The Blue Labubu Mystery: V3 Plush vs. The Mythical OG

PopNya Team • February 26, 2026

Everyone's searching for the "blue labubu," but which one? I'm breaking down the difference between the new "Big Into Energy" V3 blue plush and the mythical, almost impossible-to-find original. Plus, a hot take on why you might want the yellow one instead. This is the real talk you won't get from Pop Mart's site.

I get this question in my DMs at PopNya almost every single day. "Do you have the blue Labubu?" It sounds simple, right? But the answer is... Complicated. Because "the" blue Labubu isn't just one thing anymore. It's a tale of two very different monsters, one a modern superstar and the other a near-mythical ghost from the past.

And as a seller and a collector, I feel like I need to set the record straight. Because if you just type "blue labubu" into Google, you're stepping into a minefield of hype, confusion, and a whole lot of fakes.

Let's start with the one you're probably seeing everywhere right now.

The New Kid on the Block: The LABUBU V3 Blue Plush

This is the guy causing all the recent commotion. Officially, it's from THE MONSTERS "Big Into Energy" series, and its name is "Hope." It's not a blind box figure; it's a standalone, medium-sized plush with a vinyl face. And it is, undeniably, very blue.

When we first got our shipment at the store, I was genuinely impressed. The plush material is softer and denser than the earlier Macaron series plushes. It has this satisfying, slightly fuzzy texture. The vinyl faceplate is crisp, with a beautiful matte finish that doesn't feel cheap. Pop Mart has really stepped up their game on these mixed-media pieces.

But here's the first thing you won't see in the official product photos: the color is a little different in person. The promo shots make it look like a vibrant, almost electric blue. In reality, it's a slightly more muted, dustier royal blue. It's still gorgeous, but manage your expectations. I've had a couple of customers mention this, and it's a consistent observation.

The labubu v3 blue plush launched with a retail price of around $50-$60, depending on the retailer. The hype was immediate. Within the first week, I saw listings on eBay and Mercari hitting $120. It was wild. That initial frenzy has cooled off a bit, but it still commands a premium, especially in regions where Pop Mart stock is scarce. It's a perfect example of how Pop Mart can create an "accessible" collectible that still fuels the aftermarket. If you're looking for one, our LABUBU collection is a good place to start, as we restock whenever possible.

This plush is part of a duo. It was released alongside a yellow labubu named "Courage." And honestly? I have a bit of a hot take on this.

Real Talk: Don't Sleep on the Yellow Labubu

The blue one gets all the love. It has more than double the search traffic of its yellow counterpart. But between you and me, the yellow "Courage" Labubu is the sleeper hit of the pair. The yellow is so much more vibrant in person. It's this warm, sunny, almost-mustard-yellow that just POPS on a shelf.

In a sea of pink, purple, and blue designer toys, the yellow one stands out. I have both on my personal shelf, and my eyes are always drawn to the yellow one first. The blue one is classic, for sure. It has that cool, serene monster vibe. But the yellow one just feels more... Energetic. Which, I guess, is the whole point of the "Big Into Energy" series.

From a seller's perspective, the demand for the pop mart labubu blue is still higher, no question. But I've noticed a slow, steady rise in collectors specifically asking for the yellow one after the initial blue hype wave passed. They see it in collection photos and realize how good it looks. If you're a collector who likes to zig when others zag, the yellow is your boy. Plus, its aftermarket price has generally been more stable and less inflated than the blue. For a deeper look into this specific series, you can check out my full thoughts on the Labubu Big into Energy hype.

Now, let's address the ghost in the room. The other blue Labubu.

The Myth, The Legend: The Original Blue Vinyl Labubu

Before the V3 plush, if you said "blue Labubu," you were talking about something else entirely. A full vinyl figure, from one of the much earlier series. This is where things get murky.

There isn't one single, definitive "original" blue Labubu from a standard blind box series like there is for, say, the pink Labubu from the Forest Concert series. The most famous "OG Blue" is a figure that looks a lot like the standard brown Labubu but in a solid blue colorway.

Here's the collector lore, pieced together from years on forums and talking to other old-school collectors: This blue figure was likely a special release, possibly for an early convention or an exclusive collaboration with a platform like Ali Express in China, long before Labubu went global with Pop Mart. We're talking circa 2017-2018. It was never part of a wide, international blind box release.

This is why it's so incredibly rare. It's a relic from a different era of the brand.

This is the most important thing I can tell you: 95% of the "Original Blue Labubu" listings you see on sites like eBay or AliExpress today are fakes. Full stop.

They are incredibly easy to counterfeit because the design is so simple. The fakes often have a slightly different shade of blue, a glossy finish instead of the proper matte one, and messy paint lines around the eyes and teeth. The vinyl feels lighter and cheaper. If you see one listed for under $100, you can be almost certain it's not authentic. A real one, if you could even find a seller willing to part with it, would likely trade for hundreds, maybe even over a thousand dollars, in dedicated collector circles.

It's a grail piece. It's not something you just casually add to your cart. Chasing this figure is a quest for seasoned collectors with deep pockets and a high tolerance for risk. For 99% of people, the hunt for this specific blue Labubu will only end in frustration or getting scammed. It's a bit like the infamous grape-flavored green Labubu, another mythical beast from the early days.

The Blue Standoff: V3 Plush vs. OG Vinyl

So let's put them side-by-side. This isn't just about color; it's about two completely different philosophies of collecting.

As you can see, they aren't even in the same league. One is a fun, modern collectible you can realistically own. The other is an artifact.

Our Take: The Seller's Verdict

Look, I love a good grail hunt as much as the next collector. But I also hate seeing people get ripped off.

My honest advice? Forget about the original blue vinyl Labubu. Unless you're a seasoned collector with a trusted network and are prepared to drop serious cash, the search is not worth the headache. The sheer volume of fakes makes it a dangerous game. For a better understanding of how to protect yourself, reading up on the basics of spotting fakes is a good idea, and we cover some of that in our general Labubu guide.

The Labubu V3 blue plush, "Hope," is the blue Labubu for the people. It's official, it's high-quality, and it captures the modern spirit of The Monsters. It gives you that beautiful blue colorway in a form you can actually get your hands on without having to hire a private investigator.

Is it overhyped? A little. The initial price explosion was classic FOMO. But now that things have settled, it's a fantastic piece to add to your collection. It feels substantial, looks great on a desk or shelf, and has that perfect balance of cute and mischievous that makes Labubu so special.

So when someone asks me for the "blue Labubu" now, I point them straight to the V3 plush. It's the right answer for almost everyone. And then I quietly suggest they take a second look at the yellow one. Because sometimes the best treasures are the ones hiding in plain sight.

If you're starting or growing your monster family, the best thing to do is explore the different series and see what speaks to you. You can browse LABUBU figures from various series to get a feel for the different styles beyond just the hype pieces. You might find your personal grail isn't the one everyone else is chasing.

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