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Most buyers associate Nanoleaf with trendy indoorgaming lightsthat make walls come alive with pulsating colors. More recently, Nanoleaf has brought the same technology to outdoor patios with weatherproof alternatives like the Nanoleaf Outdoor String Lights. Sold in 49 and 98-foot varieties, this string of large bulbs makes a statement with diverse colors and comforting white hues.
Sadly, most outdoorLED lightingwith tiny bulbs lacks the build quality for permanent installation. While the price of these Nanoleaf lights may scare away some buyers, they promise durability to withstand rain, snow, and wind. When combined with Matter support to sync with a wider number of smart devices, they may be the most comprehensive outdoor lights yet.
After testing out Nanoleaf’s Holiday String Lights last December, the company was kind enough to send Game Rant a sample of their most recent outdoor lights. Gamers often need coaxing to leave their caves, so read on to find out if the Nanoleaf Outdoor String Lights meet the challenge.
Nanoleaf Outdoor String Lights
The Nanoleaf Outdoor String Lights bring the manufacturer’s highly-rated smart lights to patios, decks, and other outdoor spaces. With an IP65-rated light strip and IP67-rated controller unit, they can withstand the harshest weather conditions. Options include strips with 20 bulbs over 15m/49 feet or 40 bulbs over 30m/98.5 feet, expandable with additional kits. Each large and heavy-duty bulb is capable of 55 lumens of brightness each and can be controlled with a physical controller unit, Nanoleaf apps, or a variety of Matter-compatible smart home ecosystems. Since each bulb on the Outdoor String Lights can display different colors simultaneously, the potential for unique and dynamic scenes is almost unlimited.
Packaging and Box Contents
The Nanoleaf Outdoor String Lights reach homes in a large rectangular and mostly white box. Granted, the 98+ foot version is the light in question here, but it’s still surprising how much the box weighs.
After opening the box, buyers encounter a giant mass of string lights without much apparent organization besides cable ties.
However, underneath the lights are some foam slabs with cutouts that protect the base of each bulb. The controller box and power adapter also reveal themselves, with no other parts besides a quick start guide.
Installation
It’s wise to test Nanoleaf’s sturdy light strip before braving the outdoor elements for installation. Like mostNanoleaf lights, after connecting them to a power source, the Outdoor String Lights pair with the manufacturer’s mobile app through 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. The setup will vary somewhat depending on whether users already have other Nanoleaf devices or cloud sync enabled. Although these lights are Matter-compatible, pairing this way can be more problematic, so buyers may want to stick to the Nanoleaf app initially.
The Outdoor String Lights don’t ship with any screws, nails, or mounting hardware, which isn’t unusual for these types of lights. Since the strands and bulbs are quite heavy, installers must plan how to secure them on the sides of homes, patios, or decks. On the top of each bulb, the strip has small holes for nails that can be used to fasten them to surfaces. In this case, the targeted area was a roofless backyard patio, and the lights were strung from one side of an adjacent deck to a wood retaining wall on the opposite end. The 98-foot version of the Outdoor String Lights can cover a lot of space, so they were run back and forth across the area several times. If that length isn’t sufficient, another roughly 50 feet is available through an expansion kit.
In addition to the bulbs, controller unit, and strip being IP65/IP67 rated, the AC/DC adapter is also labeled as raintight. To take extra precautions, installers may run the power cord indoors or protect it with a weatherproof box.
Software
Even with the perfect installation, outdoor smart lights wouldn’t be practical without a comprehensive app. In the Nanoleaf mobile app, buyers will find the usual assortment of features, including many pre-made scenes. Some choices, like “Sunset Sky,” are tailored to outdoor environments, while others are identical to those used byNanoleaf Shapesand compatible lights. Certain scenes come alive when music is played, and owners can find many more possibilities by downloading user-made creations. Also, ambitious buyers can develop scenes of their own using tools in the software.
The Outdoor String Lights include some of Nanoleaf’s most innovative features, like Magic Scene. Using AI technology, the app will program scenes based on search phrases. As is typical with this AI-based functionality, some results were more impressive and relevant than others, but it’s a fun feature to try out during outdoor get-togethers.
During testing, the Nanoleaf Android app exhibited the usual annoyances of temporarily losing connection with the lights after minimizing the software. Even so, navigating the program is smooth without the confusion of the more bloatedGovee smart lights app.
Things get more complicated when pairing the lights with a Matter-compatible hub and ecosystem like Google or Apple Home. Introduced in otherNanoleaf Essentials light strips and bulbs, Matter-support enables buyers to use the Outdoor String Lights with multiple smart home apps without relying on the Nanoleaf app for access. Unfortunately, the suggested Matter pairing process often doesn’t go according to plan, and users may need to unplug lights and restart the sequence repeatedly. After rescanning the bar code on the controller several times, the Outdoor Smart Lights eventually appeared in Google Home.
Even after a successful Matter setup, users will be limited to more basic scene changes in Google Home, Alexa, and Apple Home software. On the other hand, these apps are necessary for features like scheduling, which isn’t available in the Nanoleaf app. Smart light owners have to compromise on whichever apps they rely on, but hopefully, the situation will improve in the future.
Performance and Design
The Nanoleaf Outdoor String Lights feature large bulbs with clear sections that are over 2 inches tall. These are not the tiny LED lights normally seen inholiday string lightswrapped around Christmas trees or deck railings. Consequently, owners are best served hanging them where most bulbs are fully visible.
With 55 lumens per bulb, Nanoleaf’s string lights fall short of the power of some of its competitors, especially the 200-lumenGovee Outdoor String Lights H1. Still, these Nanoleaf bulbs have a more unobstructed shell, and the amount of light dispersed from the sides and bottoms of the strip is impressive. On this 98-foot version, a healthy 40 bulbs are set 2.4 feet apart, eliminating too many significant gaps in the display. Obviously, running the strings back and forth across a patio roof or fence will create maximum impact over a smaller area. However, this kit is long enough to cover the sides of homes for a spectacular holiday presentation.
The Nanoleaf Outdoor String Lights benefit from RGBICW lighting, which can distinguish between warm and cold white hues. That means homeowners can utilize them to brighten up spaces year-round and potentially scare off thieves. Once again, it’s important to keep in mind that buyers will need to rely on scheduling features of non-Nanoleaf Matter-compatible apps.
As sensible as white lighting is, most owners will want to experience the full range of colors the light strip offers. These Nanoleaf lights don’t disappoint, and the wide-ranging color palette will impress family and friends. The lights respond almost instantly to scene changes but do so subtly without jarring blinking. Animated effects traverse the strip smoothly and can react toblaring speakers, even if they lack the more nuanced responses promised by Nanoleaf’s upcoming Orchestrator software.
Just because smart lights are outdoors doesn’t mean gamers can’t sync the scenes with Razer ChromaRGB keyboardsand mice. Users will need the Nanoleaf Desktop app running in the background on PCs, but even screen mirroring is possible.Outdoor TVshave also brought the cutting-edge viewing experience beyond the walls of homes, which is further enhanced by synced lighting.
The excellent build quality of Nanoleaf Outdoor String Lights should give buyers confidence that they can perform reliably throughout the seasons. It’s hard to imagine that as thick as the bulbs are, they would easily shatter, and during setup, they did survive some short drops from a railing. Nanoleaf also didn’t cut any corners with the heavily shielded strip, and each part of the kit is weatherproof.
Conclusion
Manufacturers likeNanoleaf and Goveeare expanding their inventory of smart outdoor lights, realizing that not all buyers confine themselves togaming rooms. The Nanoleaf Outdoor String Lights boast many of the same dynamic effects the company’swall panelsare known for. They also bring some of the latest advancements, like Matter compatibility, for easier smart home integration.
Whether buyers select the 49 or 98-foot light strip, each kit ships with large, well-protected light bulbs that are hearty enough for outdoor use. Even without included hardware, mounting the light strip above patios and decks is a DIY project that most homeowners can handle. While the brightness of the bulbs is not extreme, they combine to cast a dense field of glowing illumination. White hues are particularly impressive with a dedicated white chip, but transitions between complex multi-colored scenes are flawless.
Frustrations with the Outdoor String Lights are largely related to its software. Successfully pairing the lights with a Google or Apple Home Matter-compatible hub can take several attempts. Once the process is complete, users will find that some features work only in the Nanoleaf app, while others require third-party software. However, these issues are not specific to the Outdoor String Lights and hopefully will soon become problems of the past.
The Nanoleaf Outdoor String Lights justifies its steep price from a build quality and performance standpoint. When smaller LED light bulbs lack a wow factor, buyers should consider leveling up outdoor areas with this Nanoleaf strip.
LED light mapping
$88
Maximum brightness over a smaller area
$120
Bendable outdoor accent lighting
$122
Outdoor LED light strips are plentiful, but strips with larger light bulbs are harder to find. Even so, theTwinkly Festoonboasts a slightly more packed configuration of conventional round bulbs than its Nanoleaf rival with clever scene mapping features. The multi-colored version of the Festoon is often sold out, so the next best option is theGovee Outdoor String Lights H1. Even though these lights are only 50 feet long, their 200-lumen brightness is unmatched, and each bulb has two distinct lighting zones. Finally, for more subtle but flexible accent lighting, thePhilips Hue Outdoor Light Stripis a diffused rope of light that can bend to highlight pathways.
FAQ
Q: Can you use Nanoleaf smart lights outside?
Most of Nanoleaf’s wall panels and light strips lack weatherproofing to keep moisture out. Nanoleaf smart lights made specifically for the outdoors, like the Outdoor String Lights, are insulated to withstand the harshest weather conditions.
Q: Can I turn any light into a smart light?
Often, traditional light fixtures have bulbs that can be easily replaced with smart light bulbs. Otherwise, buyers can utilize smart Wi-Fi plugs that lights and appliances plug into to enable wireless control. For outdoor lighting, finding lights and plugs rated for use in all weather conditions is essential.
Q: How do you power outdoor LED lights?
Most outdoor smart lights require a standard wall plug, which can pose problems if a socket is not readily accessible. However, in some cases, solar-powered generators or conventional batteries can temporarily power outdoor lights.
