Dumpling Squishy vs Labubu: Which Viral Toy Should You Get?
The short answer
Labubu is a designer collectible figure — a vinyl or plush blind-box character you display and trade, often at premium prices. A dumpling squishy is a soft, slow-rise squeeze toy in a bamboo steamer that's also a blind-box collectible, but one you actually fidget with for stress relief. If you want a pure collectible and status piece, Labubu fits; if you want something satisfying to squeeze that's also fun to collect — and a lot more affordable — the dumpling squishy wins.
Both went viral through the same blind-box, TikTok-fueled formula, and dumpling squishies have been widely dubbed "the new Labubu." Here's how they really compare.
What is Labubu?
Labubu is a designer art toy created by artist Kasing Lung with Pop Mart, part of "The Monsters" series. It's a small, mischievous elf-like character with pointy ears and a toothy grin, sold mostly as vinyl mini figures (roughly 7–10 cm) and plush bag charms in blind boxes. It exploded in 2025 after celebrity sightings and became a Gen Z status symbol, with common figures reselling in the tens of dollars and rare "chase" editions trading for hundreds. By 2026 the frenzy had cooled and resale prices stabilized.
What is a dumpling squishy?
A dumpling squishy is a soft, slow-rise squeeze toy shaped like a bao bun or dumpling — usually with a cute kawaii face — that comes in a miniature bamboo steamer. Many are sold as mystery blind boxes, so you get the surprise reveal too. It blew up on TikTok in 2026 as the next big collectible, combining a stress-relief squishy with the blind-box thrill. (More in our complete dumpling squishy guide.)
Dumpling squishy vs Labubu: side by side
Price: the dumpling squishy is far more accessible
This is the biggest practical difference. Dumpling squishies are an affordable, low-stakes way into the blind-box fun — a single mystery box starts around $13, and even giant or rare editions stay well under $100. Labubu, by contrast, became a premium collectible: common figures resell in the tens of dollars and rare chase pieces can hit several hundred. If you want maximum fun per dollar, the dumpling squishy is the easy winner.
Feel: one you squeeze, one you display
A Labubu is something you look at, pose, and trade — it's not a tactile toy. A dumpling squishy is built to be squeezed; the slow rise is genuinely satisfying and doubles as a discreet stress reliever at your desk or in your bag. If you like having something in your hands, the dumpling squishy offers something Labubu simply doesn't.
Collecting: both scratch the itch
Both deliver the blind-box thrill of not knowing what you'll get, and both have rare editions worth chasing. Dumpling squishies come in glitter, rainbow, galaxy, mystery, mini, giant, and rare gold/silver versions — plenty to collect — while doing it at a fraction of Labubu's cost.
Is the dumpling squishy really "the new Labubu"?
It's a fair comparison: both rode the same blind-box, social-media-driven wave, and as Labubu's hype cooled in 2026, the dumpling squishy rose as the next must-have. But they're not the same thing. Labubu is a collectible figure; the dumpling squishy adds the sensory, stress-relief squeeze on top of the collecting — which is exactly why it's pulling in people who want a toy they can actually play with, not just display.
So which should you get?
- Get Labubu if you want a designer collectible figure to display and trade, and don't mind premium prices.
- Get a dumpling squishy if you want something genuinely satisfying to squeeze, the blind-box thrill, a cute aesthetic, and a budget-friendly price — basically, the fun of the trend without the resale arms race.
For most people who loved the idea of Labubu but want something more tactile and affordable, the dumpling squishy is the better pick.
The bottom line
Labubu is a premium designer collectible you display; the dumpling squishy is a soft, slow-rise squeeze toy you can both collect and fidget with — at a far friendlier price. Same blind-box thrill, more hands-on fun. For everything about these toys, see our complete dumpling squishy guide, or read where to buy a dumpling squishy.
Frequently asked questions
Is the dumpling squishy the new Labubu?
It's widely described that way. Both are viral blind-box collectibles that took off on TikTok, and as Labubu's hype cooled in 2026, dumpling squishies rose as the next must-have. The key difference is that a dumpling squishy is also a soft, slow-rise squeeze toy, not just a display figure.
What's the difference between a dumpling squishy and a Labubu?
A Labubu is a designer collectible figure (vinyl or plush) made to display and trade. A dumpling squishy is a soft, slow-rise squeeze toy in a bamboo steamer that you can fidget with and collect, usually at a much lower price.
Is a dumpling squishy cheaper than a Labubu?
Generally, yes. Dumpling squishies start around $13 and stay under $100 even for giant or rare versions, while common Labubu figures resell in the tens of dollars and rare ones can reach several hundred.
Which is better for stress relief, a dumpling squishy or a Labubu?
A dumpling squishy. Its soft slow-rise material is made to be squeezed and works as a discreet stress reliever, while a Labubu is a display collectible, not a tactile toy.
Should I collect dumpling squishies or Labubu?
Both offer the blind-box thrill and rare editions. Choose dumpling squishies if you want hands-on, affordable fun you can also squeeze; choose Labubu if you specifically want premium designer figures to display and trade.