Conocida por sus paneles de iluminación modulares, Nanoleaf superó los límites el martes en CES 2025 con una nueva e inquietante máscara facial de terapia de luz LED, así como su primera lámpara de pie inteligente. A esto se suma otros productos de iluminación, como tiras de luz, además de un nuevo servicio de suscripción de software.
Mascarilla facial con terapia de luz LED Nanoleaf, lámpara de pie inteligente multicolor y más
En un movimiento sorpresa en CES 2025 en Las Vegas, nanohoja Ingresó al mercado del cuidado personal con su máscara facial de terapia de luz LED. Con un precio de $150 pero ahora con un 10% de descuento en una oferta de pedido anticipado, este dispositivo para el cuidado de la piel se coloca directamente sobre el rostro y aprovecha el poder de la tecnología de luz infrarroja cercana (NIR) para tratar diversos problemas de la piel. En otra novedad para la compañía canadiense, también presentó la lámpara de pie Matter Smart Multicolor, así como nuevas tiras de luz y un nuevo servicio de suscripción de software.
Máscara facial de terapia de luz LED.
La fototerapia puede mejorar la salud, pero ¿tiene buena pinta en lo que respecta a la autoestima? Imagen: Nanoleaf
la mascaraque se muestra arriba y cuyo uso fue aprobado por la FDA, presenta múltiples colores de luz LED, incluidos rojo, azul, blanco, cian, verde y amarillo, cada uno de los cuales tiene propósitos terapéuticos específicos. Con siete modos de tratamiento especializados y un diseño ergonómico que se adapta a los contornos faciales, el dispositivo tiene como objetivo abordar problemas como líneas finas, acné y tono desigual de la piel.
La compañía señaló que las investigaciones han indicado que la terapia con luz roja, en particular, puede contribuir a los beneficios de estiramiento de la piel.
precio:$149.99 $135 (oferta por reserva anticipada)
Esta elegante lámpara de pie le ofrece amplias opciones de iluminación. Imagen: Nanoleaf
La empresa también hace su primera incursión en la iluminación de suelo con Lámpara de pie inteligente multicolor. Es una adición elegante a su línea de hogar inteligente.
Con un diseño que recuerda al Philips Hue Signe, la bombilla de $100 se integra perfectamente tanto con la aplicación Nanoleaf como con HomeKit a través de Matter Connect. Los usuarios pueden acceder a una impresionante paleta de más de 16 millones de colores, crear gradientes de color dinámicos y sincronizar la iluminación con la música utilizando las escenas dentro de la aplicación de Nanoleaf.
precio:$99.99 $ 90 (oferta por reserva anticipada)
Para los entusiastas del entretenimiento, Nanoleaf ha presentado dos innovadores productos de tiras de luz diseñados para mejorar las experiencias visuales. Tanto la barra de luces para monitor de PC como la barra de luces para TV 4D V2 cuentan con un diseño en zigzag que permite una mejor adaptación al borde de la pantalla sin necesidad de soportes de montaje adicionales. La versión para PC, dirigida específicamente a usuarios de PC, puede invertir los colores de la pantalla mientras se reproducen juegos y películas, aunque actualmente carece de compatibilidad con Mac.
Para ver televisión, el 4D V2 incluye un sistema de cámara mejorado con un soporte más resistente y más largo adecuado para pantallas más anchas. Esta cámara captura los colores que aparecen en la pantalla y los reproduce en tiempo real, creando un entorno de visualización inmersivo. Está previsto que ambos productos se lancen en el segundo trimestre de 2025 y los detalles de precios se anunciarán más cerca de la fecha de lanzamiento.
Servicio de suscripción para nuevos programas.
Para complementar los nuevos dispositivos, Nanoleaf ha introducido un nuevo servicio de suscripción de software llamado Nanoleaf Premium. El servicio, con un precio de $1,99 por mes o $19,99 por año, ofrece dos características principales de servicio. Aplicación de escritorio Nanoleaf Para Mac o Windows. El primero es Orchestrator, un sistema avanzado de sincronización musical que va más allá de la combinación básica de ritmos para analizar e interpretar temas musicales, creando efectos de iluminación más sofisticados que coinciden con el estilo de la música. La segunda característica, Scenescapes, combina efectos de iluminación y sonidos ambientales para crear experiencias de relajación inmersivas, incluidos temas de playa y chimenea. Obtenga una prueba gratuita de 1 mes.
La integración con Matter a través de Wi-Fi garantiza una amplia compatibilidad con plataformas domésticas inteligentes, mientras que los nuevos servicios de software premium señalan un movimiento estratégico hacia funciones de entretenimiento y control de iluminación más avanzadas.
Nanoleaf está probando la iluminación adaptativa de las bombillas Essentials para su uso con el estándar Matter. Imagen: Nanoleaf
Apple planea expandir su función de Iluminación Adaptable para incluir luces inteligentes compatibles con Matter con el lanzamiento de iOS 18, lo que ampliará significativamente la cantidad de luces inteligentes que pueden usar la popular función en el ecosistema Apple Home. Entre las primeras empresas en hacerlo se encuentra Nanoleaf, según un nuevo informe.
Nanoleaf está probando la iluminación adaptativa de iOS 18 para Material en las próximas bombillas inteligentes
La función de iluminación adaptativa, que ajusta automáticamente la temperatura de color de las luces inteligentes a lo largo del día, está disponible en Apple Home desde iOS 14. Sin embargo, estaba limitada a algunas marcas que usan HomeKit. Con iOS 18, esta función funcionará con luces inteligentes conectadas a través de Matter, un nuevo servicio Estándar de interoperabilidad de hogares inteligentes.
“Somos uno de los socios involucrados en el lanzamiento de productos de iluminación adaptativa en Matter”, dijo Zhou. Esta prueba ha llevado a que la función aparezca en las versiones beta de iOS 18 para los productos Matter de Nanoleaf.
Abre el campo de la iluminación adaptativa a otros fabricantes
La expansión de los dispositivos Matter es importante porque abre la puerta a que una gama más amplia de fabricantes de iluminación inteligente utilicen la tecnología de iluminación adaptativa. “La visión de Adaptive Lighting es estar abierta a todos los socios que trabajan con el ecosistema Apple Home en Matter”, cree Chu. Esto puede incluir marcas como Govee, Lifx, Wiz y Linkkind, lo que hace que sea más fácil y asequible para los usuarios implementar la tecnología de iluminación adaptativa en sus hogares.
Es importante tener en cuenta que la iluminación adaptativa sigue siendo una característica exclusiva de Apple Home y no forma parte de la especificación Matter. Por tanto, no estará disponible en otros sistemas compatibles con Matter como Amazon Alexa o Google Home.
Se espera que la integración de iluminación adaptativa con dispositivos Matter en Apple Home se lance con iOS 18 este otoño. Esto brindará a los usuarios más opciones para crear entornos de iluminación dinámicos en sus hogares inteligentes.
Una cosa que aprendí trabajando en TechRadar durante más de tres años es que existe mucha tecnología excelente. En este momento, uno de los desarrollos más interesantes (e igualmente aterradores) que estamos viendo es la inteligencia artificial.
Si bien algunas tecnologías de IA son realmente útiles para las personas, otras herramientas (como el siempre controvertido sensor de movimiento) Conejo R1) Nos mostró que algo grandioso no significa que mejorará tu vida de una manera significativa o incluso trivial.
nanohoja El director ejecutivo Jimmy Choo es muy consciente de esto, mientras su empresa de iluminación inteligente investiga cómo las nuevas fronteras impulsadas por la IA afectarán nuestra relación con la tecnología del hogar inteligente.
Las gafas inteligentes Ray-Ban combinan moda y funcionalidad, pero otros se equivocan (Crédito de la imagen: Meta)
“La visión de la casa inteligente siempre se centró en Iron Man y Jarvis. Que pudieras tener esta superinteligencia controlando las cosas por ti, en lugar de lo que tienes hoy, que se basa únicamente en comandos de voz básicos”.
“A medida que la IA continúa evolucionando, ya estamos empezando a ver cómo se puede utilizar para controlar diferentes cosas en el hogar, pero estamos apenas en el comienzo”, añadió Zhou. “Lo importante es que nos aseguremos”. es algo que es realmente útil para los clientes.
Entonces, si bien Nanoleaf ciertamente está explorando aplicaciones de inteligencia artificial en sus productos, para Chu, el enfoque principal se centró en mejoras prácticas más inmediatas, como el entretenimiento inmersivo que los usuarios ahora pueden disfrutar.
Regístrese para recibir noticias de última hora, reseñas, opiniones, las mejores ofertas tecnológicas y más.
¿Qué sigue para Nanoleaf?
La luz y el sonido se combinan (Crédito de la imagen: Nanoleaf)
Este enfoque comenzó con Nanohoja 4D El sistema Philips Ambilight, una alternativa asequible al sistema Philips Ambilight, tiene una tira de luces detrás de su televisor que brilla en los mismos colores que su pantalla y, lo mejor de todo, se puede sincronizar con sus otras luces Nanoleaf para una inmersión máxima.
Más recientemente, se ha ampliado a Software de sincronización de música Chu ha estado interesado en crear experiencias audiovisuales en tiempo real a través de servicios como Orchestrator y el uso de micrófonos integrados en algunos de sus dispositivos. Chu incluso prometió con entusiasmo que veremos algunos anuncios interesantes en esta área específica “en los próximos meses”.
Nanoleaf también se está moviendo hacia el exterior con Guirnaldas de luces exteriores compatibles con artículos. Ofrecen opciones de iluminación blanca y multicolor, y aunque actualmente funcionan con electricidad, no puedo evitar sentir que una versión futura podría regresar a las raíces de Nanoleaf en la energía solar.
Los fundadores de Nanoleaf se conocieron inicialmente a través del equipo Solar Car de la Universidad de Toronto y comenzaron su vida como una empresa centrada en la energía solar antes de dedicarse a la iluminación, me explicó Zhou. Aunque no estuvo de acuerdo ni negó que las luces solares estuvieran sobre la mesa, admitió que “definitivamente es algo con lo que tenemos experiencia”.
La función es más importante que solo la moda
¿Realmente necesitas un timbre con video? (Crédito de la imagen: Amazon Blink)
Al igual que la tecnología mejorada de “inteligencia artificial”, el consejo de Chu de anteponer los usos prácticos a simplemente ser genial es un enfoque que otros fabricantes de dispositivos domésticos inteligentes deberían aplicar, y algo que todos podemos considerar más cuidadosamente al evaluar qué comprar, especialmente cuando estamos dirigiéndose a eventos de ventas como Día Prime de Amazon 2024 Los electrodomésticos inteligentes para diversos usos verán un descenso en sus precios.
Eso no quiere decir que a veces no sea divertido derrochar en dispositivos innecesarios, pero estoy seguro de que hay ocasiones en las que todos podemos pensar en las que desearíamos haber pensado más antes de comprarlos ahora.
Un ejemplo reciente para mí fue una actualización de timbre con video que compré para mi casa. Ciertamente tiene sus usos, como alertas telefónicas, lo que significa que nunca me pierdo cuando alguien está en mi puerta, y un poco de seguridad adicional gracias a la cámara siempre vigilante, pero para ser honesto, un timbre sin cámara probablemente me habría servido mejor. Su ubicación no ofrece la mejor vista, por lo que estoy seguro de que debería haber usado una cámara separada del timbre, incluso si esa no fuera exactamente una solución “genial”.
The Nanoleaf Skylight is an alternative indoor lighting solution that can provide everything from strong white lighting to subtle mood lighting in whatever brightness or color you desire, and easily sits among some of the best smart lights. The simple square panel design belies the true nature of the device, which reveals itself once it’s brought to life in brilliant technicolor via the app or PC/Mac software.
It’s not all sweetness and light though. The installation is a bit more involved than the usual Nanoleaf ‘stick the LEDs onto something and plug them into a power outlet’ scenario.
The main panel is the same as any other ceiling light, in that it’s hardwired into the lighting circuit. If you have experience installing traditional light fittings, you shouldn’t find it too challenging, but, as always, get a professional to install it if you’re at all unsure; this is dangerous work.
Once the lights are up and running, you can control them with the free Nanoleaf software for PC, Mac or phone app, and it soon becomes apparent just how flexible the system is. I put it through its paces for a couple of weeks and its performance impressed me. I can see a broad range of uses within my home, but the cost seems prohibitive and I did have a fair few teething issues. So, is it worth the asking price? Read on.
(Image credit: Future)
Nanoleaf Skylight review: price and availability
List price: starts at $249 / £229 / AU$469 for a three-light starter kit. Other options include;
The Nanoleaf Skylight was released in February 2024 and the starter kit is available for $249 / £229 / AU$469 directly from Nanoleaf’s US, UK and Australian websites and Amazon.
The starter pack consists of one main unit, which is wired directly into the mains electricity, and two expansion panels. Larger kits are available from Nanoleaf consisting of six, nine, and twelve lights, and there’s also a single-panel expansion pack.
Nanoleaf Skylight review: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Nanoleaf Skylight specs
Dimensions (single panel)
12 x 12 x 2.17 inches / 300 x 300 x 55mm
Output Voltage
18W controller, 16W at expansion
Luminous Per Panel
1400 lumens
Smart home compatibility
Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT
Connectivity
2.5 GHz Wi-Fi
Mobile compatibility
iOS, Android
(Image credit: Future)
Nanoleaf Skylight review: Design
Minimalist and unobtrusive (when they’re off)
Modular design allows for a multitude of configurations
Unique ceiling-mounted lighting system
Anyone who enjoyed playing on the Atari 2600 in the 70s will get a kick out of the look of these lights. I like the pixel-esque aesthetic and would love to create some huge ceiling icons with a 9×9 square – if only it were possible to control the color for each square individually. I mean, who wouldn’t want a 2.7-square-meter Space Invader or Pac-Man on their ceiling? Unfortunately, that would set me back approximately £5.5k and 1300 Watts, so this vision will forever be a dream.
The combined equal depths of the housing and diffuser are nicely proportioned to the 300 x 300 face but I’m not completely sold on its shiny surface. Maybe a matt finish wouldn’t diffuse the light so well or look any better, though.
The cable management inside the units is well-designed but a little fragile. Each side has two cable routing holes that allow for some more interesting offset configurations if you don’t just want a symmetrical layout. The rubber bungs for these holes can be left in situ as the cables can be passed through slits in them.
Little features like this make it feel like Nanoleaf spent a great deal of time and effort getting the hardware design right, but then rushed the component selection and software testing. I’ll cover this in more detail in the performance section.
As is the running theme with this review, the Nanoleaf Skylight’s design is akin to the troubled second album by your favorite band. You buy the record because you love what they do but feel they have let you down.
Nanoleaf Skylight review: Installation
If you skipped over the one-minute review, I will reiterate: if you have experience installing traditional light fittings, you shouldn’t find it challenging, but, as always, get a professional to install it if you are unsure.
Your existing wiring will likely be too inflexible to follow the path to the connectors in the Skylight and it only requires two wires. The rest of the wiring must be out of the way above the ceiling. I replicated the connections within the existing light fitting and increased the size of the hole in the ceiling to do this.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Future)
This bundle of wires was never going to fit in the Nanoleaf Skylight.
(Image credit: Future)
The next hurdle is the rather poor installation instructions, which erroneously show the plasterboard self-drilling fittings as being screwed through the housing, for example. In reality, the fittings should screw directly into the ceiling and the screws should go through the housing and into those fittings. I say “should screw directly into the ceiling” as during my installation, two of the supplied fittings broke off in the ceiling before I gave up with them.
Fortunately, I had some more robust metal fittings to hand, which saved the day. To be fair, my ceiling is ‘mature’, and perhaps drilling a 4mm guide hole first would have reduced the mortality rate of the plastic fittings. There are, however, plenty of other inaccuracies in the installation instructions, which add to the confusion. If these instructions were a cake, the missing ingredient would be “care”.
A bit more wiggle room in the screw holes would also be of benefit as screwing or drilling into a ceiling is prone to error unless you are Spider-Man. Usually, fittings have a combination of horizontal and vertical slots that allow for errors made during drilling or screwing. I’d also recommend ensuring that someone is available during installation to provide placement directions, as it’s not easy to get things straight on a ladder facing upwards.
Once the primary unit is up, the others are very straightforward. I found it much easier to install the data wires (the short wires with square connector blocks at the ends) between the light units first, and then push through the power wires. Alternatively, the rubber grommets can easily be removed but they may be needed at a later date, should you want to move or reconfigure the lights. Routing the cables between the lights is made easier by the numerous clips built into the unit for this purpose, but, as I learned when I managed to break one, they are a little fragile.
After restoring power at your dwelling’s fuse box and flicking on your light switch at the wall, the Skylight will initially come on at low brightness. It will then increase in brightness to signify that it’s ready to pair with the Nanoleaf app.
Nanoleaf Skylight review: Performance
The first thing that struck me about the Skylight was how much light it gives off. If you sometimes need a bright, even white light while assembling something or taking things to bits, this light is your friend. It’s reminiscent of old-school fluorescent lighting without the irradiation and mercury poisoning.
The Skylight can, of course, emit any color you wish, but be warned that the color is not uniform across the surface of the diffuser. Inevitably, though, you will need to address the elephant in the room – the Nanoleaf app.
In previous reviews of Nanoleaf products, I’ve described the Nanoleaf app as “wayward”. Perhaps I am just unlucky, but every time I add a new Nanoleaf product to my network there is a period of chaos. Some of the mayhem may be due to the many and varied devices that I have, and the synchronization between the home automation systems and their cloud accounts. Whatever the root cause, there will be a couple of days of rebooting, deleting, and adding devices until everything works again. The app will invariably have a different view of reality, which may or may not change depending on whether you look at it. Schrödinger’s app.
No, I do not have any Nanoleaf devices in the entrance or kitchen. No, I do not have three hall lights and no, I cannot delete them. An example of the app’s version of the truth. (Image credit: Future)
The sense of frustration was further compounded by the hardware itself misbehaving. I had a period where the light was flickering when set to white light at full power. Following this, the unit then point-blank refused to switch on even after I removed the face plate to press the reset button. Flash forward to the time of writing, I can’t replicate the flickering and it has behaved itself consistently for a few days.
It’s like having a cat on your ceiling; you ask it to do something and it will ignore you, show you its backside, and walk away. Schrödinger’s app and cat… On the plus side, the supplied scenes are good, you can create your own or use scenes created by others, and these can all be synchronized and used in Apple Homekit. You could avoid using the Nanoleaf app altogether, but you would miss out on firmware and app updates. It’s a necessary evil.
I have spent many hours with the Nanoleaf app thanks to one of my favorite bits of kit, the Nanoleaf 4D. I was looking forward to using Sync+ to extend the screen colors to the Skylight but, no, it does not work. So, I have two products that support Sync+ but do not support each other… right.
Not to worry, as Nanoleaf should be applauded for developing a desktop app for both PC and Apple Mac (both Intel and Apple Silicon), which offers screen mirroring. The screen mirroring via the desktop app is a great idea and works well with the 3-pack starter kit laid out in a straight line, but I do wonder how the app would know if you have offset your units in a stepped layout. It also didn’t work with all of the games I tried. I wanted to watch a film via Apple TV+ while mirroring the screen to the Skylight, but the Mac was unhappy about sharing. Thank you, Apple.
It’s a similar state of affairs with the rhythm feature – a great idea but it falls at the last fence. You can select which source the sound is coming from, but that doesn’t seem to work as well now as it did when I first received the device. Having said that, it is good enough and as I write the Skylight is gently pulsing color along to the music. Wonderful.
Unlike dumb lights, the best smart lights offer a host of control options but that’s not always a boon with wired lights like the Nanoleaf Skylight. When the Skylight has been powered off at the wall, it will take about a minute to appear online within your home automation system or the app when you flick the switch on again.
Normally that’s not an issue with smart lights, but the problem with the Skylight then becomes the almost imperceptible little ticking noise that the skylight makes when it has power but is not on. It’s akin to Chinese water torture and drives you nuts after a while. I’d strongly recommend using one of the best smart switches for easier control and happier ears.
On top of all this is the lack of Matter support and no built-in thread border router as promised at CES 2023. I like Nanoleaf, I like its ideas and that it makes these feature-rich products happen, but a simple thing like testing could make them so much better.
Nanoleaf Skylight: Should I buy?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider
The Nanoleaf Skylight is, as far as I’m aware, a unique product, so it is difficult to find a direct equivalent. Here are some alternatives if you want to dip your toe into smart lighting, but don’t want to give it the full beans.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell – Column 0
Nanoleaf Skylight
Single Phillips Hue bulb
Ikea Jetström 100×40
Colors emitted
16 Million
16 Million
2, White or off
Smart light
Yes
Yes
Yes
Smart home compatibility
Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT
Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (Via Hue Bridge)
Ikea home smart
Screen mirroring
Yes
No
No
Sound reactive
Yes
No
No
Nanoleaf Skylight: How I tested
I used the Skylight for work and play for over a month.
I tested the PC/Mac application on both platforms where possible.
I controlled the device from both the Nanoleaf iPhone app and Apple Homekit.
I installed the Skylight in the room where I spend the majority of my time during the dark winter months. I tried to understand what each feature within the application does and how reliable/repeatable they are. Any inconsistencies were investigated but I have yet to find any form of event logging to help me understand exactly what it thinks it is doing.
I powered down my whole house to simulate a power cut to see how it would recover and also rebooted the Wi-Fi router and other devices in my smart home setup at various points.
I kept a log of any updates to the versions of the applications and the device’s firmware. I avoided using Beta versions of the application.
For the majority of the time it performed as expected but it is not bulletproof.
The Nanoleaf Skylight Smarter Kit is Nanoleaf’s first hardwired, permanent light, and it’s also the first light that Nanoleaf designed specifically to be installed on ceilings.
As with Nanoleaf Light Panels, the Skylight is modular. A 3-panel starter kit is priced at $250, and each add-on panel is $70. Nanoleaf sells kits with more panels at a discount, so cost can go as low as $62 per panel for a design that uses 12 panels.
Ceiling lights come in a wide range of prices and $250 is in the mid to high range, but there aren’t many modular ceiling light options (as in hardwired with no visible cord), and none that I’m aware of that are both smart and offer multicolor and white lighting. Each square-shaped panel is made from a translucent white plastic that diffuses the light coming from the LEDs underneath.
The panels are just under 12 inches on each side, and they’re about two inches thick. The plastic is a shinier material than the plastic used for the regular Nanoleaf Light Panels, and it just looks like white squares on the ceiling when the lights are not turned on. I don’t mind the plastic because it blends well with a white ceiling when the lights are off. Square-shaped light panels have a modern vibe both on and off, and it isn’t an aesthetic that’s going to fit in with all decor styles.
Every panel is 1400 lumens, so the three panel kit is 4200 lumens. The amount of light needed to properly light a space is going to depend on the size of the area being lit and the desired brightness, but that should be enough light for a 15×15 room with 10 foot ceilings. I was impressed with the brightness of the Skylight panels, and three installed in my laundry room was more light than I’ll ever need. I ultimately included two more panels for a total of five, but that was because I was replacing a fluorescent panel with popcorn texture underneath and I didn’t want to have to repair the ceiling. I think my laundry room is now the brightest room in the house, and I use the lights dimmed down.
The Skylight can be installed by an electrician or as a DIY project with some basic electrical knowledge, and Nanoleaf does provide instructions and a video for completing the entire process. Creating a layout is the first step, and while the lights can be installed at angles and staggered, I did a straight line of five panels in a row. There’s a ceiling plate that’s screwed into the ceiling first, and the wires from the ceiling are connected to the main panel (with the breaker off of course). The panels are each two pieces, with a base that houses the LEDs and wires, and a cover.
There’s a single Main Controller panel that can control up to 99 additional dependent panels, and that’s the one that goes up first. Nanoleaf included four screw holes on each panel that also serve as guides so you can mark on the ceiling where to drill, and drywall anchors and screws are included.
Every panel has a terminal block that’s covered by a panel that has to be unscrewed to get to the wires to connect one panel to another, and each panel is secured at all four corners, plus the wires are routed through holes at the sides. It’s not difficult, exactly, but there are a lot of steps to go through, and it’s frustrating working from below. I do think the guide holes helped a lot ensuring everything was lined up, and it ultimately turned out well.
I think four drywall screws for every panel is a lot, especially because these panels aren’t particularly heavy. In hindsight, I probably could have used two at a diagonal, and it’s worth noting that there are going to be a lot of holes to repair in the ceiling if you install these panels and later want to remove them.
Once installed, the Skylight works like any other HomeKit-connected light. It’s added to HomeKit with a HomeKit code, and setup is quick. Nanoleaf products only work with 2.4GHz networks, so you’re going to need a setup that allows for a 2.4GHz connection. The Skylight is Wi-Fi only, but there it has Thread compatibility that can presumably be turned on if Nanoleaf decides to do so. It is not Matter-enabled.
I don’t own a single smart home product that does not occasionally have a connectivity issue, including Nanoleaf devices. When I got these panels, I debated installing the panels in my living room with vaulted ceilings (note: these can be installed on angled ceilings), but I was worried about access for troubleshooting because I’d need a tall, heavy ladder, so I tested the Skylight in one of my only rooms with lower ceilings.
I’m glad I did, because about a week after the Skylight was up, it lost connectivity. No amount of turning the power off or restarting my devices helped, and I had to get out a small ladder, pull off the main panel’s cover, and long press the reset button to start over. I haven’t had another disconnect, and it could have been caused by trying to use a motion sensor (I could NOT get it to work reliably and I haven’t wanted to try again) or by turning the light off at the switch overnight, but it can happen.
So far the Skylight doesn’t seem to be less reliable than other Wi-Fi HomeKit devices or other Nanoleaf panels, but since it’s on the ceiling it is decidedly more of a hassle to reset, which is something to keep in mind. I have also seen some complaints about Nanoleaf’s customer service on Reddit and on Facebook, and while I haven’t had a catastrophic product failure requiring help, I know some people have had issues getting support and replacements. Note that those complaints are more focused on the light panels than the Skylights, but I don’t want to ignore potential customer service issues that could be a problem for some.
Each Skylight panel can be individually controlled with the Nanoleaf app and set to a different color or combination of colors and patterns. There are pre-designed options, plus tools for creating custom designs, and a section for downloading designs created by other Nanoleaf users.
The Skylight has some unique pre-created patterns like Sun Shower and Shooting Stars that work particularly well on the ceiling, and there are window-style scenes like Blue Skies. The LEDs support 16 million colors and shades of white ranging from blue to yellow, plus there are more than 10 lighting patterns to use to shift between colors. There’s also a rhythm feature that changes the color of the lights based on music or sound, and a fun AI option that creates a scene based on a typed phrase like “ocean waves” or “pink sunset.”
Colors on the light look best when in motion, and for some shades, there are dark and light spots that cause some unevenness. If you’ve used Nanoleaf’s light panels on the wall, it’s a similar effect, but it’s something that you get used to and notice less with ceiling lights.
I think multicolored lighting works well for accent lights, but I am less sure of it for light that provides as much illumination as the Skylight does. Setting the Skylight to a color like red, for example, means the room is RED and not outfitted with a tasteful red accent light in one area. Patterns that shift quickly can be almost overwhelming, and I don’t like the music feature with the Skylight for that reason. I prefer to set the Skylight to softer, more pastel hues and warm whites, but it can definitely provide the ultimate mood lighting and set ambiance for movies and video games.
There’s one other thing that I want to mention before wrapping up this review, and that’s control. This is a ceiling light that is connected to a light switch, and I don’t have a good way to turn that light switch into a smart switch that can be used for changing colors, dimming, or even turning the light on and off. Nanoleaf doesn’t have a switch, and there are a limited number of full light switch replacements for a situation like this.
I have a Lutron Caseta hub and system, but adding a Lutron smart light switch isn’t a good idea because the Nanoleaf Skylight needs a constant connection and it’s not an on/off situation. There are plenty of smart buttons, but nothing that seems to be designed to replace a light switch. For Hue lights, I solve this issue with the Lutron Aurora Dimmer Switches, but those are designed to work with the Hue app and not HomeKit in general. I need a physical button for the Skylight that also prevents the existing switch from being flipped, and I’m not sure how to solve that issue right now.
Nanoleaf does have Sense+ smart switches that it has been working on since 2023, but I’m not sure when these are set to come out.
Bottom Line
Nanoleaf’s Skylight is expensive and not without flaws, but it’s also a one-of-a-kind product. It’s modular so you can tune the number of panels to fit your space, it supports white and yellow light along with any color of the rainbow, and there are endless scenes and effects to play with.
The Skylight’s design isn’t going to resonate with everyone, but for those who want a modern feel and who love color, it’s worth checking out.
Already known for all sorts of innovative smart lighting, Nanoleaf unveiled its first outdoor string lights at CES 2024 in January. But now you can finally buy them to dress up your yard or patio in time for spring. Nanoleaf Matter Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights come in three lengths.
The new Nanoleaf Matter Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights are designed to illuminate your outdoor spaces with a dash of color and smart functionality.
Nanoleaf, maker of smart-lighting products from modular light panels to smart bulbs, introduced its first dedicated outdoor lighting solution at CES 2024. And now, at last, you can purchase Matter Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights to class up your outdoor spaces in time for warmer weather.
Product design and features
Nanoleaf’s new outdoor string lights look a bit different from many traditional string lights. The geometric form factor adds an aesthetic touch while creating multidimensional lighting effects.
These string lights come with addressable, color-changing LED bulbs. This means each bulb can display a different color, enabling dynamic, flowing color gradients. They are also IP65 water-resistant, making them ideal for outdoor use, rain or shine.
Smart functionality
The new outdoor string lights offer many color choices and control options. Photo: Nanoleaf
Nanoleaf’s new outdoor lights work with multiple smart home platforms, including Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Samsung SmartThings.
That means you can control your lights using voice commands or through the respective smart home ecosystem apps. Additionally, the lights can be controlled via Nanoleaf’s app over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The string lights also come with an easy-access controller for quick adjustments. You can turn your string lights On/Off, adjust brightness or cycle through various colors.
Advanced features
Beyond the core functionalities, the Matter Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights pack several advanced features. Users can create custom color palettes and motions for dynamic multicolor scenes. The lights can also respond to music, creating a synchronized light show.
The lights integrate with the Nanoleaf Orchestrator software, a music visualizer that enables customizable light shows that respond intelligently to music. This software is compatible with all streaming music platforms and audio players.
Availability and pricing
Matter Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights come in two kits — “smarter” and expansion — in three lengths. Smarter kits: 49-foot (15m) is priced at $129.99. The 98-foot (30m) length costs $199.99. And the 148 ft (45m) kit goes for $277.48. Expansion packs (49-foot) are $99.99.
Nanoleaf offers a 10% discount as a launch promotion with the code OSL10.
Popular home lighting company Nanoleaf today introduced its latest product, Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights that bring HomeKit-compatible decorative lighting to decks, porches, backyards, gardens, pool areas, and more.
Nanoleaf is known for unique light designs, and the Outdoor String Lights aren’t an exception. The bulbs have an angular five-sided shape that makes them more geometric than soft. They’re made from a hard, clear plastic material and they look like they’re made from crystal or ice. If you want cozy, romantic-style lighting, Nanoleaf’s lights might not be the right vibe because of the shape, but if you want lights that are fun and eye-catching, these are perfect.
There are multicolor LEDs in each bulb, so you can control the lights individually and set them to any color, including shades of white. If you unscrew one of the bulbs, there’s actually a second protective plastic dome inside that further diffuses the light. The bulb shape might not have a cozy feel, but the lights can be soft yellows and whites, or any other shade of the rainbow, plus there are dimming controls. The colors are accurate and it does well with blues, purples, and greens, shades that can sometimes be off with LED lighting.
The Outdoor String Lights are meant for ambient lighting, and even at 100 percent brightness, they’re on the dimmer side depending on the colors used. Nanoleaf says they’re 55 lumens per bulb, so a 15-meter strand is 1100 lumens total. These are available in 15-meter (49ft) and 30-meter lengths (98ft), with the 15-meter version offering 20 bulbs and the 30-meter version offering 40 bulbs.
Strands can be connected together, but the maximum length is 45 meters or 147 feet, equivalent to one 30-meter strand and one 15-meter expansion. For anything longer, you’ll need separate sets with multiple power supplies. The lights have thick black cabling for weather protection, so these are probably not string lights you’re going to want to use indoors unless you have a room where an industrial look works.
There’s 6.5 feet of cord between the power supply and the controller and then another foot or so between the controller and the first light. The bulbs are spaced about two feet apart, and they hang down four inches, so they look best when draped down across beams or using outdoor light poles.
The lights have IP65 water resistance and the controller is IP67 rated, so they can be used outdoors in the rain and elements without protection all year. Nanoleaf offers a two-year warranty on the lights.
In terms of aesthetics, the Nanoleaf Outdoor Lights are great, but connectivity needs improvement. These connect to HomeKit through Matter, and Matter devices continue to face issues on Apple’s platform. I think it’s more of an Apple issue than a Nanoleaf issue because I see these same Matter problems regardless of device, but it’s a problem any potential buyer needs to be aware of.
The Outdoor String Lights have randomly disconnected or become unreachable for no particular reason a handful of times. Sometimes unplugging them fixes it, and sometimes they just start working again after being unreachable. As a caveat, I don’t know if the Matter/HomeKit interoperability issue I have is exacerbated by my Wi-Fi network or other factors. I have an Orbi mesh Wi-Fi 6E network, and while my standard HomeKit products seem to generally be reliable (especially those with hubs), Matter is not. The Outdoor String Lights are mostly functional and the disconnects aren’t constant, but it is worth noting that the lights may not always work seamlessly for HomeKit users.
I would have preferred native HomeKit support to Matter for the lights, but these are Matter only. There is no Thread support, and as with other Nanoleaf products, you can only use a 2.4GHz network.
On a more positive note, Nanoleaf has one of the better smart home apps. There are built-in scenes available in the app for the Outdoor String Lights, but I can also create my own or use scenes created by other Nanoleaf users. Nanoleaf also has an AI feature where you can type in any phrase like “tropical sunset” or “ocean waves” to get a custom scene in colors that match what you’re aiming for.
The AI works with a fairly wide range of suggestions, and I get a good range of colors. The only downside is that it appears to have a single color-shifting pattern, but Nanoleaf does support other patterns when you create your own scenes or download them. As these are able to connect to HomeKit via Matter, you can use Siri commands and turn them on and off with the Home app.
The Home app also supports automations for turning the Outdoor Lights on and off at select times or pairing them with other HomeKit devices.
Bottom Line
The Nanoleaf Outdoor String Lights are some of the neatest outdoor lights that I’ve seen, and the multicolored LEDs pair well with the geometric shape. These are expensive and are not cost efficient if you have a large area to cover in lights, but one or two strands will elevate any outdoor setup.
I have not seen flawless operation from the Outdoor String Lights, and have had to deal with some disconnects, so that’s something to be aware of. I am hopeful that Apple and Nanoleaf updates in the future will fix any of the lingering issues that Matter-enabled devices are still experiencing.
How to Buy
Nanoleaf’s Outdoor String Lights can be purchased from the Nanoleaf website. A 15-meter strand is priced at $100, and a 30-meter strand is priced at $180. Additional 15-meter expansion packs are available for $70.
Note: Nanoleaf provided MacRumors with a set of Outdoor String Lights for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
