Are Nanoblocks compatible with other building bricks?

Question

Recently I have found Nanoblocks, a Japanese brick toy, in American stores. How compatible are these with other building toys? They look to be approximately the same scale as Modulex.

Answer 1

It appears that the goal of the nanoblock producers is to make "the world’s smallest toy building blocks"¹. And they appear to be too small to be compatible with LEGO. See the following video comparisons of the sizes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cobnr8fWTY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QXGP837-dU

_{1. http://www.mynanoblock.com/site/?page_id=2}

Answer 2

I can attest that Nano bloks (left) are not the same scale as Modulex (right).

Answer 3

Nano blocks are exactly half the width, height and length of standard Lego blocks. They are “compatible” in the sense that you could take the instructions and list of bricks for a Lego build, replace all the bricks with nano blocks, and get a perfectly fine build at half the size.

They won’t fit together with Lego. The studs on Lego bricks are so comparatively big, they just won’t fit.

What is quit confusing is that there are lots of different names. I think “nano blocks” is actually a brand name. You will find them named “diamond blocks”, “micro blocks”, “mini blocks” or just small blocks, and 99% of the time they are the same.

There are supposed to be “micro” blocks at three quarters Lego size, I have never seen them. And in my experience, all these small blocks are compatible with each other.

Answer 4

[2 Duplo is compatible with normal Lego, even though it has two times the size as it has hollow studs. The tube of a normal 2×2 brick fits inside of the hollow studs. A Nano Blocks 2×2 piece, being half the size of a normal brick, fits with a piece having a hollow stud, e.g. a 1× round or 1×1 square with holder. But Kawada Nano Blocks don't use tubes, so they do not fit like this when most other makes do.

I Guess that Nano Blocks' plastic is half as thick, and so can attach to Lego by overhanging a corner with it touching the second studs.

Photo, arms and legs are Lego, head and torso of Nano Blocks.

I've some Nano Blocks size 2×№ bricks that can attach under Lego 2×№ pieces by having 10% overhang on one side and 40% on the other. Will only hold like this or just 1 stud on corner with older bricks or plate.

Nano Blocks on Lego 1×2's with 1 stud (at 90° to each other) and then Modulex on top.

The edge of System Lego fits between two studs, so can trap between a brick and a tile.

They also fit the end of a 2x№ Modulex by 2 studs on a corner, if both ends of 2×5 then you can join the two with Nano.

For Duplo, you need to miss every third stud to avoid the ribs.

Tenté, having thinner walls and bigger studs than System Lego, makes for a tight fit, not holding when not reaching the edges.