IFA 2024: Nanoleaf introduces wall-mounted light panels
By ForGeeks Nanoleaf has significantly updated its popular smart lighting panels. Nanoleaf Blocks (from R18,000) feature edge-to-edge illumination – which eliminates hot spots and dark corners for a smoother, more even look. The new panels can also be fitted with pegboards, shelves and textures to make the wall even more functional. They are already available for pre-order and will be shipping in October.
They are available now.
The company is also adding two new features to its desktop app that work with the panels, as well as its entire line of smart lights, to offer more interesting lighting options.
Blocks — are square LED panels with a modular design that allow you to create custom wall designs as well as put your favorite collectibles (toys, figurines, etc.) on shelves and or clothespin them. They come in two sizes that can be combined with textured coverings, backlit hinged panels and shelves to brighten up your space and showcase your Funko Pops figures, plants, favorite keyboard or anything else you think deserves a place of honor on the wall.
The lights themselves have been significantly modernized, adding edge-to-edge illumination for the first time. The illumination was even and clean, with no dark spots, and each square emitted a diffused light that extended beyond the panels and cast light onto the wall behind them, creating a soft glowing effect.
All of the fixtures have a soft glow.
The units work over Wi-Fi and are compatible with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings. Support for Matter is planned, but Jimmy Chu, the company’s CEO, says Nanoleaf is waiting for the smart home standard to support dynamic lighting scenes. The panels feature a physical controller to manually control power, brightness and scene selection.
The panels have a physical controller for manual control of power, brightness and scene selection.
The Squares Smarter Kit with six squares costs around R18,000, the Combo XL Smarter Kit with squares, small squares, light clothespins and shelves — R22,500, and additional kits for extra shelves, clothespins, squares and textured squares cost R2,500 each. If you want to use clothespins or shelves, you’ll need to drill through the wall.
Nanoleaf’s desktop app for controlling smart lights has gotten two new features: Orchestrator and Scenescapes.
Orchestrator, which was announced at CES, is now available in beta. This app uses advanced music synchronization to not only trigger lights to the beat, but also create color palettes and animated movements to match individual songs. Scenescapes combines light scenes with sound to create background noise, such as ocean waves or a crackling fireplace.
The units are available for pre-order at shop.nanoleaf.me and will be available at Best Buy, Amazon, and The Home Depot in October.
