The Nanoleaf light panels are super fun to stick to the wall, but not everyone has the space for them. That's why we asked ourselves: are the Nanoleaf Mini Triangles nice enough for a small corner, or to start with? You can read it in this review!
Nanoleaf Mini Triangles
Nanoleaf has always sold a set of 4 Mini Triangles. That is quite little and hardly gives you any opportunities to work creatively on a pattern. There is now also a package with 9 pieces, which gives you more options. Such a package is nice to stick on the wall behind your desk, for example. We set to work to see if it really added something, or if the Mini Triangles really had something té be mini to really make something fun out of it. You can read more in this review!
Review, photos and text: Gonny van der Zwaag (@gonny). The Nanoleaf Mini Triangles were tested in December 2022 and this review describes the situation at that time. We used the starter kit of 9 panels for this.
Nanoleaf Mini Triangles in brief
- Small triangles, for sale in a starter kit of 5 or 9 pieces
- Extension set of 10 pieces
- Can be combined with other Nanoleaf Shapes
- Lifespan: 25,000 hours
- Available at various stores from €89.99
Mini TrianglesTriangles (large)
Introduction: mini triangles of Nanoleaf
Nanoleaf sells sets of 5 pieces (approx. €89.99) and 9 pieces (approx. €129.99) on its own website. I would personally go for the somewhat larger set, so that you have more options. Incidentally, an expansion set of 10 pieces only costs € 89.90, so you can also start small with the cheapest set and then expand into a larger work of art. Usually Nanoleaf shows extremely complicated structures on example photos, but with this set you can also start small. I mean that in two ways: with small panels and with a limited number of pieces.
It looks pretty nice next to your bed or desk. It is good to realize that the photos of Nanoleaf itself always show an even color per tile, while in reality there is some color difference because the tile is of course not one big lamp. The lighting comes from the three corners, which are therefore somewhat ‘cut off’ are.
Of course you can make it more complicated. You can combine these mini triangles with other products from the Nanoleaf Shapes product line. This consists of larger triangles and hexagonal shapes in two sizes. For example, you could make a dino, or a construction where you keep more distance between the tiles. The required flexible connecting pieces can be purchased separately. In the starter pack you will only find the normal, non-flexible connectors.
Design and appearance Nanoleaf Triangles Mini
- Height per panel: 10 cm
- Width per panel: 11.5 cm
- Panel thickness: 0.6 cm (mounted on the wall: 1 cm)
- Weight per panel: 40 grams
- Cable length: 2.5 meters
- Illuminance per panel: maximum 20 lumens, dimmable
- Color temperature: 1200K – 6500K
- Number of colours: more than 16 million
Nanoleaf is known to work relatively well with HomeKit, something that is a requirement in our homes these days. Because despite developments such as Matter, you want nú all that everything works well and that is always a good thing with Nanoleaf. In the package we find 9 pieces of light panels, which are much smaller than usual (but that was also expected). It also contains non-flexible connectors and double-sided adhesives to connect the panels to each other and to the wall.
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Everything is self-explanatory, especially if you grab the app and indicate how many tiles you have, of which kind. You can then use the shuffle button to browse through various layouts that are possible with your collection of tiles. You will automatically see something that appeals to you. There is an augmented reality function in the app to test how the chosen design will look on your wall and how big it will be. The only annoying thing is that you have to tap twice to go to the next layout, while you want to quickly go through a lot of images to get as many impressions as possible.
The ‘building’ of the chosen layout is fun to do and is ready in a few minutes, especially if you only have a few tiles and don't have to take multiple sizes into account. You must ensure that each tile is connected to at least one other. This immediately gives the construction firmness. If you have some connectors left at the end, you can use them up to make your structure even more sturdy. Since I'm not sure yet if this is my final choice, I only used three double-sided stickers (top, middle, bottom) to stick on the wall. That is sufficient for these light tiles, but if you still feel that it is not completely tight against the wall, you can put a double-sided adhesive on each tile.
The most difficult part of my layout was the tile at the bottom. Many people will want to put the control module on the bottom, but that's also where you run the power cable down (preferably on the bottom). It took some puzzling to get this done with the chosen construction, because they don't both fit in the same connection point and you don't want the power cable to come out on the side. You can also place the control module a little higher or choose a different shape. That's the beauty of the system: it doesn't matter how you connect the tiles and where you connect the power cable, you can do that along any free edge of each triangle, including the middle or top. The same goes for the control module: as long as ‘it's attached to one tile somewhere, it doesn't matter where it is.
Nanoleaf Shapes Triangles Mini in use
- Functions: touch control, music synchronization, screen mirroring
- Connection: Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz b/g/n (no 5 GHz network)
- Thread support: works with Thread and can also be used as a Thread Border Router
- Operation: via Nanoleaf app for iOS/Android, Nanoleaf desktop app (Windows/macOS), HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, Nanoleaf Remote, Razer Synapse, SmartThings, Homey and smart button
- Energy consumption per panel : 0.54 Watt
- Maximum number of panels per 42 Watt power adapter: 77 pieces
- Maximum number of panels per controller: 500 Mini Triangles
Once everything is up, the next step is to plug it in and add it to your HomeKit home. You can do this via the Nanoleaf app or the Housing app. You have several methods for this: by holding your iPhone close to the panels (then it works via NFC), by scanning the HomeKit QR code or by typing the code. This is now the fifth Nanoleaf product we have connected at home or in the office and it always works flawlessly. If it doesn't work right away, you can always operate the lights with the control module and treat your housemates to various light shows. You can then work on it later, if you have more time.
You set color patterns in the Nanoleaf app, after which you can export them to HomeKit so that you can also control them from the Home app. Nanoleaf has done this well, because this degree of control is not possible with all manufacturers of multi-colour/gradient lamps.
Almost anything is possible: everything in one uniform bright shade of blue, or a mix of pastel shades. The brighter the color, the more your desk and wall will blend in, so if you're working you might want something more subtle with slow color transitions. If you are having a party, you can use wilder and brighter colors, although it is of course true that you cannot create a great light spectacle with these mini-triangles.
Score
8.7
Nanoleaf Shapes Mini Triangles
€90
Benefits +
- Small enough to stick anywhere
- Affordable for under 100 euros
- High-quality construction
- Panels are easy to remove and rearrange
- Nanoleaf gives via the app all kinds of examples of what you can build with the chosen number of pieces
- Light patterns can also be transferred to HomeKit
- Works as a Thread Border Router and works with almost any smart home protocol
Disadvantages –
- Small, therefore not really an overwhelming effect
- The triangles are not really triangular but have 'cut off' corners
- No 5GHz Wi-Fi networks
View at Alternate View at Tink
Conclusion Nanoleaf Triangles Mini review
The Nanoleaf Triangles Mini are a perfect way to start with Nanoleaf. You have not lost any power and it always fits in a corner next to your desk or bed. It is also nice to give someone a gift because you don't immediately lose 200 euros and don't oblige someone to empty a complete wall for your new light artwork. Making a pattern is fun to do and takes little time – perfect for this time of year. It is a nice solution for a dull or dark corner in the house, where you have no space to place a wall lamp. Near the head of your bed or on the wall behind your desk is also a suitable place. As we have come to expect from Nanoleaf, the light panels are easy to install and operate with HomeKit.
Buy Nanoleaf Triangles Mini
As mentioned earlier, you can buy these mini triangles in a starter pack of 5 or 9 pieces. In addition, there is an extension set of 10 pieces, which is quite affordable. So you can expand your building at any time or ask for an extension set as a gift.
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