Nanoleaf Smart Lighting Review: A Hilarious Adventure in Home Decor

Hey there, tech enthusiasts and home decor aficionados! Today, we’re diving into the wild world of smart lighting with Nanoleaf. These folks have the audacity to claim they’re the best in the biz, with no worthy alternatives. Challenge accepted, Nanoleaf. Let’s see what you’ve got!

Unboxing the Beast

First up, we’ve got the Nanoleaf smart triangles. These bad boys are compatible with HomeKit, Google Home, and even play nice with some Chinese smart home systems. I’ll be honest – I’d already cracked this box open and stuffed everything back in for dramatic effect. So if things look a bit chaotic, just roll with it.

Inside, we’ve got:

• A power brick big enough to double as a doorstop
• A converter that screams “I’m important!”
• A control module (fancy name for a light switch)
• The star of the show: the light panels

Let me tell you, these panels are HUGE. Like, “I’m going to need a bigger wall” huge. This box comes with nine panels, and they snap together with little connectors that make you feel like a kid playing with fancy Legos.

The Great Wall of Light

Now, I’ve had these sitting around for days, paralyzed by indecision about where to put them. Most folks slap them behind their computer for some sweet screen-syncing action. But I’m a rebel. I’m putting these bad boys on the wall opposite my desk. Go big or go home, right?

To avoid overthinking it (my specialty), I decided to just start sticking. The adhesive strips they provide are some next-level stuff – removable without leaving a mark. But heads up: they’re stingy with the strips. Mess up, and you’ll be hitting up Nanoleaf’s website faster than you can say “buyer’s remorse.”

The Great Nanoleaf Puzzle

Putting these together is like playing Tetris in real life. There’s even an app with a layout assistant that’ll generate random designs based on your pieces. And for the iOS crowd, there’s an AR feature to preview your masterpiece. (Android users, we’re left to our imagination. Womp womp.)

It took me about 16 minutes to get all 22 pieces up – that’s roughly a minute per panel if you’re keeping score at home. Not too shabby for a guy who once took three hours to assemble an IKEA lamp.

Light It Up!

Once everything’s in place, it’s party time. These panels are touch-sensitive, so you can swipe to change brightness, colors, or modes. It’s like having a giant, luminous touchpad on your wall.

But wait, there’s more! These lights are also sound-reactive. Crank up your tunes, and watch your wall turn into a silent disco. It’s perfect for those “I want to annoy my neighbors but not too much” moments.

Smart Home Shenanigans

Nanoleaf plays well with others in the smart home sandbox. I managed to sync it up with my computer’s power state through Mi Home. Now, when my PC boots up, my wall springs to life like I’m powering up the Starship Enterprise.

There’s also a screen mirroring feature for your computer. It’s like your wall is trying to cosplay as your monitor, but with more pizzazz. And for the gaming crowd, it supports Razer Chroma, so your entire room can flash red when you’re getting your butt kicked in Fortnite.

The Secret Sauce

Here’s a pro tip: I sneakily added a Nanoleaf bulb behind my monitor. It’s like the cherry on top of this light-up sundae. Initially, I thought it was as useful as a screen door on a submarine, but now I get why people are obsessed with backlighting their setups.

The Verdict

So, am I sold on the “no alternatives” claim? Well, these Nanoleaf panels are pretty darn cool. They’re versatile, fun, and can turn your room into a rave at a moment’s notice. But they’re also a bit like potato chips – once you start, it’s hard to stop. I’m already eyeing that empty wall space, plotting my next light panel conquest.

In the end, whether you mount them behind your monitor or go full feature wall like yours truly, Nanoleaf definitely brings the wow factor. Just be prepared for your electricity bill to give you the side-eye.

That’s all for now, folks! Stay tuned for more adventures in tech and questionable decor choices. Peace out!