When you think of RGB lighting, the brighter, the better, right? Maybe not. When Nanoleaf first introduced their limited edition Shapes Ultra Black Triangles to celebrate the company’s 10th-anniversary last summer, they quickly sold out. Due to customer demand, Nanoleaf is back with another run of the black panels, and they were nice enough to send over a set for us to check out. They also sent a set of their white triangles to compare against, and I have to say that sometimes turning to the dark side can be a good thing.
Nanoleaf Shapes Ultra Black Triangles - Overview And Installation
The Ultra Black Smarter Kit (Nanoleaf seems to like puns) comes with nine triangle panels (two more than the white kit), a controller, and a power cord. The box also contains all of the mounting hardware you need - nine rigid links and mounting tape. The $219.99 price for the Ultra Black Smarter Kit is $20 higher than the white triangle or hexagon kits, but you are getting two extra panels, making the price point slightly more attractive than the other kits. For larger designs, additional Ultra Black Triangles can be purchased individually for $24.99 or in value-priced 3 and 25 packs for $69.99 and $529.99, respectively. The expansion packs all include the panels along with enough equal amounts of mounting hardware. The included controller can be used with up to 500 individual panels and is compatible with all of Nanoleaf’s Shapes products (white triangles, mini triangles, and hexagons). The Smarter Kit’s 45W cord can power up to 28 panels, so larger designs require additional cords (75W cords cost $39.99).
The all-black triangles span 9” on each side. The panel is only 6mm thick, with a depth of 1cm when mounted. Each triangle has a total of six connecting points, two on each side. To mount a panel, you simply snap a linker into each point you want to connect to another panel, stick the mounting tape onto the mount located in the center of the panel, and stick it to the wall. If the surface is too rough for mounting tape, each mounting plate can be fastened to the wall with nails.
The panels themselves are made of plastic. Although they are thin and only weigh 141g each, they are pretty rigid and durable. I placed and removed the panels multiple times before finally sticking all of them in place with mounting tape. The mounting tape included with the panels is similar to Command Tape and can be pulled off without damaging the drywall (I saw reports online of this not being the case, but I pulled off multiple pieces without any issue).
The linkers are rigid, so each panel in your design must connect to at least one other panel. The panels fit together snugly, so once you position your first panel, it’s impossible to introduce any curvature into your lines. This makes it very easy to create long, straight lines without needing a level or extra measuring. Nanoleaf also has optional flexible linkers if you want to add some unique angles, create a gap between two portions of your design, or extend your lights to a second surface.
Overall, installation is straightforward, and I had the nine-panel set hung in less than 30 minutes. Just to see how durable they were, I dropped several panels from four or five feet in the air without any ill effects. One even bounced off my desk and tumbled across the floor. That little stunt did cause a scratch in the black coating, which is noticeable if you look right at it. Anyone using minimal care during installation shouldn’t have these issues; I drop stuff so you don’t have to.
Nanoleaf Shapes Ultra Black Triangles - Functionality
The Ultra Black Triangle controller serves as the brains of the operation and can be plugged into any open link spot. The controller has five buttons: on/off, brighten, dim, scene shuffle, and rhythm scene shuffle. Out of the box, the controller is preloaded with dozens of light scenes. Honestly, though, with over $200 of lighting hanging on your wall, you'll want to connect your Shapes to your wifi for additional control.
To do so, the Nanoleaf controller uses 2.4GHz wifi to connect to your router; there is no option for a direct ethernet connection or 5GHz wifi. After downloading the Nanoleaf app to my Android phone, my first two attempts to identify and connect the controller to my router failed. After a quick router reset, my Shapes were identified and connected without a hitch. Since then, I’ve removed and reconnected the controller multiple times without any problems, leaving me to believe it was a router issue rather than something on Nanoleaf’s end.
Once connected to your wifi, the Ultra Blacks can be controlled through the Nanoleaf app (mobile or desktop) or integrated into a wide range of third-party smart systems, including Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, and IFTTT. Gamers who already manage their light show on their PC can also quickly add Nanoleaf Shapes to the Razer Chroma or Corsair iCUE suite.
The Nanoleaf app allows you to download additional scenes or create your own light schemes. The mobile app is great for choosing a scene, adjusting brightness, or setting up schedules, but creating a scene on my phone wasn’t a great experience; there just isn’t enough screen space to create and manage a design. The desktop app mirrors the mobile app, and with the extra screen space and mouse control, I found it far superior for creating scenes.
Nanoleaf Shapes Ultra Black Triangles - Aesthetics
When comparing the Ultra Black Triangles to the rest of the Shapes product line, the only differences are cosmetic. The Ultra Black Triangles are identical in size and shape to the white triangles. They are compatible with all other Nanoleaf products within the Connect+ ecosystem, including all Shapes and Elements products. The black panels are also equipped with screen mirroring and rhythm visualizer functions. They are also touch active, though the matte black finish shows off every fingerprint when the lights are turned off.
The most notable difference between the original white panels and the ultra blacks is the lights' overall brightness. Unlike the overpowering glow of the white panels, the black coating gives the lighting a more subdued appearance. Depending on the color, the black panels can give off a frosted glass look.
Beyond the glow of the panels, there are some trade-offs to consider when choosing between the black and white panels. First, the black trim creates a pure black outline around the lighted surface, while the white edging allows some of the light to bleed out. On the flip side, the white panels have a more consistent color across the entire triangle. With the black panels, you can clearly see that the light emanates from the three corners of the panel; this is more pronounced with some colors than others. There are even a couple of panels that have one corner that shines brighter than the other two, probably due to the LED light not being fully recessed into the corner.
The most surprising thing about the Ultra Black Triangles is how they look when turned off. When the whole design is turned off, the black panels stand out and look like a geometric blob on the wall. Someone who likes art may find this appealing, but seeing a black cord running down my wall isn’t appealing. The same could be said about a set of white panels on a dark-colored wall, though. Even at maximum intensity, each panel only draws 2 watts of power, so the easy answer is to just leave them on at five or ten percent brightness.
An unlit panel also stands out when the lights are on, but it’s a positive this time. When white panels are blinking on and off, the panel practically vanishes in the flood of light put off by the rest of the panels. With the Ultra Blacks, a turned-off panel still contributes to the display.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to RGB, I guess you could say I have been somewhat of a slow adopter. I’ve been building my own PCs for two decades now, and for all but the last few years, my rig was devoid of extra lighting. RGB first crept into my gaming space in the form of a backlit keyboard; it was more about function than aesthetics. From there, my mice, case fans, GPU, and, most recently, AIO cooler have added a splash of RGB to my desktop. For me, putting a set of Nanoleaf Shapes on my wall went against every fiber of my anti-RGB being. And now, like a child who finally took that last step off the high dive, I’ve resurfaced on the other side, wondering why I waited so long to make the leap into RGB.
When I was installing the panels, I wasn’t only conflicted about the extra addition of RGB into my living space. As I mounted each panel, all I could think about was how that small piece of plastic costs approximately $24. Nine panels, a power cord, and mounting tape for $219.99 seemed absurd. And if all I was doing was putting a couple of lights up on the wall, it would be.
But then I turned them on. And I had more than just some RGB lighting. I had a wall’s worth of decoration and a room’s worth of lighting. When set to white light, a set of nine panels puts out more light than a single lamp ($40-$60 or more, depending on your tastes). You also have a piece of art that can change color to suit your mood, and I’d bet that guests would be happy to see a cool piece of art rather than another wall full of family portraits. So when you factor in the cost of any decor that would replace a set of Shapes, the actual expenditure starts to feel more reasonable
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
