Nanoleaf PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip review: Monitor backlighting that doesn't hesitate
A USB-C connection has surprising benefits.
Manufacturers have been looking for ways to make reactive lighting more responsive. The Nanoleaf PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip avoids wireless latency without a pricey sync box. However, the USB-C connection results in less accessibility than other Nanoleaf lights.Adam Corsetti, 👁 Enrico Frahn Published 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 ...
Verdict - Screen mirroring evolved
The Nanoleaf PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip avoids the laggy performance that plagues alternatives. A USB-C connection combined with desktop software enables immediate reactions to changing scenery. The lightstrip's innovative design also makes maneuvering it around corners of monitors less problematic.
Sadly, ditching wireless pairing does introduce some drawbacks. Mobile access and voice commands are casualties since the kit depends on a PC or Mac app. Integrating the Nanoleaf light with other smart lights becomes more difficult.
Despite these concerns, the lights are bright and display gradual color shifts. Features like Orchestrator have limited options without a premium subscription but tempt music fans who find other screen mirroring products can't keep pace.
For desktop-focused buyers, it's hard not to recommend the $49.99 PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
The PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip is currently only available on Nanoleaf's store site for $49.99.
The Nanoleaf PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip takes a different approach to monitor backlighting by using a USB-C connection. PC and Mac users with 32-inch or smaller monitors benefit from faster response time. The Nanoleaf Desktop software unlocks powerful musical synchronization and visualization.
Specifications
| Dimensions | (L) 2500 x (W)10 x (H) 2.3 mm |
| Brightness | [email protected] |
| Color channel configuration | RGBIC |
| Color temp range | 2700 - 6500K |
| Color zones | 75 |
| Total LEDs | 75 |
| Connectivity | USB-C |
| Maximum monitor size | 32-inch |
Packaging and box contents
The Nanoleaf PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip ships in a very compact square white box. Inside the packaging, buyers will find a light strip with an attached controller and USB-C to USB-C cable. Nanoleaf also includes a quick start guide and a cardboard piece with adhesive to help route the lightstrip around the corners of monitors.
Installation
With an unconventional zig-zag pattern, the PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip is more flexible than the average lightstrip. Nevertheless, the installation was challenging since the back of my 32-inch monitor wasn't flat. The sticky corner guides weren't effective on the top half of the rear panel. Still, I was able to bend the lightstrip around the four corners. To keep the light flat, I opted for short strips of black electrical tape.
The screen mirroring kit is trimmable at various points to suit smaller monitors. Once buyers cut the lightstrip, there is no way to reattach segments, and the Nanoleaf lights aren't extendable. Since the trimmable areas are spread out, you may need to reposition the lightstrip several times to avoid excess material or gaps in illumination.
Installers should connect the cable at one end of the lightstrip to a USB-C port on a PC or Mac. However, you may need to purchase an adapter if a port isn't in a convenient spot.
Unlike most Nanoleaf lights, the PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip doesn't use WiFi or Bluetooth. Instead, the Nanoleaf Desktop software will scan for the screen mirroring kit using its wired connection. I had some issues with the app finding the light until I unplugged it and replugged it several times. Once paired, the software will ask users to identify the corners of the lightstrip for more accurate lighting effects.
Software
Without smartphone apps as an option, Nanoleaf Desktop is the only way to control the PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip. That said, owners can still sync lighting effects with other Nanoleaf lights that use WiFi.
The dashboard allows users to assign the screen mirroring kit to rooms and groups. Clicking on the device reveals some basic scenes and music-reactive options. Other tabs include Gaming, where the lightstrip can mirror anything on a screen. Available integrations consist of Overwolf and Razer Chroma, supporting responses to in-game events.
Without Nanoleaf Premium, users are limited to one Scenescape Scene and Orchestrator Mood. Nanoleaf gave me a free trial of the subscription service, which costs $1.99 per month or $19.99 a year. Orchestrator takes advantage of the lightstrip's low latency and uses AI to program unique reactions to beats. Meanwhile, Scenescapes sets a mood with animated lighting and soothing soundtracks.
In terms of reliability, Nanoleaf Desktop has made great strides since its debut. On the other hand, the lack of mobile access to the lightstrip can be inconvenient. While the program has scheduling capabilities, there is no power-saving feature or way to turn it off from a distance.
Performance
The PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip appeals to buyers who prioritize responsiveness. Competing screen mirroring solutions from Govee rely on cameras or network connectivity. Nanoleaf's kit utilizes a direct USB-C link to PCs or Macs, eliminating latency. The desktop software monitors video and audio in real-time, which benefits furious gameplay or uptempo music.
The lightstrip itself is more ordinary using the same RGBIC technology as the Govee Gaming G1 kit. 75 LED bulbs are spread 33.33 mm apart and can display different colors simultaneously. Thanks to 75 lighting zones, subtle transitions between colors are visible. With a 300-lumen output, the lightstrip casts a bright and expansive glow on adjacent walls.
Buyers don't need Nanoleaf Premium to see how the PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip reacts instantaneously to music. I played a test track of simple beats, and the enhanced response time compared to other screen mirroring kits was obvious. Even so, DJs or music streamers may find paying for Orchestrator worth the investment. Instead of pre-calculated effects, scenes are dynamic and distinctive.
Scenescapes are less revolutionary and seem more suitable for relaxing in a living room than sitting at a computer desk. The PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip realizes its potential more with gaming. It happily co-exists next to my Razer Chroma-enabled accessories. The RGB lighting reacts in unison to feats in Overwatch 2 or turns an entire setup blood red in Diablo IV.
The downside of the kit is it forces control of synced Nanoleaf lights in desktop software. If a gamer has Nanoleaf light bulbs in the same room, communicating with all devices using voice commands requires workarounds. One possibility is Razer Synapse and Chroma, which offers an Amazon Alexa plugin.
Conclusion
The Nanoleaf PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip fulfills its promise of more responsive reactive lighting. Fast-paced games and music inspire effects that evolve in real-time. Smartphones also can't control the kit, but the enhanced performance justifies a $49.99 price.
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
