No, the LEGO Juniors branding was not deleted, but it was retired and replaced with a new branding aimed at the same target age group.
The Status of LEGO Juniors Branding
While you won't find new sets labeled "LEGO Juniors" on shelves anymore, the concept of entry-level LEGO System sets designed for children transitioning from DUPLO still exists. The change involved retiring the specific "Juniors" name and introducing a new way to identify these sets.
What Happened to LEGO Juniors?
According to The Lego Group's announcement:
On October 22, 2018, The Lego Group announced that they would be retiring the "Lego Juniors" branding on December 31, 2018 and replacing it with "4+" in 2019.
This means that as of the end of 2018, LEGO stopped producing sets under the "LEGO Juniors" label.
Introducing the "4+" Branding
Starting in 2019, sets previously fitting the LEGO Juniors category began appearing under the "4+" branding. This new label clearly indicates the target age group for these sets, which are designed with simpler builds and larger, easier-to-handle pieces compared to standard LEGO System sets, but are more complex than DUPLO.
Essentially, the product line serving children aged approximately 4-7 years old was rebranded from "LEGO Juniors" to "4+". The goal was to simplify the age-grading across their product lines and make it clearer which sets are appropriate for children ready to move on from DUPLO bricks.
Key Takeaways
- The "LEGO Juniors" branding was retired on December 31, 2018.
- It was replaced by the "4+" branding in 2019.
- Sets designed for the same age group (transitioning from DUPLO) continue to be produced under the new "4+" label.
So, while the name is gone, the category of LEGO sets for this specific developmental stage is still very much available under a different name.
