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It feels like just yesterday you could casually browse for Labubu figures. Now? It's a full-contact sport. And the series at the absolute epicenter of this madness is THE MONSTERS "Big into Energy." If you've tried to score one through the Pop Now Big into Energy drops on the official app, you know the unique pain of watching them sell out in 0.2 seconds.
As someone who runs PopNya and handles these little guys every single day, I've seen the hype build from a low rumble to a deafening roar. We're talking about a plush keychain with a vinyl head. Simple concept. But Kasing Lung's mischievous monster has a chokehold on the collector community right now, and this series is its crown jewel.
But the conversation has gotten complicated. We're not just talking about one series anymore. We're on version three. I constantly get questions from customers: "What's the difference?" "Is V3 better?" "Why is the V1 secret so expensive?"
Let's actually break it down. Not the corporate marketing fluff. The real, in-hand, collector-to-collector details.
The Anatomy of a Phenomenon: What IS "Big into Energy"?
Before we compare, let's be clear on what we're talking about. Unlike a standard vinyl figure, the Pop Mart Big into Energy blind box contains a hybrid. You get a small, wonderfully grumpy-looking vinyl Labubu head on a soft, themed plush body. It comes with a sturdy metal clasp, turning these big into energy dolls into bag charms, rearview mirror decorations, or just desk companions.
This format is genius. It bridges the gap between the hardcore vinyl collector and the casual fan who just wants something cute for their tote bag. It's accessible. It's functional. And it's ridiculously photogenic. That's the formula for a hype storm.
Now, let's get into the versions.
Big into Energy V1: The OG Spark**
This is the one that started it all. When it first dropped, it was popular, but not impossible to get. The theme was centered around energizing drinks and snacks. We got designs like Soy Milk, Coffee, and Energy Bar.
The Feel: The plush on V1 is good, but it has a slightly standard, mass-produced feel to it. It's soft, but not luxurious. The vinyl heads from this run are fantastic, with sharp paint applications. The "Soy Milk" Labubu, with its little straw, is a personal favorite and a classic design.
The Quirk (Information Gain Alert): The clasp on V1 is a simple lobster claw style. It works, but I've had a few customers mention over the years that they worry about it accidentally opening. More importantly, the very first production run of V1 had a slightly different tag material than later restocks. It's a tiny detail, the kind of thing that only matters if you're an obsessive collector, but it's a "tell" for first-run purists.
The Secret: The V1 secret is "Little Spark." It's a translucent, glitter-filled Labubu with a little flame plush. The aftermarket price on this one is, frankly, insane. I've seen it listed for over $400-$500. It's the holy grail for BIE collectors because it was the first, and the production numbers felt lower. Finding a Pop Mart Big into Energy secret from this series is like finding a Willy Wonka golden ticket.
Big into Energy V2: The Refined Follow-Up
Pop Mart saw the success of V1 and, thankfully, didn't wait too long for a sequel. V2 kept the "drinks" theme but expanded it to things like Orange Juice, Strawberry Milk, and a super cute Bubble Tea design.
The Feel: This is where I noticed the first real change. The plush material on V2 feels a tad softer and more "premium" than V1. It's a subtle upgrade, but when you hold them side-by-side, you can feel it. The stitching also seems a little cleaner on average. They clearly refined the production process. The vinyl heads remained high-quality, no complaints there.
The Quirk: The V2 boxes feel slightly different. The cardboard has a smoother, more matte finish compared to the glossier V1 boxes. This is the kind of useless knowledge you accumulate when you've unboxed hundreds of cases. Also, the weight distribution on the Bubble Tea figure is noticeably bottom-heavy because of the "boba" plushies inside its clear vinyl body. It doesn't help you identify it in a blind box, but it's a fun design detail.
The Secret: The V2 secret is "Little Light," a glow-in-the-dark version. It's a fantastic concept and glows beautifully after a quick charge under a lamp. While still highly sought after and expensive (typically in the $150-$250 range), it never quite reached the mythical status of V1's "Little Spark." It's more attainable, which is a good thing for most of us.
Big into Energy V3: The Hype Beast
And that brings us to the current moment. The Big into Energy V3 series. This one dropped and the market completely broke. The theme shifted to "sweet treats" and desserts, with designs like Ice Cream, Macaron, and Gummy Bear. The designs are arguably the cutest and most colorful of the three series.
The Feel: The quality is consistent with V2. The plush is soft, the vinyl is well-painted. The big upgrade for V3 is the clasp. They moved to a more robust, gate-style clip that feels much more secure than the V1/V2 lobster claw. This was a fantastic and necessary quality-of-life improvement, especially for people who actually use these on their bags.
The Quirk (Real Seller Insight): The demand for V3 has been so astronomical that I've noticed more minor quality control issues than with the previous two series combined. Nothing major, but things like tiny paint smudges on the head or a loose thread on the plush are more common. It feels like the factories are rushing to meet demand. It's something I now check for specifically when sorting inventory. It's a classic problem when a product gets this hot; I've seen it happen before with other toy lines. The hype can sometimes outpace the production quality.
The Secret: The V3 secret is "Heartbeat." It's a pink, translucent Labubu holding a plush heart. It's adorable. And it's expensive. Because V3 is the "it" series right now, the secret is commanding prices that are already rivaling the V2 secret, sometimes hitting the $200-$300 mark just weeks after release. The FOMO is real.
Real Talk: My Honest Verdict
So, which one is the best?
Honestly, if you're a new collector just dipping your toes in, I'd actually recommend trying to find V2 at a reasonable price. The designs are iconic, the quality is a step up from V1, and the aftermarket prices haven't been completely distorted by the current V3 hype tornado.
Big into Energy V3 is fantastic, and the secure clasp is a genuine upgrade. But the hype is making it a frustrating and expensive chase. You're paying a premium for recency. If you're dead set on it, my best advice is to try and buy a full Pop Mart Big into Energy box (a case of 6). It's a bigger upfront cost, but it guarantees you the full set of regular designs and saves you the headache and expense of chasing down your favorites on the secondary market. It's the most economical way to do it if you want them all.
And V1? It's for the purists. It's a classic, but unless you're a die-hard completist, the quality-of-life improvements in V2 and V3 make them a better starting point.
The whole blind box experience is a gamble, and that's part of the fun. If you're new to this world, be sure to check out a breakdown of how the whole Pop Mart blind box system works before you dive in too deep.
The Pop Now Problem and The Hunt
The biggest hurdle for V3 has been Pop Mart's own system. The Pop Now feature in their app is designed for hyped releases, but it's become a source of immense frustration. It's a lottery that favors bots and the fastest fingers in the world. Many genuine collectors are left empty-handed, which is what fuels the reseller market. If you're trying to navigate it, you're going to need a strategy; it's a game within the game, and you need a playbook for Pop Now to even stand a chance.
It's also why local stores and trusted online sellers like us at PopNya are so important. We do our best to get stock and offer it to the community at a fair price, taking the lottery aspect out of it. But even for us, getting enough V3 stock to meet demand has been a challenge. The last shipment I got was gone in under an hour.
The hype around Labubu has completely reshaped what we consider the top toys in the designer world. It's a phenomenon driven by a great design and a perfect storm of social media visibility.
While Labubu is king, don't forget the amazing variety out there. I'm a MOLLY collector at heart, and Kenny Wong's work has a timeless appeal that I'll always love. If the Labubu chase ever gets too exhausting, I highly recommend you browse our MOLLY collection for a different, but equally rewarding, collecting journey.
For now, the Big into Energy craze shows no signs of slowing down. We'll probably see a V4 before we know it. And you can bet I'll be right there with you, trying to score a case, unboxing them live, and breaking down every little detail. The hunt is part of the fun.
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