Nanoleaf Essentials A19
Roxanne, you don’t have to put on the red light: with Nanoleaf’s new bulbs, Siri or Google Assistant can do it for you
Money doesn’t glow on trees
■ King of stain
Homekit may be quicker, but the Nanoleaf app is way more comprehensive when it comes to playing around with colours, customised schedules, circadian lighting and the occasional pesky firmware update.
■ String on the night Unlike Nanoleaf’s LED tiles, the Essentials range is mainly about basic bulbs; but there are also 1m and 2m lightstrips, great for sticking under shelves and cabinets or on the back of your TV for Ambilight-style effects. from £18 / stuff.tv/nanoleafa19
■ Aside from Philips Hue, Nanoleaf is the only lighting brand that currently offers compatibility with Apple’s privacy-centric Homekit platform. It has two distinct advantages over its
Dutch rival: there’s no need for a separate hub, and the bulbs are way, way cheaper.
■ A budget price doesn’t mean a budget build. The A19 bulbs have an attractive geometric design, they’re well made, and they feel far more reassuring in the hand than an off-the-shelf LED from the DIY store. Packaging has been kept to a minimum too. After all, it’s just a lightbulb.
■ Setup couldn’t be easier either. Pop a bulb in its fitting, hit the light switch, scan a QR code via the Homekit, Google Home or Nanoleaf app, and watch the two marry up. You can even name your bulbs for a bit of light entertainment.
■ Because Nanoleaf’s Essentials are Thread-enabled smart lights, this gives them a step up from basic Bluetooth tech on IOS. That means reduced dropouts and a speedier, steady connection. They work best with a Homepod Mini as a bridge.
■ For speed of use, Homekit and Google Home are better than the Nanoleaf app. Summoning Siri or Google Assistant to do your bidding is even faster… but after a while you’ll tire or become self-conscious of saying “Hey Siri” every time you want to turn on a light.
Tech specs
Colours 16 million
Connectivity Thread, Bluetooth Voice support Siri, Google Assistant