28 Jun
Blog

Nanoleaf Elements Review: Smart Lighting From the Forest

nanoleaf elements look like wooden light panels

"You will fall in love with the rustic appearance of the Nanoleaf Elements and at the same time appreciate its smart functions."

  • Unique lighting design like no other on the market

  • Easy to use, intuitive app

  • easy installation

  • Incredibly customizable

  • High price point

  • No support for 5 GHz networks

Smart lights from Nanoleaf earned a spot in the background of more Twitch streams than I can count, and for good reason: the Nanoleaf Aurora and Nanoleaf Canvas look amazing, with loads of customization options to suit just about any mood. With that in mind, I took the chance to review the Nanoleaf Elements, the newest addition to the company's lineup.

Nanoleaf Elements look like they are made of wood and are lit from within. Their purpose is ultimately decorative, but they will stand out when placed on a wall and make for a real talking point. This is no ordinary set of smart lights!

Design: Natural light that makes you feel like you are in a forest

The design of the Nanoleaf Elements is the main attraction. The hexagonal design leads to six specific points that are equipped with an LED. This allows the elements to generate light at each of the six points and shine from the outside in.

The panels made of imitation wood attract attention and give the lights a rustic look that makes them a great addition to a dining room. While the Nanoleaf Elements only produce white light, the temperature of the light can be adjusted to produce different levels of heat. The light ranges from 1,500K to 4,000K – from cold white to warm white.

However, the light is not that bright. At just 22 lumens, you could use it for reading if you were sitting right next to it, but it doesn't provide enough light for any kind of task-oriented work. It makes for great mood lighting and with a lifespan of 25,000 hours, these lamps will last a long time.

In my experience, the lights create a kind of peaceful atmosphere. They are perfect for a quiet dinner or just to chat with friends in the background.

easy installation

The Nanoleaf Elements are easy to install. It took less than 10 minutes to create the pattern I wanted on my wall, and that includes the 30 seconds of pressure required to attach each panel to the wall. The panels have a swivel pad on the back that allows you to easily adjust the angle, and each side has a fastener to snap the connectors into place.

Thanks to this design, you can create an almost infinite number of shapes and designs with tiles. A single power supply can support up to 22 panels, although the device I tested only came with 10. The maximum number of tiles per controller is 80, but you'd have to set up a really impressive system to deal with the maximum number of tiles. It would take up quite a bit of space – at 9 "x 7.75" per title, the elements are large enough to function as wall art all on their own.

A complete set of functions

The choice of pattern and design of the tiles is yours, and the Elements contain a whole host of features that give them many different capabilities.

For example, you can play music and sync the lights to pulse and move to the beat. The Connect + feature means the tiles will automatically sense where they are in relation to each other to ensure that the lights shift in an organic and natural way. In the Nanoleaf app, you can arrange tiles in specific patterns and assign roles to each one.

That leads to the next important feature that Nanoleaf offers: touch controls. You can set specific tiles to perform tasks based on touch. For example, one panel can scroll through different HomeKit scenes while another can change the pattern or turn on the lights in your home.

The Nanoleaf Elements also connect to all major smart home platforms and intelligent assistants. You can turn your lights on and off and change the pattern through Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. The Elements also connect to Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT.

The Elements kit also comes with a manual control panel. All you have to do is connect it to one of your tiles to turn the panels on or off, change the pattern, mix the patterns, and much more. However, I would recommend connecting it to the edge somewhere near the floor. It doesn't light up and sticks out like a sore thumb when the rest of the panels are lit.

An intuitive app

One of the standout features of the Nanoleaf Elements is the ease of use of the above app. If you've used a Nanoleaf product before, you know there are thousands of custom scenes for Nanoleaf Aurora and Canvas. You may think that you don't have access to these scenes – after all, they rely on color – but that's not entirely true.

The elements translate all the different colors into different heat levels. This means that every single scene is available. If you don't like the default scenes and patterns in the app, just look for one that better suits your tastes.

The layout wizard allows you to visualize the design before creating it. Just line it up and organize the tiles and then tap the eyeball icon in the bottom right and it will show you what the pattern would look like on your wall with augmented reality.

You can also invite users through the app so that more people can control your lights.

Finally, you can use the Explore tab in the app to check out related apps, scenes, integrations, and more. If you're new to Nanoleaf, the Explore tab makes it easy for you to familiarize yourself with all of the different options the Elements offer. You can also sign up for the beta program this way to explore new, not-yet-public features.

Our opinion

The Nanoleaf Elements are a beautiful, fresh interpretation of intelligent lighting that really stands out due to its rustic design. Other decorative smart lights appear to be aimed at a playroom or arcade, but the Elements will feel right at home in your mother's kitchen. The easy installation and intuitive app are just cherries on a great core system.

Is there a better alternative?

There is no other intelligent lighting system like the Nanoleaf Elements on the market. Sure, there are plenty of lights out there that offer a wide variety of colors, but if you want a natural look the Elements are the only real option.

How long it will take?

With a lifespan of 25,000 hours, the Nanoleaf Elements will continue to function for a long time. That's 1,041 days and 16 hours. So if you don't keep the lights on 24/7 (and even then they will last forever), your Elements will be working for the foreseeable future. A two-year warranty is also included with the purchase.

Should you buy it?

The Nanoleaf Elements are a fantastic lighting system, but the cost is a little prohibitive. At $ 300 for the Elements Smarter Kit and $ 99 for each expansion pack, the Elements will make a dent in your wallet. However, if you want to create a unique lighting system in your home, there is nothing quite like it.

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08 Nov
Blog

Philips Hue Iris Review: Hypnotic Accent Lighting

Philips Hue Iris table lamp blue

"The Philips Hue Iris is rich, vibrant and bright, and an intriguing accent light."

  • Rich and vivid colors

  • Very bright light output

  • Bluetooth connection option

  • Unique looking design

  • It is expensive

  • Colors cannot be traversed alone

When the original Philips Hue Iris hit the market in 2014, smart lighting was still in its infancy and was a relatively new concept for many consumers. Fast forward to the present, and the company is bringing us an updated version of its popular table lamp with Bluetooth connectivity, richer colors, and increased brightness – all for $ 100. I've never had the opportunity to use the original, but I do appreciate the new version of the Philips Hue Iris to add a bit of color to my life.

A different looking table lamp

The Philips Hue Iris has a radiant design with a transparent plastic base and a cord wrapped in fabric. Honestly, I find it hard to classify it as a table lamp as it is unlike any other table lamp I've used. It's not intended as a reading lamp, nor is it designed like a traditional table lamp for a side table in my living room – it would look out of place if I placed it there.

Philips Hue Iris table lamp greenJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

On the other hand, the orblike design is certainly what makes this table lamp unique. At first I struggled to accept its peculiar design style, but that slowly washed away once it came to life.

Hypnotic glow

The lamp is a glowing magic ball that works best on bookshelves, desks, or corner tables. It's meant to act more as an accent light than anything and help add a bit of color to a room. When it's on, the glow from the transparent base is hypnotic and I like that the light coming from it is softened by the diffusion panel that covers its top. This diffusion helps create soft, even lighting that is not too harsh and does not cast too many shadows.

The glow of the transparent base is hypnotic.

If there is any anger I have about smart light solutions, it must be that some of them are just weak, weak and not sufficiently saturated. Fortunately, this is not a problem with the Philips Hue Iris, which can reach up to 570 lumens when using white light. That's enough to read books with no effort.

Philips Hue Iris table lamp pinkJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The level of saturation that the Philips Hue Iris can achieve is even better. Compared to other smart LED light bulbs I use, the iris can produce deep, rich colors. Blue, green, and red all have sufficient saturation and brightness to grab my attention. Personally, I prefer to put the iris on a counter facing a corner, as the upward direction of light combined with diffusion results in wider coverage. One feature that I like more and more on other lamps is the option to automatically scroll through different colors. Unfortunately, this is not an option here as you can only set one color at a time.

Works without a Philips Hue bridge

Since I've been using the Philips Hue system in my home for a long time, I got the Iris to connect to my Hue bridge for remote access when I'm not at home. However, it should be noted that you do not need a Philips Hue bridge to use the Iris. This is because this updated version has a bluetooth connection for direct access through the Philips Hue app. This is a useful option if you have not already decided on the Philips Hue ecosystem.

Philips Hue Iris table lampJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Connecting the iris to the bridge simply means more controls – like color combinations with other Philips Hue lights and automations. I can use the app to set it to turn on automatically at sunset and turn off at 1 a.m. every night. You can also achieve more complex automations, e.g. For example, it switches on when the door sensor on your front door is triggered – or when you tell the Google Assistant that you are at home. With advanced automation, you can get the most out of the iris.

Our opinion

The Philip Hue Iris complements every room in the house with its hypnotic glow. You have to pay more than $ 100 to pick it up. This isn't cheap, but the cost is worth it when you consider how good it is to use different colors of the rainbow to accentuate rooms and your mood.

How long it will take?

The plastic construction makes it feel on the hollow side. So make sure that the power cord is not in the way of pedestrian traffic. If you are concerned about the LED bulb inside, just know that it is rated to last 25,000 hours. There is also a 2 year limited warranty that covers the iris against defects in material and workmanship.

Is there a better alternative?

When it comes to brightness and saturation, you won't find anything else that matches its performance. However, there are other smart table lamps like that too Xiaomi bedside lampthat's half the cost. It's certainly not as saturated or bright, but it can still act as a complementary accent light.

Should you buy it?

This is an ideal solution if you want to expand the smart lighting in your home beyond traditional smart LED light bulbs. You will fall in love with the hypnotic glow of the iris and how brilliantly it throws accent lights on walls and ceilings.

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11 May
Blog

Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight Review: A Bright Choice

Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight

"You won't find a more intelligent and useful solar safety light on the market."

  • Adjustable brightness

  • Can connect to other smart devices

  • 1200 lumens of white light

The Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight is the answer to your outdoor security requirements, especially if you don't know anything about wiring and don't want to hire an electrician to install security lights outside your home. This lamp is easy to assemble and is powered by a solar panel. You don't have to worry about batteries or wiring, and installation takes an amazingly quick 5 to 10 minutes. Even better? With the Ring app you have full control over this intelligent light. Really, there is nothing you don't like

about this ring product.

Brighten the night

This writer's back yard gets as dark as a mine shaft at night, so I need a floodlight that can really turn off the light. I wasn't sure if a solar light would do the job. But when I tried the Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight on a cloudy night, it lit up most of the 4-acre lot behind my house.

If you need a little less power for your cottage, you can control the brightness with the Ring app.

It is also adjustable. If you need a little less power for your holiday home, you can use the ring app to control the brightness as you wish. In total, the light provides up to 1,200 lumens of white light (3500K color temperature).

App functions

Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight in the Ring app

You'd think that a simple spotlight wouldn't have too many app features. Just on, off and maybe a brightness control, right? Well, the Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight offers a lot more functions in the Ring app. In addition to changing the brightness, you can also enable a motion detection option that turns on the light when it detects something is moving in the area. You can also choose whether or not to receive a warning on your phone every time a movement is detected.

It was really only recognized when my dogs were moving and not seeing any insect movement, which can be a lot here in Texas.

You can also adjust the sensitivity so that the light doesn't come on every time a moth floats by. I set the light to medium sensitivity and then left my dogs in the back yard for a few hours. A look at the "Event History" section of the app showed me that the light only came on a few times, which means that it was really only recognized when my dogs were moving and not detecting any insect movements, which can be a lot here in Texas .

Ring Smart Lighting solar floodlight and blue skyAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

The app also gives you the option to set your floodlights on a schedule. You can connect it to other lights in your house or set it on your own schedule. I have set it to turn on only from dawn to dawn, which gives it time to turn the battery on fully during the day. The combination with other devices such as the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is also a good idea. For example, each time your floodlight detects motion, it can be set up to automatically turn on the camera on your video doorbell. This ensures that if someone tries to sneak around your property, you have a better chance of capturing video footage of the person – and it's a wonderful deterrent.

Power from the sun

Ring Smart Lighting solar floodlight and solar panel Alina Bradford / Digital Trends

By far my favorite feature of the Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight is that it is solar. You don't have to wire anything or replace batteries. As long as you set up the 2 W solar panel in a sunny place, you can get started. My garden has a lot of shade, but the battery is still well charged. The solar panel is fantastic, but it is dedicated to light so it cannot be used with other products.

It takes a buddy

Ring bridge in handAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

An important thing to remember is that you have to buy one Ring bridge In order for the floodlights to be connected to the app and to be coupled with other lights and intelligent devices in your home, the WiFi in your home is less used. The ring bridge costs $ 50 and is about the size of half a deck of cards. So it takes up very little space in your house. Unfortunately, it cannot be used with devices that were not made by Ring.

Our opinion

I really can't say enough good things about this light. The Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight ($ 90) is affordable, easy to install, and maintenance-free. The app gives you the control you've ever dreamed of when it comes to outdoor lighting. This product really met all of my outdoor security lighting requirements.

Is there a better alternative?

Not really. There are some solar powered floodlights on the market at prices between $ 35 and $ 600, but there are very few that can be controlled with an app, and probably none that can be connected to other lights in your home. The next light that the Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight can be compared to is the Link2Home Security Solar Floodlight ($ 40): It is programmable, but not really "intelligent" and cannot be connected to other smart devices.

How long it will take?

I think it will stand the test of time. It is designed for a temperature of -20 ° C to 50 ° C and is weatherproof with protection class IP66. There is also a 1 year limited warranty.

Should you buy it

Yes, there really is no reason why you would not love this light.

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