I swear, if I had a dollar for every email I've gotten in the last six months asking "Do you have the blue labubu?" I could probably just buy the entire stock myself. But my first question is always the same: "Which one?"
The blank stare (or, you know, the email equivalent) I get back tells me everything. Most new collectors don't realize there isn't just one blue Labubu. The search term itself has become a stand-in for a whole vibe, a specific aesthetic that has taken over TikTok and Instagram. But if you're actually trying to buy one, you need to know what you're looking for.
You're basically choosing between two main contenders: the old-school original from The Monsters Toys series, and the new, fuzzy kid on the block, the labubu v3 blue. They look similar from a distance, but in the world of designer toys, the details are everything. They have different histories, different textures, and wildly different price tags.
The Original: The "Ali Blue" That Started It All
Let's go back in time a bit. Before the Macaron madness and the massive department store displays, Labubu was just one character in Kasing Lung's "The Monsters" universe. The first series of vinyl figures, simply called The Monsters Toys, included a solid blue figure.
This is the one that OGs and long-time collectors think of.
It's a simple, smooth vinyl figure in a very specific shade of cornflower blue. In the community, you'll sometimes hear it called "Ali Blue" or "Aliexpress Blue." This isn't an official name. It's a nickname that stuck because, for a long time, the most common place to see it was in listings for fakes on sites like AliExpress. The fakes came first, in a way, which ironically made the authentic one even more desirable.
When this figure was first released, it wasn't the chase figure. It wasn't the star. It was just one of the gang. I remember having a few in the shop, and they sold at a normal pace, right around retail. Maybe $20, $25 on a good day.
Then the hype train left the station.
As Labubu's popularity exploded, people started digging back into the older series. They wanted the "originals." And that simple blue figure, with its classic buck-toothed grin, became a status symbol. The price shot up. What was once a $25 figure now regularly commands $100-$150 on secondary markets if it's in good condition with the box. It's a perfect example of how nostalgia and scarcity can create a market frenzy. If you're just starting out, you might want to read up on The Ultimate Guide to LABUBU Dolls: Prices, Authenticity, and Why Everyone Wants One to understand how this market works.
A detail only a collector would notice: The vinyl on these older figures has a slightly different feel. It's a bit harder, with a semi-gloss finish compared to the more matte feel of today's releases. If you hold one next to a new Macaron Labubu, you can feel the difference instantly.
The New Contender: The Labubu V3 "Hope" Blue
Fast forward to the "Big into Energy" series. This is where we get the labubu v3 blue. Its official name is "Hope," and it's part of a series designed to be motivational and, well, energetic.
This is the blue Labubu that most new fans are probably seeing.
And here's the single most important difference, the one that catches so many people by surprise: the V3 blue is flocked. It's not smooth vinyl. It's covered in a thin layer of soft, fuzzy plush material. I've had more than one customer order it online and then email me, surprised by the texture. They expected the classic smooth vinyl but got a fuzzy little monster instead.
The color is also different. It's a much more vibrant, royal blue. More saturated. The face is also pure V3 design, wide, curious eyes and a slightly more dynamic pose, as if it's about to leap into action. It's an adorable figure, and it absolutely nails the "pop of color" aesthetic. You can learn more about the whole series in my collector's honest guide to the Labubu Big into Energy hype.
The V3 Hope was an instant hit. It was released right at the peak of the Labubu craze, and it gave everyone who lusted after the expensive original blue a chance to get a similar look for retail price. It's accessible, it's cute, and it's official pop mart labubu blue.
So, What About the Yellow Labubu?
You can't talk about the blue without mentioning its partner in crime: the yellow labubu. The search data doesn't lie; people who look for one often look for the other. Why?
The blue-and-yellow pairing was cemented by the Exciting Macaron series. The "Sea Salt Coconut" (a pastel blue) and "Soymilk" (a creamy yellow) became the two most popular, non-secret figures from arguably the most popular series ever. They were everywhere. People put them in their cars, on their desks, in little dioramas. They became the default.
I've talked a lot about the Macaron series before, and if you're considering one, you should definitely read up on The Honest Labubu Macaron Buyer's Guide because the fakes are a nightmare.
The demand for the yellow labubu is just as intense, if not more so at times. The "Soymilk" Macaron, in particular, has a cult following. It's a soft, pleasing color that just works with any decor. While the blue feels a bit more like a classic toy color, the yellow feels more like a design object. It's a subtle but important distinction in why people buy them.
Real Talk: Which One Should You Actually Buy?
Okay, let's cut the crap. As someone who sells these for a living but also collects them obsessively, here's my honest take.
If you are a serious, long-time collector with a budget, hunting down an authentic original Monsters Toys blue is a worthy quest. It's a piece of Labubu history. It is the origins of the character before the global hype machine took over. But you need to be extremely careful. Fakes of this specific figure are everywhere, and they're getting better. My advice: buy from a reputable collector or a store you trust, and scrutinize the photos. Check the foot stamp (it should say "Kasing Lung" and "POP MART" clearly) and the paint application on the teeth. The fakes often have sloppy, rounded teeth; a real one has crisp, defined edges.
If you are a new fan or a casual collector who just loves the look, please, for the love of all that is holy, do not spend $150 on an old blue Labubu. Just buy the labubu v3 blue "Hope." It's readily available, it costs retail (around $15-$20), and it gives you that vibrant blue you're looking for. You get the modern, wide-eyed expression and the fun, fuzzy texture. It's 90% of the vibe for a fraction of the cost and zero of the risk.
And if you're an aesthetic-driven buyer who saw a cute blue monster on your feed... Take a breath. Are you sure you want the blue one? Or have you just been influenced to want it? The hype is real, and it's powerful. Before you drop any money, I'd suggest you take a moment to actually browse the full LABUBU collection. You might find that the pastel pink from the Sweet series or the deep emerald from the Forest Concert series speaks to you more. I've seen it happen. A customer comes in dead-set on blue, and walks out with a green one they fell in love with. The Green Labubu has its own wild story, by the way.
Right now, it's blue and yellow. A year ago, it was all about the green "Grape" from the Fruit series. Before that, it was the pinks. Paying a massive aftermarket premium for a specific color is a risky game, because the hype might shift to a new color next season. Buy what you genuinely love, not what you think you're supposed to love.
The Final Word on Fakes and Prices
I have to say it again because I see people get burned every week. The market for the original blue Labubu is a minefield of fakes. They're not just cheap knockoffs anymore; they're sophisticated replicas. They've even started adding weights inside the fakes to mimic the heft of the real vinyl. Your best defense is knowledge and a trusted source.
- Price Check for the OG Blue: If you see one listed for under $80, be extremely suspicious. If it's under $50, it's almost certainly fake. A fair price for an authentic, boxed original is in the $120-$180 range as of late 2024.
- Price Check for the V3 Blue: This should be retail price. Don't pay more than $25 for it unless it's been sold out for months, which it currently is not.
- Where to Buy: For new releases like the V3, your best bet is always the official Pop Mart store or a trusted retailer like, well, us at PopNya. When you're ready to find your perfect monster, you can always check out the LABUBU figures we have in stock. For the vintage stuff, you're looking at collector forums, reputable eBay sellers (check their feedback religiously), and specialized secondary market stores.
So, the "blue labubu" isn't a single item. It's a phenomenon. It's a story of how a simple color, through a combination of nostalgia, hype, and social media, can become an icon. Whether you choose the smooth, vintage original or the fuzzy, energetic V3, you're buying a piece of that story. Just make sure it's the piece that truly makes you smile when you see it on your shelf.
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