Is the New Labubu Series (V3) Worth the Hype? An Honest Collector's Comparison

I finally got my hands on a full case of "The Monsters - Big into Energy," the series everyone is calling the 3rd gen labubu. The hype has been deafening. My social feeds are a non-stop flood of unboxings, people showing off their pulls, and the inevitable "ISO" (in search of) posts for the secret.

But after opening all 12 boxes, handling each figure, and watching the market react in real-time, I have to be honest. It's complicated.

This isn't just another drop. This new labubu series feels like a statement from POP MART and Kasing Lung. It's louder, more dynamic, and frankly, a bit of a departure from what many of us originally fell in love with. The big question is: Is it a good departure?

Let's break it down, comparing it to the series that came before. Because that's the only way to really know if it's worth your money and shelf space.

The "V3" Name: What Are We Even Talking About?

First, a quick point of clarification because I see the confusion online constantly. There is no official "Labubu V3". Fans have started calling "Big into Energy" the labubu third generation, or V3, because it feels like a spiritual successor to the original standing series (V1) and the "Have a Seat" collection (V2).

It makes sense. V1 was the OG introduction. V2 gave them a new pose. This new series puts them in motion. It's a logical progression. But just know that if you're searching for "V3" on an official site, you'll come up empty. The official name is "The Monsters - Big into Energy." Now that we've cleared that up, let's get to the good stuff.

Head-to-Head: Big into Energy vs. The Classics (V1 & V2)

I pulled out a few of my old favorites to do a side-by-side. A "Soy" from the original Monsters series and a "Gardener" from Have a Seat V2. Placing them next to the new "Lightning" and "Hiccup" figures from Big into Energy was... Illuminating.

Design & Vibe

The originals were all about that mischievous, slightly melancholic charm. Labubu was a creature you'd find in a spooky forest, peeking from behind a mushroom. Their poses were static, letting the subtle expressions and accessories do the talking. They were cute, but with an edge.

The "Have a Seat" series was a brilliant evolution. It kept the core charm but made them more displayable, more like little statues sitting on your shelf. It was a subtle change that collectors adored. If you're new to the scene, you should definitely read up on the Have a Seat Labubu V2 hype to understand its place in the lineage.

This new labubu series throws all that subtlety out the window.

These figures are in motion. They're running, tripping, conducting electricity, and bursting with... Well, energy. The designs are complex, with more parts and more dynamic poses. "Lightning" is literally zapping itself, and "Gust" is being blown away by the wind. It's a completely different energy (pun intended). It's less "enchanted forest" and more "Saturday morning cartoon."

For some, this is a huge win. The figures are more playful and visually exciting. For others, it might feel like a loss of the quiet, quirky magic that made Labubu special. I'm still torn, honestly.

Quality, Feel, and That "New Toy Smell"

This is where my seller-senses started tingling. The first thing I noticed when I unboxed the case was the packaging. The box art is fantastic, vibrant and high-energy, perfectly matching the theme. But the figures themselves... They feel different.

The vinyl seems a tiny bit lighter, maybe a touch softer than the older series. It's not a bad thing, necessarily, but it's noticeable if you've handled hundreds of these like I have. The paint application is generally sharp, which is impressive given the complexity. The tiny logo on "Energy Drink" is crisp, and the gradients on "Sunset" are smooth.

However, I've noticed a pattern from the first batch we received at PopNya. The connection points for the accessories can be a bit fragile. On the "Hiccup" figure, the little cloud accessory plugs into its mouth. I've had two separate customers mention that the peg on that cloud feels a little loose after a few times of taking it in and out. This is a classic first-batch issue. It's a tiny detail you'd never know from an online photo, but it's the kind of thing you discover after living with the toy for a week.

Compare this to the Exciting Macaron Labubu series, which felt incredibly solid and premium right out of the gate. The Macarons had a satisfying heft and a matte finish that just felt expensive. This new series is more glossy and feels more like a "play" toy, which fits the theme, I suppose.

Real Talk: My Honest Seller/Collector Verdict

Look, this series is fun. The designs are creative, and some of them are instant classics. "Soy Milk" is an adorable nod to the original "Soy," and "Lightning" is just an incredible concept. They photograph beautifully and will definitely pop on a shelf.

But... Is it the best Labubu series? No. I don't think so.

For me, it feels a bit like a response to the market's demand for more rather than a pure artistic evolution. The hype around Labubu has reached such a fever pitch that anything new is guaranteed to sell out. This series feels designed to be viral. The poses are meme-able. The concepts are loud.

I miss the quiet confidence of the earlier series. The charm of the Macarons or the simple perfection of the original Monsters is hard to beat. This series, while good, feels like it's trying a little too hard to be exciting. It's a great entry point for new collectors, but for long-time fans, it might lack some of the soul that made us fall in love in the first place. It's a solid B+ in a discography full of A+ hits.

The Market Reality: Prices, Scarcity, and the Chase

This is where things get crazy. The hype for this 3rd gen labubu is unlike anything I've seen since the Macaron craze. Retail is standard POP MART pricing, around $15-$17 per box in the US. But the secondary market is a warzone.

Information Gain Alert: As of writing this, the "Lightning" figure, which is a regular-ratio figure, is consistently selling for $45-$60 on platforms like Mercari and eBay. That's a 3-4x markup for a common figure, simply because it's the fan favorite. The secret, "Big Monster," is easily fetching $250-$350. That's the power of Labubu hype in 2024.

The staggered release schedule is fueling this fire. The series dropped in Asia weeks before it got a wide release in the US and Europe. This created a vacuum where desperate collectors were paying insane prices to import them. Now that they're here, the prices have stabilized a bit, but the key figures are still commanding a premium. For a deeper dive into this phenomenon, my analysis of the Labubu Big into Energy collector's hype covers this in more detail.

A Collector's Tip That Could Save You Money: People are already claiming they can "weigh" the boxes to find the secret "Big Monster." DO NOT FALL FOR THIS. I personally weighed every box from my sealed case with a sensitive digital scale. The weight variation between the box with the secret and the other regular boxes was less than 2 grams. It's well within the margin of error for manufacturing. The weight of the collector card and the desiccant packet can vary more than that. You are far more likely to get scammed by someone selling a "weighed" box than you are to find the secret. Just buy from a reputable source and enjoy the surprise.

How Does It Stack Up Against Other Crossovers?

It's also interesting to compare this core series release to the recent high-profile collaborations, like the Monsters x One Piece Labubu. The One Piece series was a massive hit, but it appealed to two specific fandoms. "Big into Energy" is an attempt to create that same level of excitement within the main Labubu line.

In a way, it's a riskier move. It redefines what a "standard" Labubu can be. The One Piece figures were clearly a special event. This series sets a new baseline. The question is whether the next series will continue this high-energy trend or return to the calmer roots of the character.

My gut tells me we're seeing a diversification. We'll get the cute, pastel series like the Macarons, the high-energy series like this one, and the big-name collabs.It's a smart business strategy, but it can also lead to a bit of brand dilution if not handled carefully.

So, should you jump on the "Big into Energy" bandwagon?

If you're a die-hard Labubu completionist, you already have your case pre-ordered. If you're a new collector, this is a super fun, exciting place to start. The figures are eye-catching and full of personality.

But if you're a discerning collector on a budget, my advice is to be patient. The hype will eventually die down. The prices for the regular figures will drop. You'll be able to pick up your favorites for a much more reasonable price in a few months. The only ones that will hold their value are the secret and maybe one or two of the most popular regulars like "Lightning."

Take a moment to browse the full LABUBU collection and see how this new series fits into the bigger picture. Does it speak to you more than the others? Or does it make you appreciate the classics even more? There's no wrong answer. That's the beauty of collecting. It's your collection, your story. This is just the newest, loudest chapter.

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