The day the first cases of the LABUBU V3 "Big Into Energy" series arrived at the PopNya warehouse, it felt different. The buzz was electric. My phone was already pinging with DMs. "Do you have them?" "Can I reserve a case?" "What's the chase!?" This wasn't just another drop; this was an event.
As someone who has been collecting and selling these little monsters since the beginning, I've seen the waves of hype come and go. But the frenzy around this particular pop mart labubu blind box series feels like a new peak. So, let's cut through the noise. Is the V3 series really the best one yet? Or are we all just caught up in the momentum?
First, a quick bit of community lingo. When collectors talk about "V1," "V2," and "V3," we're not using official Pop Mart terms. It's our own shorthand.
- V1: The Exciting Macaron Series. The OG. The one that started it all.
- V2: The Have a Seat Series. The one with the adorable little chairs.
- V3: The Big Into Energy Series. The current obsession.
Understanding this little piece of fan terminology is your first step into the deeper world of LABUBU collecting. Now, let's put them head-to-head.
V3 "Energy" vs. V1 "Macarons": The Origin Story vs. The Juggernaut
Comparing the new V3s to the original Macarons is like comparing a blockbuster movie sequel to the indie film that started the franchise. The DNA is the same, but the scale and production value have changed dramatically.
I remember getting my first Macaron. It was a Lychee. The plush felt simple, almost like a standard high-quality keychain. The labubu vinyl face was cute, but the paint application could be a little hit-or-miss on those early batches. You'd sometimes see a tiny speck of misplaced paint or a slightly fuzzy line. We loved them anyway. They were charming.
The Macaron series created legends. The Green Grape and Lychee Pink became, and remain, grail-tier figures. At the peak, I saw a single Green Grape Macaron sell for over $200. It was pure, unfiltered hype born from a genuinely perfect design. If you want to understand the foundation of this craze, reading up on the realities of the Labubu Macaron market is essential.
Now, look at the V3 "Big Into Energy" series. The production quality is slick. The plush material on figures like "Coffee" or "Milk" has a more uniform, soft-velour feel compared to the slightly rougher texture of the original Macarons. The stitching is tighter. The paint on the vinyl face is almost always flawless. Pop Mart has clearly refined its manufacturing process.
But does that make it better?
Honestly, it's a trade-off. The V3s feel more "mass-produced" in their perfection. The Macarons, with their occasional tiny flaws, have a certain vintage charm. The V3 designs are clever, the little straw in the "Juice" figure, the foam art on "Coffee", but they don't quite have the simple, iconic power of a LABUBU popping out of a macaron shell. The V3 hype feels driven by the brand's momentum, whereas the V1 hype felt driven by the raw appeal of the product itself.
V3 "Energy" vs. V2 "Have a Seat": An Evolution in Detail
This is a much more direct comparison. The "Have a Seat" series was a massive step up in complexity from the Macarons, introducing the concept of an external accessory with the little chairs. It was a brilliant move. The V2 series is where I feel the labubu vinyl plush blind box format really hit its stride.
When I first unboxed a case of the "Have a Seat" V2s, my first thought was, "Wow, these feel substantial." The plush felt denser, and the figures had a satisfying weight, partly thanks to the included seats. The Cactus chase from this series is, in my opinion, one of the best chase designs Kasing Lung has ever done. It's creative, it's cute, and it was genuinely a surprise. Diving into the hype around the Have a Seat V2 series shows just how much collectors loved that unique gimmick.
So how does V3 compare to its immediate predecessor?
The Plush Feel: This is a detail you'll only notice if you handle them constantly like I do. The V2 plush feels slightly more packed and dense. The V3 plush is a tiny bit "fluffier" and lighter. Neither is better, just different. I've had customers who prefer the solid feel of V2, and others who love the soft airiness of V3.
The Gimmick: V2 had the seats. V3 has "energy" themes, with details integrated into the costume itself. The "Soda" V3 has a pull-tab on its head. The "Energy Drink" has a little monster-face logo. It's a more subtle approach than the V2's separate accessory. Personally, I miss the little chairs. They added a fantastic display option that the V3 series lacks. You could create a whole scene. The V3s are more standalone labubu plush pendants.
The Chase Figure: This is where things get interesting. The V2 "Cactus" was a surprise hit. The V3 "Soy Milk" chase, however, was hyped from the moment the first images leaked. It's an objectively incredible design, the translucent vinyl face with the little black "beans" inside is genius. But the market for it went insane, instantly. Within 24 hours of the US release, I was seeing listings for $180-$250. The V2 Cactus had a more gradual, organic climb in value. The V3 chase feels like a stock market IPO.
The V3 series is a refinement of the V2 formula, but it sacrifices the interactive "seat" element for more intricate costume details. It feels like a lateral move rather than a straight upgrade.
Our Take: The Real Talk on LABUBU V3
Alright, let's put the comparisons aside. As a seller who has opened hundreds of these boxes and as a collector who has them on my own shelves, here's my honest verdict on the labubu v3 series.
The Good: The designs are top-tier. "Coffee," "Soy Milk," and "Bubble Tea" are all-time great LABUBU concepts. The quality control is the most consistent it has ever been. For new collectors, this is a fantastic entry point because you're almost guaranteed a well-made product. The sheer variety in this labubu doll box is impressive, and it's fun to see how they interpreted each drink.
The Not-So-Good: The hype is a double-edged sword. It's great for the brand, but it's brutal for casual fans. These sell out instantly. If you're not online the second they drop, you're likely heading to the secondary market. I also feel some of the designs are a little less inspired. "Water" and "Milk" are cute, but they feel like filler compared to the more creative ones. They are the ones I consistently have left over after a case break.
The Warning: Be careful of the secondary market. Just because a labubu surprise box is sold out doesn't mean a regular "Soda" figure is worth $40. It's not. The retail price is around $16.90. The only figures that should command a high premium are the chase ("Soy Milk") and maybe the semi-popular "Coffee" or "Bubble Tea" in the first few weeks. Be patient. Restocks happen. Don't let FOMO drain your wallet. The hype around The Monsters Labubu Big Into Energy series is intense, but it will cool down.
The Unboxing Ritual: Has Anything Changed?
For many of us, half the fun is the unboxing. The shake. The crinkle of the foil. The slow reveal. So, has the labubu blind bag toy experience changed with V3?
Yes and no. The box art is gorgeous, probably the best in the series. The inner foil bag is the same familiar silver. But Pop Mart has gotten smarter.
Remember the old days of weighing boxes? Forget it. It's a fool's errand now. I tested a full case of V3s with a sensitive gram scale. The weight variance between boxes containing different figures was less than a gram. The inclusion of the paper insert and the way the labubu keychain blind box is packaged makes the weight trick completely unreliable. Don't waste your time.
The only "tell" I've noticed, and this is pure speculation based on my own inventory, is that the chase "Soy Milk" box might have a very, very faint rattle if you shake it gently side-to-side, due to the small beads inside the vinyl head. But it's so subtle it's almost indistinguishable from the keychain hardware moving around. It's not a reliable method at all.
Your best bet for getting the one you want is, and always has been, trading with the community or buying opened boxes from a trusted seller. The thrill of the pop mart labubu mystery box is in the surprise, and Pop Mart has worked hard to preserve it.
So, Should You Buy Into the LABUBU V3 Hype?
This is the big question. If you're a die-hard LABUBU fan, you already have. You didn't need this article to convince you.
If you're a new collector wondering if this is the right place to start, I'd say yes, with a caveat. The designs are fantastic and the quality is high. It's a great representation of what LABUBU is all about. The caveat is the price and availability. You might find it easier and more affordable to start with a slightly older, more available series to get a feel for collecting before diving into the V3 shark tank.If you're a casual fan who just thinks they're cute, my advice is to pick a favorite design from the V3 series and buy it opened. Don't subject yourself to the emotional rollercoaster of the labubu blind bag if you only want one specific figure. It's not worth the duplicates.
Ultimately, the V3 "Big Into Energy" series is a triumph of design and marketing. It solidified LABUBU's place at the absolute top of the designer toy food chain. It may not have the revolutionary charm of V1 or the satisfying gimmick of V2, but it's a polished, slick, and incredibly desirable collection.
Whether you're trying to complete your set or just starting your journey, you can always browse LABUBU figures on our site. We do our best to keep a rotating stock of both full sets and individual figures to help you find the one you're looking for. The hunt is part of the fun, and we're happy to be a part of your collecting story.
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