it’s… a dragon. The character shares an almost identical colour palette to the build across the back of the BeatBox, creating a seamless look when it’s placed within the carry case.

Unsurprisingly, the minifigure is the highlight of this set and is the only real incentive to purchase 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox. The torso and leg printing is detailed and the wings add an extra layer of immersion, creating a well-rounded, great-looking minifigure.

— Price —

In line with other BeatBoxes, 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox is priced at £17.99 in the UK, $19.99 in the US and €19.99 in Europe. The dragon is undoubtedly the main draw, but if you’re paying full whack, that’s one expensive minifigure.

Compared to the likes of 43112 Robo HipHop Car and 43111 Candy Castle Stage, which are both only slightly higher in price, this set ultimately falls flat at full price. It’s an unfortunate consequence of the VIDIYO theme expanding beyond BeatBoxes, making those pocket-sized sets seem even worse value by comparison. Fingers crossed this one follows the first wave by getting a discount on day one.

— Pictures —

— Summary —

43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox falls victim to the same fate as its predecessors, coming in as an overpriced minifigure with a build that lacks anything of interest. 

When placed side by side with the similarly-priced 43112 Robo HipHop Car and 43111 Candy Castle Stage, this set feels completely useless – for just a few pounds/dollars/euros more, you get an extra minifigure and a much more worthwhile build. While the minifigure included is the only reason anyone would consider purchasing 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox, it’s a tough ask for the price.

The BeatBoxes also rely way more heavily than any other VIDIYO sets on the corresponding app for any kind of playability or functionality. Without that to enhance the experience – if it even does that – there’s a complete lack of detail or features in 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox. Essentially: what you see is what you get. And what you get is… one overpriced minifigure and a few printed tiles.

There are things to recommend in LEGO VIDIYO’s second wave, but its new BeatBoxes aren’t really among them.

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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— FAQs —

How long does it take to build LEGO VIDIYO 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox?

43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox takes around 10 minutes to complete, with just 86 pieces included. Most of them are small tiles, so it’s not a particularly fun build, either.

How many pieces are in LEGO VIDIYO 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox?

43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox includes 86 pieces. While a handful of larger pieces are used in the construction of the makeshift carry case stage, a number of smaller tiles are used to construct a seemingly random pattern on the back of the build.

How big is LEGO VIDIYO 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox?

43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox measures 8cm in height, 7cm in length and 11cm in width. The dimensions of BeatBox sets differ due to the detailing used on the connection point of the carry case handle. 

How much does LEGO VIDIYO 43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox cost?

43109 Metal Dragon BeatBox is priced at £17.99 in the UK, $19.99 in the US and €19.99 in Europe, which matches previous BeatBox sets – and feels similarly poor value.

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