Holiday gift guide: $100-$200
Posted by Huw,
Our penultimate holiday gift guide looks at sets in the $100-200 price range, of which 30 were released this year, more than in any other year.
If you're looking for gifts at this price you are spoilt for choice, with exceptional adults-welcome sets and top-of-the-range play sets for kids to choose from.
Find out what the Brickset team recommend after the break then let us know what you would select in the comments.
Alice
21226 Art Project - Create Together (£114.99 / $119.99 / 119.99€)
21226 Art Project - Create Together was a welcome addition to the LEGO ART range last month. It contains an excellent selection of 4138 elements, including lots of colourful 1x1 round tiles.
It comes with instructions for 36 smaller mosaics which can be combined together, or one large mosaic portraying a Classic Space minifigure which I’m sure many AFOLs will love!
It’s the first LEGO Art set without 18+ branding, so it would make a good gift for children or adults. As the set name and box art suggests, you could ‘create together’ and put all the mosaics together with your family or friends over the holiday season!
MeganL
80024 The Legendary Flower Fruit Mountain (£159.99, $169.99, 169.99€)
Another tough choice for me. I love my modulars, and as excellent as 10278 Police Station is, it's not in my top two for this price range. The Chinese New Year sets continue to impress, particularly 80107 Spring Lantern Festival, which I loved. But my vote goes for 80024 The Legendary Flower Fruit Mountain. The set is amazing, the minifig selection is awesome, and I love that it depicts and entire story within the build.
That type of range in the set makes it something appropriate for non-AFOLs, particularly those who are familiar with the story. It's a stunningly beautiful set, and writing this makes me want to get it out and build it again. It's one of the larger sets designed by a woman, which just adds to the appeal for me.
Huw
42128 Heavy-Duty Tow Truck (£139.99, $149.99, 149.99€)
If you can look past the garish colour scheme and dubious graphics on the stickers you'll find an old-school Technic set featuring the fan-favourite pneumatic system that offers playability in abundance.
There's no reliance on expensive technology and fun-sapping phone apps to move the jib: set the levers, pump the cylinder, then watch in awe as it moves.
It's the ideal gift for older kids who think they have grown out of 'normal' LEGO, and budding engineers alike.
If you're buying for an AFOL who does not already have 10278 Police Station then it's a set that they are sure to appreciate receiving. It's one of the best modular buildings that incorporates a wealth of interesting features and building techniques.
CapnRex101
76193 The Guardians' Ship (£134.99, $149.99, 149.99€)
LEGO's increasing focus upon adult fans has assured unprecedented strength at higher price points, including between $100 and $200. 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery and 71756 Hydro Bounty both stand out in particular.
However, I think 76193 The Guardians' Ship represents the perfect larger gift. The model looks spectacular on display, rivalling Ultimate Collector Series vehicles in that regard, while also featuring an impressive interior. Several excellent minifigures accompany the vessel too.
The price also provides good value, which is perhaps surprising for a Marvel set. I would therefore highly recommend this set for Marvel fans, especially since it has perhaps been overshadowed by 76178 Daily Bugle this year.
DrDaveWatford
10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery (£169.99 / $199.99 / 179.99€)
A couple of sets really stand out for me in this price bracket. As someone who was around when word processors didn't exist and old-fashioned typewriters were still state of the art I was immediately drawn to 21327 Typewriter, and it didn't disappoint. As well as being a pretty faithful brick-built reproduction of a real typewriter, and a set which is almost guaranteed to evoke feelings of nostalgia in people of a certain age, it's also an interesting build in its own right and surprisingly functional in many respects, although it obviously doesn't actually type...
For all my affection towards the typewriter, however, I suspect that many LEGO fans are likely to be a bit bemused by it and that it might not be the best pick for most builders in this price bracket. I think that prize therefore has to go to 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery. I've always had a soft spot for the Space Shuttle, and over the years I've collected pretty much every version that LEGO has released.
Of these 20+ shuttles 10283 is the biggest and, in my opinion, the best in terms of authenticity, functionality and sheer presence. Highly recommended, particularly since the real thing was retired 10 years ago, and I suspect that LEGO probably won't release another Space Shuttle at this scale again.
FlagsNZ
21327 Typewriter (£179.99 / $199.99 / 199.99€)
It is hard to believe how far we have come in desktop publishing and word processing in the last few decades.
As a child, I grew up with my father’s Olivetti Lettera 32 portable typewriter which came in a zipped canvas carry case. I spent many hours using this typewriter to write assignments and lists.
The LEGO Ideas Typewriter completely rekindles those childhood memories – the sand green colour is an excellent match for this popular 1960s typewriter.
Young people today would have no understanding of the times when what you typed on the page was the final version and the strength that was required in your fingers to ensure the keys hit the paper, through the red or black ribbon, with sufficient force to leave the ink impression on the paper.
This is an impressive model which will bring a nostalgic memory to many people. It even has the authentic sound as you tap the keys.
Which of the 30 sets would you choose to give?
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38 comments on this article
That is a hard one, just in the selection above I couldn’t choose between the Guardian’s Ship & the Space Shuttle - 2 beautiful display sets at decent prices x
Since 80107 is long sold out one would have to go with 21325.
Which set would you recommend for:
a) new pieces
b) lots of different pieces in one of a few color(s)
c) unusual building techniques and unusual angles
The Tow Truck really is the best technic set since 2017, it looks cool, every function is working fine, you need no batteries or remote and it has pneumatics. What more can you ask for 150 bucks?
Flower Fruit Mountain is beautiful but not that much of a playset, I envy everyone getting this set, though. The minifigs alone sells this set, but the price is quite high.
I love the flower fruit mountain but how did no-one pick the Spring lantern festival?!?!?!? Its an incredible set. Beautiful, great parts, new colours and great techniques.
@Msanders said:
"I love the flower fruit mountain but how did no-one pick the Spring lantern festival?!?!?!? Its an incredible set. Beautiful, great parts, new colours and great techniques."
It is an exceptional set but no longer available in most of the world so there's no point recommending it to give as a Christmas gift!
80107 is my favorite set in this category and probably one of my top 3 sets of the year.
And I think 43197 Ice Castle is a set that deserves more attention. Although it seems overpriced and is the flagship of a line aimed at 8 year old girls, it’s a stunning castle.
I'm going to be the naysayer and declare that I don't like 10278 - I just don't like the modulars.
That said there's a lot of good stuff in this price range.
I found the downside of 80107 Spring Lantern Festival were the torsos & prints with 2021 on them, limiting their appeal. 80024 is really nice for all the reasons @MeganL gives, I'm just not familiar enough with the story.
I'm really intrigued by 21226 Art Project, just feels a bit expensive.
21325 Medieval Blacksmith is also a great set.
But my favourite has been 10283 Space Shuttle, maybe even my favourite set this year. A nice building experience, great functions and really robust model. The Hubble Telescope side build is very nice, too.
@Deni said:
"Which set would you recommend for:
a) new pieces
b) lots of different pieces in one of a few color(s)
c) unusual building techniques and unusual angles"
Out of the selection def the flower fruit mountain. It’s incredible
For a classic holiday tie-in, 10290 Pickup can't be beat. And for Star Wars / Mandalorian fans, 75315 is actually a very cool (and surprisingly swooshable) set, even if it's missing two very important cameos.
Of the staff picks, I'm buying 21226 for my goddaughter, so a definite thumbs-up there.
My number one has to be 21325 Medieval Blacksmith.
After a very hard time deciding what the objective best really expensive set with the greatest value out of all the 2021 releases is, I cannot get around the fact that 45609 just is on a higher level than everything else. There barely is a competition, the Small Hub is simply superior over all other products ever. Praise be to LEGO for their ultimate perfect creation! Hail Denmark!
(Jk)
Lots of really great sets in this category.
I think my favourite would have to be the Space Shuttle 10283. A great build (even with the chrome stickers!) and a great finished result. I was especially pleased with this release as I'd missed the previous 2 due to being in my dark age.
I also love the Typewriter 21327, although I can't say it bought back any childhood memories... I only had a John Bull Printing Press! But it looks fantastic, and I'm looking forward to building it.
Despite finding most Star Wars sets incredibly boring, I had to get R2-D2 75308. Just too iconic to pass by and a great display piece.
I shall get the Heavy Duty Tow Truck 42128 once it drops below £100 (not that it isn't pretty good value already),
and the Art Project 21226 when it drops to the standard £79.99 (because it's lousy value at R.R.P.)
I have 76193. It is absolutely beautiful and sturdy.
I would suggest 10295, 75288 and 80012 too. Although the last one might be very hard to find.
@Huw said:
" @Msanders said:
"I love the flower fruit mountain but how did no-one pick the Spring lantern festival?!?!?!? Its an incredible set. Beautiful, great parts, new colours and great techniques."
It is an exceptional set but no longer available in most of the world so there's no point recommending it to give as a Christmas gift!"
Oh, wow! Didnt see that its sold out everywhere! Great set though.
My winner is 71756, no doubt. I know it definitely doesn’t win the award for greatest design or value, however it simply speaks to me so much. However, since this is about gift recommendations for others than just me, I’ll give credit to 21325, 10278 and 71395 if they’re a Mario fan. And of course I cannot leave without mentioning 80107, if you can find it somewhere…
A bit surprised not to see 21325 Medieval Blacksmith on this list. That together with 80107 Spring Lantern Festival were the highlights of 2021 for me.
If I had a kid they'd be getting 80024 The Legendary Flower Fruit Mountain. Beautiful set, but it feels a bit too much like a playset for me to enjoy it fully (typing that made me feel old :( )
My recommendation for this catagory is again based on who its for
AFOLs - 10278 Police Station
Kids - 76389 Hogwarts Chamber of Secrets
Technical - 21317 Typewriter
Display fan - 31202 Mickey Mouse
Replica - 10295 Porsche 911
@Huw said:
"It is an exceptional set but no longer available in most of the world so there's no point recommending it to give as a Christmas gift!"
It is still available at Toys R Us here in Malaysia. In fact it is in a rare sale at the moment, and includes the Santa polybag as a freebie.
I think this is the first time that a modular hasn’t appeared on a Brickset gift list, which is surprising given how good of a set 10278 Police Station is, but is just a testament to how great the other sets are, which all are deserving. However, the other set that I would’ve included that really surprised me for it’s absence is the 21325 Medieval Blacksmith.
@Huw said:
" @Msanders said:
"I love the flower fruit mountain but how did no-one pick the Spring lantern festival?!?!?!? Its an incredible set. Beautiful, great parts, new colours and great techniques."
It is an exceptional set but no longer available in most of the world so there's no point recommending it to give as a Christmas gift!"
On the topic of sold out sets, how is the exit date on Brickset related to “sold out” and “retiring soon” on Lego.com? I'm assuming it's an API that is checked every so often.
For example, does the exit date appear at the same time something is sold out, or is the exit date made public much earlier than that?
21325 is perhaps my favorite set EVER. Definitely worth buying. I'm gettig a second one.
@Huw said:
" @Msanders said:
"I love the flower fruit mountain but how did no-one pick the Spring lantern festival?!?!?!? Its an incredible set. Beautiful, great parts, new colours and great techniques."
It is an exceptional set but no longer available in most of the world so there's no point recommending it to give as a Christmas gift!"
It was always out of stock when I looked… really wanted it too
Having only owned 3 of these sets and only 1 has been built, it is difficult to say which is the best to give to someone else. By looks alone, I'd say Flower Fruit Mountain is surprisingly high on the list (I don't even own it).
It really boils down to gift for an AFOL or gift for a child. As an AFOL (and child at heart) I can appreciate most of these sets if they were given to me. But the one I'd want the most would likely be the Medieval Blacksmith since castle is near and dear to my nostalgic brain. If child, I'd say the Flower Fruit Mountain.
I'll be getting the Benatar for Christmas--very excited (and it was actually in stock for double-VIP, yay!). I've never seen 71756 before, but that's very cool--lots of Classic Space-style "ships inside of ships." I know we don't have a proper Space line, but I sure love what comes out of both Ninjago and Monkie Kid.
I have tow truck 42128 and I like it. Big, lots of "old-style" features, no expensive power functions or useless apps. It has some flaws, such as stickers and pumps that don't always work well. but overall a good set
Surprised to not see the blacksmith, it's the only one I built and I like it more than modulars or the old fishing store. There are very good models to choose from though.
Remember we are recommending gifts, not picking the best set. The blacksmith is an awesome set but perhaps the panel considered it unsuitable for giving as a gift for whatever reason.
@mr_Fikou said:
"After a very hard time deciding what the objective best really expensive set with the greatest value out of all the 2021 releases is, I cannot get around the fact that 45609 just is on a higher level than everything else. There barely is a competition, the Small Hub is simply superior over all other products ever. Praise be to LEGO for their ultimate perfect creation! Hail Denmark!
(Jk)"
Absolutely. Nothing else comes close to this awesome... thing.
Seriously though, there are so many great sets in this price range that, should I wish to gift one of them to someone, I would simply choose by what best matches their interests.
My personal favorites are the Typewriter, the Medieval Blacksmith, R2-D2, the Space Shuttle, and the Technic Heavy-duty Tow Truck. The first true Technic set in years, hideous colour scheme and stickers notwithstanding.
Honorable mention to the Guardians' Ship. I have yet to build it but have been looking forward to doing so for quite some time.
@Huw said:
"Remember we are recommending gifts, not picking the best set. The blacksmith is an awesome set but perhaps the panel considered it unsuitable for giving as a gift for whatever reason."
Good point! "Best" is also very subjective. I would be more than happy make a nice written recommendation, similar to the above, but I'm not a panel writer for brickset :)
The sets they did pick seem remarkable as well, specially the Monkie Kid set, which I'm not familiar with as other themes. Guardian's set was an impulse buy for me, as I enjoy spaceships quite a bit and saw it on a sale - and has become one of my personal favorites of this year since building it.
21325 Medieval Blacksmith is definitely my favourite in this price range; if I could get one of the sets in this bracket as a gift, I would go for 21327 because I'd be interested in building its mechanism. Otherwise I don't think I'd by it with my own money, because I have to prioritize other sets.
@Huw said:
"Remember we are recommending gifts, not picking the best set."
Why would the best set not make the best gift? I can see how that might be true depending on the recipient, but if the receiver is also an AFOL, wouldn’t the set that AFOLs judge to be best not also be the one they would most like to be given?
@Zander said:
" @Huw said:
"Remember we are recommending gifts, not picking the best set."
Why would the best set not make the best gift? I can see how that might be true depending on the recipient, but if the receiver is also an AFOL, wouldn’t the set that AFOLs judge to be best not also be the one they would most like to be given?
"
The recipient is not necessarily an AFOL. They might be ** shock, horror! ** someone in the target age group!
@Huw said:
" @Zander said:
" @Huw said:
"Remember we are recommending gifts, not picking the best set."
Why would the best set not make the best gift? I can see how that might be true depending on the recipient, but if the receiver is also an AFOL, wouldn’t the set that AFOLs judge to be best not also be the one they would most like to be given?
"
The recipient is not necessarily an AFOL. They might be ** shock, horror! ** someone in the target age group!"
Indeed, which I mentioned as a possibility above. But if that’s the case, a guide by demographic might help. I realise that cross-cutting by price range, age group and familiarity with LEGO would be too many guides, but maybe one mid-budget one aimed at kids, one at AFOLs and one at PAFOLs (Potential AFOLs).
My picks for $100 to $200 samolies...
- 10278 Police Station.
Great details interior and exterior, plus storytelling. Fun build.
- 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery.
Far and away a MUST GET for any Lego collector. Great build, new build techniques, details and tremendous looking display.
- 10290 Pickup Truck.
Very cool 40's retro pickup truck. Striking in color, and you can customize for various seasons with its wonderful accessory mini-builds. Great display.
- 21226 Art Project.
Fun mosaics to put together especially with your kids. So many designs to choose and also you can make a very cool classic Spaceman image. Another nice one to hang for display.
- 21325 Medieval Blacksmith.
Fantastic interior and exterior details! Just fabulous. Fun build, great play value as well for display or to incorporate into your medieval village.
This one's tough, but I'll go with The Guardian's Ship, Police Station and Medieval Blacksmith.
@Huw said:
" @Zander said:
" @Huw said:
"Remember we are recommending gifts, not picking the best set."
Why would the best set not make the best gift? I can see how that might be true depending on the recipient, but if the receiver is also an AFOL, wouldn’t the set that AFOLs judge to be best not also be the one they would most like to be given?
"
The recipient is not necessarily an AFOL. They might be ** shock, horror! ** someone in the target age group!"
Excuse me, what does their age have anything to do with this. Sure, I buy my kids Lego sets, but I get to build and play with them as well.
@Huw said:
" @Zander said:
" @Huw said:
"Remember we are recommending gifts, not picking the best set."
Why would the best set not make the best gift? I can see how that might be true depending on the recipient, but if the receiver is also an AFOL, wouldn’t the set that AFOLs judge to be best not also be the one they would most like to be given?
"
The recipient is not necessarily an AFOL. They might be ** shock, horror! ** someone in the target age group!"
So what? That doesn't explain anything tbh.
It all comes down to personal interests of the intended recipient (independent of their age).
One kid might love things Medieval. Such a kid would certainly be disappointed if it got the Guardians' Ship instead of the Blacksmith. Otoh if the kid loves Superhero stuff, the situation will be reversed. Both sets make awesome presents for kids as well as AFOLs, but of course I understand that these proposed choices are completely subjective anyway.
I know one kid who got the Typewriter for his birthday. He was totally thrilled as he loves such antiques and his dream is to become an author. Sure, he might not be a typical kid (if there even is such a thing), but that's no reason to dismiss the fact.