Nanoleaf launches Smart Multicolour Ceiling Light with Matter

Nanoleaf has announced the Smart Multicolour Ceiling Light, a new flush-mounted smart light designed to combine bright room illumination with ambient accent lighting in a single fixture. Compatible with Matter, the light integrates with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and other Matter-enabled smart home platforms.

DESIGNED FOR BOTH TASK AND AMBIENT LIGHTING

Unlike many smart ceiling lights that offer only a single light source, the Smart Multicolor Ceiling Light features independently controllable front and rear lighting. The front light delivers up to 2,600 lumens, providing enough illumination for rooms up to 150 sq ft, while supporting adjustable white light from 2,200K ~ 6,500K, as well as more than 16 million colours.

A rear-facing light projects a diffused halo onto the ceiling, creating softer ambient lighting. Users can operate the front light, rear halo, or both together, allowing the fixture to switch between practical everyday lighting and more decorative effects. At just over an inch thick and measuring 13.8 inches in diameter, the light sits close to the ceiling while providing a subtle illuminated halo around the fixture.

This design is not new however, with Yeelight producing similar dual lights many years ago, albeit without Matter or even HomeKit support for many of their lights.

MULTI-ZONE COLOUR EFFECTS

The fixture contains 364 individually addressable LEDs arranged across 28 independently controlled colour zones, enabling animated lighting effects across both the main light and the rear halo. Nanoleaf says the light offers a CRI of 95 for accurate colour reproduction, along with an RG0 low blue light rating designed to reduce eye strain during extended use.

SMART FEATURES

The Ceiling Light can be controlled using a standard wall switch (which will disconnect it from your smart home of course), the Nanoleaf app, voice assistants, or the optional Nanoleaf Sense+ Smart Wireless Switch, which adds motion and daylight sensing.

Within the Nanoleaf app, users can create schedules, customise lighting scenes, and access several advanced features, including:

• Rhythm Music Visualisation, which synchronises lighting effects with music.
• Screen Mirror, which extends colours from a TV or computer display onto the ceiling.
• AI Magic Scenes, allowing users to generate custom animated lighting effects using simple text prompts.

MATTER COMPATIBILITY

The Smart Multicolor Ceiling Light supports Matter, allowing it to integrate with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and other Matter-compatible platforms. One disappointing aspect of the announcement, however, is Nanoleaf’s continued move away from Thread in favour of Matter over Wi-Fi. The company was among the earliest adopters of Thread, with its Essentials range helping to demonstrate the advantages of the protocol long before Matter arrived. Since then, a growing number of its newer Matter products have relied on Wi-Fi instead.

While this latest decision is perhaps no longer surprising, it is still difficult not to see it as a step backwards. Unlike battery-powered devices, a permanently wired ceiling light has no obvious power constraints that would preclude the use of Thread, and a mains-powered Thread device would also strengthen the surrounding Thread mesh network. Nanoleaf has not explained why it opted for Wi-Fi in this instance, although factors such as lower hardware costs, simplified product design, or broader market considerations may have influenced the decision. Whatever the reasoning, it marks another departure from the company that was once one of Thread’s strongest advocates.

AVAILABILITY

The Nanoleaf Smart Multicolour Ceiling Light is available to purchase now via Amazon.com for US$79.99, which is reasonably priced. You can also purchase a double pack directly from Nanoleaf for US$139.98, saving US$10 per unit.