Nanoleaf's latest offering, the Smart Multicolour Ceiling Light, is a smart lighting solution that promises to revolutionize how we illuminate our living spaces. This innovative product combines task lighting with ambient accent lighting, all controlled seamlessly through a variety of means, including voice assistants and the Nanoleaf app. However, the decision to move away from Thread in favor of Matter over Wi-Fi has raised some concerns among tech enthusiasts and loyalists of the company's earlier products.
A Dual-Purpose Lighting Solution
The Smart Multicolour Ceiling Light is designed to serve two primary purposes: providing bright, practical illumination for everyday tasks and creating a soft, ambient glow that enhances the atmosphere of a room. This dual functionality is achieved through a clever design that includes both a front light and a rear halo.
The front light, capable of delivering up to 2,600 lumens, is ideal for well-lit spaces up to 150 square feet. It supports adjustable white light from 2,200K to 6,500K, ensuring that users can find the perfect setting for any task. Meanwhile, the rear-facing light projects a diffused halo onto the ceiling, creating a softer, more ambient lighting effect that adds a touch of elegance to any room.
Multi-Zone Color Effects and Smart Features
The fixture's 364 individually addressable LEDs are arranged across 28 independently controlled color zones, allowing for a wide range of animated lighting effects. This level of customization is further enhanced by the light's CRI of 95, which ensures accurate color reproduction, and its RG0 low blue light rating, which helps reduce eye strain during extended use.
Smart Control and Matter Compatibility
The Smart Multicolour Ceiling Light can be controlled using a standard wall switch, the Nanoleaf app, voice assistants, or the optional Nanoleaf Sense+ Smart Wireless Switch, which adds motion and daylight sensing capabilities. The app offers a range of advanced features, including Rhythm Music Visualisation, Screen Mirror, and AI Magic Scenes, which allow users to create custom animated lighting effects with simple text prompts.
Matter Compatibility and the Thread Dilemma
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Smart Multicolour Ceiling Light is its support for Matter, a new smart home connectivity standard. However, the decision to move away from Thread, a protocol that Nanoleaf was an early advocate of, has raised some eyebrows. Unlike battery-powered devices, a permanently wired ceiling light has no obvious power constraints that would preclude the use of Thread, and a mains-powered Thread device would also strengthen the surrounding Thread mesh network.
Availability and Pricing
The Nanoleaf Smart Multicolour Ceiling Light is available to purchase now via Amazon.com for US$79.99, which is considered reasonably priced. A double pack can be purchased directly from Nanoleaf for US$139.98, offering a savings of US$10 per unit.
Personal Perspective
In my opinion, the Smart Multicolour Ceiling Light is a significant step forward in smart lighting solutions. Its ability to combine practical illumination with ambient accent lighting, along with its advanced control options, makes it a versatile and appealing choice for any home. However, the decision to move away from Thread in favor of Matter over Wi-Fi is a disappointment, as it represents a step backward in terms of the company's commitment to innovative and sustainable smart home solutions.
