It was back at CES—CES 2023, mind you—when Nanoleaf first announced a new line of smart lighting products that it promised would be “actually smart.” Now at IFA 2024, Nanoleaf at last is showing off one of its new Sense+ products.
Update (9/6/2024): When first contacted about this story, a Nanoleaf rep told TechHive that Nala, an ambitious “learning bridge” at the heart of the Sense+ line, was “currently not in development.” The company has since backtracked, saying in a revised statement Friday that work on Nala is continuing:
Nala is still in development and planned as a future release for Sense+. We are dedicated to continually improving of all our products and are actively engaging with the Nanoleaf community to help shape future updates in order to deliver the most exceptional experience for our users.
Our original story follows…
The Sense+ “Anywhere” Switch is debuting alongside a pair of other new Nanoleaf lights: Blocks, yet another take on Nanoleaf’s signature series of modular light panels, and Permanent Outdoor Lights, which were previously unveiled at CES 2024 back in January.
Officially known as the Sense+ Smart Wireless “Anywhere” Switch, the new Nanoleaf light switch incorporates motion and ambient light sensors, allowing the switch to turn any connected lights on or off as you enter or leave the room, as well as adjust your lights depending on the ambient light conditions.
This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart lights.
The switch itself has two configurable buttons that can be set to trigger up to six actions, including changing light colors, activating scenes, or tweaking the brightness.
Nanoleaf says the Sense+ “Anywhere” Switch offers “seamless” and “reliable” connectivity with other devices thanks to the company’s new “Litewave” technology, while Matter over Thread support for Apple Home and Samsung SmartThings is in an early access period.
But in its IFA pre-brief materials, Nanoleaf made no mention of the other Sense+ products it announced way back at CES 2023—particularly the Nala Learning Bridge, a Thread border router that housed a night light plus “Nala,” an “Automations Learning Assistant.”
Promising to monitor your habits and create “personalized” and “predictive” automations, Nala was poised to deliver “a truly hands-free experience,” Nanoleaf said at the time.
The Sense+ Controls line was supposed to land in fall of 2023, but missed that launch window by a fairly wide margin.
Responding to a TechHive query, a Nanoleaf spokesperson confirmed that the “Nightlight and Nala are currently not in development,” but added that “we are always looking to our community’s response to determine future product updates.”
Minus the Nala Learning Bridge, the Sense+ Anywhere Switch sounds like any number of smart light switches on the market, but perhaps we’ll feel differently after checking out a test unit.
The Sense+ Anywhere Switch is slated to ship in October for $29.99.
Also coming soon are Nanoleaf Blocks, the latest addition to Nanoleaf’s family of modular light panels.
Nanoleaf
Reminiscent of the older, square-shaped Nano Canvas, Nanoleaf Blocks is a “mix-and-match” set of square panels that come in two sizes: Squares and Small Squares, and they can be connected to Nanoleaf’s Textured Square light panels, Light Pegboards, and Shelves.
While they make look like the old Canvas panels, the new Blocks have been “completely re-engineered and upgraded” with a “thicker, sturdier form factor,” Nanoleaf says, complete with “seamless edge-to-edge illumination.”
Nanoleaf Blocks will ship in October in two configurations: a “smarter kit” with six Squares for $199.99, and a Combo XL Smarter Kit that includes Squares, Small Squares, Light Pegboards, and Shelves for $249.99. There will also be an add-on kit with additional squares for $29.99.
Next up, Nanoleaf’s Permanent Outdoor Lights are finally on the way. First announced back at CES 2024, the trimmable Permanent Outdoor Lights feature 30 individually addressable color LED pucks for every 15 meters in length, and comes in two sizes: 15 meters and 30 meters (49 and 98 feet respectively).
Nanoleaf
Offering connectivity via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Matter over Wi-Fi, the Permanent Outdoor Lights boast IP67 protection for the controller (meaning it’s dust-proof and can withstand immersion in a meter of water for 30 minutes) and an IP65 rating for the lights themselves (good for total protection from dust and resistance to water jets from any angle).
The 15-meter length of Permanent Outdoor Lights will cost $199.99 when they ship next month, while the 30-meter version will retail for $349.99.
Updated on September 6, 2024 with a revised statement from Nanoleaf saying that Nala is, in fact, still in development; the company had originally stated that Nala was “currently not in development.” We have also adjusted the headline, subhead, and lead paragraph of the story to reflect Nanoleaf’s new statement.
Author: Ben Patterson, Senior Writer, TechHive
Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he has covered everything from smart speakers and soundbars to smart lights and security cameras. Ben's articles have also appeared in PC Magazine, TIME, Wired, CNET, Men's Fitness, Mobile Magazine, and more. Ben holds a master's degree in English literature.