Nanoleaf, known for its HomeKit-enabled accent lights, recently launched its most futuristic and modern looking lighting product yet – Lines. Lines are modular LED light bars that are backlit and can be arranged in different patterns and shapes for a unique design.
Previous Nanoleaf products were panels of different sizes with LED lights in the corners, but the lines are something completely different and may appeal to those who don’t care about the look of the panels. The line starts at $200, so it’s a high-end accent lighting product.
The lines are light bars of white plastic that are 11 inches long and .78 inches thick, and the idea is to connect the lines together with hexagon-shaped connectors, creating different patterns and designs. The Nanoleaf app can be used to design a line setup, and once the desired shape is decided, the lines can be mounted on the wall.
Nanoleaf’s line mounting is hassle free. Just create your design, test the light, and then transfer the shape to the wall using adhesive tape. There are removable plastic plates that hold the adhesive and pull tabs so you can remove the lines from the wall without damage. This is probably the best setup for Nanoleaf when it comes to moving/removing hardware. I pulled the lines off the wall a few times to move them and had no problems.
Nanoleaf’s products are HomeKit-enabled, so setup is as simple as opening the Nanoleaf app and then scanning a HomeKit code. You may run into issues if you don’t have a 2.4GHz WiFi network available, but for the most part, it should be a seamless experience.
Once set up, turned on and connected, the Lines magic happens. Nanoleaf is using backlighting for lines and it’s a neat effect with millions of color options. The lines offer a unique look that’s different from other Nanoleaf products, and I can’t get over how cool it is. Each line can be set to two different colors, and there’s little mixing, so you get these distinct shade mixes that are visually appealing.
With Nanoleaf’s hexagons and triangles, the light panels are bright enough to replace a traditional light, but not the lines. Lines like the wood-colored elements of Nanoleaf are accent lights and not bright enough to act as a standard light. That said, at 100 percent brightness, they’re still capable of putting out a decent amount of light and are bright enough that I like to run them at about 50 percent brightness since they’re within my line of sight.
When not lit, Nanoleaf’s Lines suffer from a problem that plagues most other Nanoleaf products – they’re not that attractive on the wall. I’m not a fan of the way the lines look when they’re off. The lines are made from a clear white plastic and when closed, they really stand out. Nanoleaf is making covers for the lines that make them black or pink and can improve the appearance when it’s inactive Skins are shipping sometime in the future, and Nanoleaf says more designs are coming.
I can forgive how the lines look when not lit just because of how vibrant and eye-catching they are when activated. You can choose from tons of different colors and pick a static look, or set up the scene with colors swirling in different patterns. Nanoleaf has some preset designs and a full Nanoleaf gallery where you can download designs made by other people.
Nanoleaf’s robust selection of light scenes is very convenient and one of my favorite parts of the Nanoleaf ecosystem. You can always find something fresh and interesting while browsing through the different uploaded looks if you don’t feel like putting in the effort to create your own designs. You can preview scenes or save them to your library and use them regularly
Lines are designed to be controlled through the Nanoleaf app, but you can also swap through your saved scenes using hardware-based controllers. Nanoleaf Lines also supports rhythm functionality and you can use it to set rhythm scenes to light up with music.
Lines are ‘HomeKit’ compatible and can be assigned to rooms and controlled with other ‘HomeKit’ devices with Siri voice commands. The Home app offers little control functionality beyond enabling/disabling lines or setting them to a fixed color, so the Nanoleaf app is the primary control method. The Nanoleaf app includes all your HomeKit products and the interface can be confusing, but the Nanoleaf section is straightforward and has controls for lines.
I didn’t have connection issues when testing my lines, and I spent about a month with them before writing my review, so they feel fairly reliable. I’ve used other Nanoleaf products over the years with few connectivity issues beyond the need to reset the WiFi connection frequently.
Pricing is the main negative with the line. It’s $200 for nine LED light bars, and $70 for the other three, and that’s not money everyone wants to spend on accent lighting.
last row
If Nanoleaf’s lines fit your personal aesthetic and your budget, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in picking them up. Lines aren’t the most attractive wall decor when they’re not turned on, but when lit up, they’re colorful, futuristic, and fun.
I find the lines to be a great addition to my home office, and I think they complement any type of gaming room, PC setup, theater setup, or TV room, and I suspect the kids will enjoy them too. I wish Nanoleaf could sell them at a more affordable price point, and I love everything about them except their high price tag.
how to buy
The lines can be pre-ordered from the Nanoleaf website for $199. Each set contains nine lines, with three line add-ons available in expansion packs priced at $70. Nanoleaf says pre-orders are expected to ship in late November.
Note: Nanoleaf provided MacRumors with the line set and a line expansion pack for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
