With support for millions of colors and lots of animation, Nanoleaf Lines can give off whatever vibe you crave. They are most enchanting in a dark room going through colors, but they are quite versatile. I use the daylight effect to brighten my office during the day and banish the dark winter outside, then switch to animated colors at night.
The app isn’t the simplest, but it’s worth browsing and downloading the scenes. There are many options and you can make your own. But it took me too long to create a compelling scene, so I recommend just choosing from the popular list on the Explore tab.
Luckily, you don’t have to use the Nanoleaf app much because you can connect the Lines to the Google Assistant through the Home app, or connect them to Apple’s HomeKit or Amazon’s Alexa. They also support IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings and can extend the connection for Device that separates threads by acting as a stream router.
Smart sync
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What elevates Nanoleaf’s Lines, compared to cheaper options, is the much appreciated syncing capabilities. Once an add-on to the original boards, the Nanoleaf Rhythm module is built-in here, meaning the Series can react to whatever music is playing in the room. This is great when you want to have a party. The color pulses over the time of the tunes.
I placed Lines above my desk and was excited to experiment with the screen reflection effect, which color-matches anything on your computer screen. You must be running Nanoleaf’s desktop app for it to work (which means it won’t work with your TV unless you’re using a PC or laptop with a large screen) . But PC Gamers will get a kick out of it. It adds a bit of immersion, and Razer fans will also be happy to see Razer Chroma support.
The Nanoleaf lines look much brighter when turned off, but they’re not as bad as the panels when you’re not using them. You still have to consider whether the matte white plastic (available in matte black or pink leather options for an extra $20) is right for your decor. They won’t look out of place with a modern minimalist office, gaming, or office setup children’s room, but they will conflict in some settings. Some additional options, such as wood finishes, can help them blend in with other rooms. Sadly, wherever you put them, you end up with wires running along the wall, and it just looks messy.
At $200 for a starter kit with only nine Lines and $70 for a extender with three lines, they are expensive. Probably the closest competitor, Govee’s Glide Light Bar, starting at half that price. But Nanoleaf’s Lines produces beautiful lighting effects that are guaranteed to rotate and work seamlessly with any smart home setup. After spending a few weeks with them, I believe they are the best that the company has to offer.
