Nanoleaf Skylight Starter Kit

Length x Width x Height of the light as installed, in the maker's own order.

It tells you whether the light fits the room and, with the height, how far it hangs below the ceiling.

The diameter of a round light, or the longest side of a square, rectangular or oval one.

Size sets how much of the room the light can carry. Around 12 inches suits a hallway or a closet, around 15 inches a bedroom, and 20 inches or more a living room or a kitchen.

How far the light sits below the ceiling once it is mounted.

A low profile of an inch or two reads as part of the ceiling. A taller body hangs lower and matters in a room with a low ceiling or a hallway.

The weight of the light, without its packaging.

A light of a few kilograms needs its mounting plate fixed into a ceiling joist or a rated box, not into the drywall alone.

Whether the light is rated for damp rooms, as an ingress protection code (IP) or as a damp-location listing.

A bathroom or a covered porch needs a damp rating. Most smart ceiling lights are indoor only and carry no rating, and one that says nothing about moisture should not go over a shower.

Total light output of the fixture in lumens, at full white.

A ceiling light is often the only light in the room, so this is the number that matters. Around 2000 lumens carries a small bedroom, around 3000 a bedroom or an office, and 4500 or more a living room or a kitchen.

The range of white tones the light can produce, in Kelvin, from warm amber to cold daylight.

A wider range is more useful over a day: warm white around 2700K in the evening, neutral or cool white above 4000K for working. A range that stops at 2700K or starts at 4000K fixes the mood of the room.

The light can produce colours, not just shades of white. Here that includes a coloured backlight with a white main light.

A white-only ceiling light is the right pick for a hallway or a kitchen, where colour is a distraction and the price is lower.

How many sections of the light can show a different colour at the same time. One zone means the whole light is a single colour, and two means a main light plus a coloured ring.

This is what marketing calls RGBIC or gradient. More zones make a rainbow travel around the ring and make music effects finer.

A second light behind or around the main one (a halo, a ring or an uplight) that glows on the ceiling and can be set apart from the main light.

It is what turns a fixture into mood lighting and a night light: the main light can be off while the backlight stays on in a colour. Sky and skylight models build the whole effect on it.

How faithfully the white light shows colours, on a scale of 100. Daylight is 100.

At 90 or above skin, wood and food look natural. A CRI of 80 is the usual floor for a home light and is fine for a hallway, but it shows in a kitchen or a bathroom mirror.

The mains voltage the light is wired to.

A ceiling light is hardwired into the ceiling box and takes the house voltage directly, 100-130 V in North America. A 100-240 V range works worldwide.

Maximum draw of the light in watts, at full brightness and white.

Real consumption is lower for coloured or dimmed light. A ceiling light replaces the fixture, so the watts it draws are the cost of lighting the room. LED lights give 70 to 100 lumens per watt, and a much lower figure means a weak LED.

Range: The 2.4 GHz band offers a longer range, meaning it can cover larger areas and penetrate solid objects like walls more effectively than 5 GHz.

Speed: Generally, 2.4 GHz provides slower speeds compared to 5 GHz due to a lower maximum data rate.

Interference: More prone to interference since many other devices (like cordless phones, microwaves, and Bluetooth devices) operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency, leading to potential congestion and slower network performance.

Range: Offers a shorter range compared to 2.4 GHz and may have difficulty penetrating walls and other obstacles.

Speed: Typically provides faster speeds and higher data rates due to more available bandwidth.

Interference: Less prone to interference as fewer devices operate on this frequency, leading to a more stable connection.

Bluetooth is a wireless communication technology used for exchanging data over short distances.

Bluetooth enables devices to communicate wirelessly within a short range, typically up to 10 meters (about 33 feet) for most consumer devices.

Zigbee is a wireless communication protocol designed for low-power, short-range applications, commonly used in smart home devices, industrial automation, and other areas requiring reliable, low-data rate communication. It features low power consumption, making it ideal for battery-operated devices, and supports short-range communication, typically up to 100 meters. Zigbee employs mesh networking, allowing devices to relay data through each other to extend range and improve reliability. It supports data rates up to 250 kbps, suitable for small data packets, and ensures interoperability among devices from different manufacturers if they conform to Zigbee standards. Security is robust, with AES-128 encryption for data protection.

Zigbee devices need a Zigbee-compatible hub to connect and communicate with other devices in your smart home setup.

Thread is a wireless communication protocol designed specifically for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, providing secure, reliable, and scalable networking. Unlike some other protocols, Thread is IP-based, which means it can seamlessly integrate with existing internet infrastructure. It operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band and uses mesh networking to enhance reliability and extend range by allowing devices to relay data through each other.

Thread is optimized for low power consumption, making it suitable for battery-operated devices. It supports low-latency communication, which is crucial for real-time applications like home automation and security systems. The protocol ensures high security with AES-128 encryption and end-to-end security at the network layer. Thread also supports over-the-air updates, ensuring devices can stay up to date with the latest features and security patches.

Thread-enabled devices require a Thread Border Router (such as certain smart home hubs or routers) to connect to your home network and other Thread devices.

Google Home serves as a central hub for a variety of smart devices, including lights, thermostats, cameras, and speakers. It leverages Google Assistant for voice control, enabling users to manage their smart home with simple commands.

Amazon Alexa is one of the most widely used smart home systems, known for its compatibility with a vast array of devices. Users can control everything from smart lights to appliances using voice commands through Echo devices.

Apple HomeKit is designed for users in the Apple ecosystem, providing a seamless way to control compatible smart devices through iOS devices using the Home app or Siri. It emphasizes security and user privacy.

SmartThings is a flexible platform that connects a wide range of devices from different brands, offering a unified interface for control. It supports various communication protocols, allowing for extensive device compatibility.

Home Assistant is an open-source platform that allows for extensive customization and integration of a wide variety of smart devices. It supports a multitude of protocols and brands, making it ideal for tech-savvy users.

Matter is a unified, open-source connectivity protocol designed to standardize and simplify communication between smart home devices from different manufacturers. Developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (formerly the Zigbee Alliance), Matter aims to improve interoperability, security, and reliability across various smart home ecosystems.

Matter operates over existing networking technologies, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Thread, providing flexibility in device connectivity. Its IP-based nature allows seamless integration with existing internet infrastructure and cloud services. Matter uses a mesh networking topology, particularly when operating over Thread, to enhance range and reliability by allowing devices to relay data through each other.

Security is a cornerstone of Matter, with end-to-end encryption and secure device onboarding processes ensuring robust protection for data and privacy. Matter also supports over-the-air updates, allowing devices to stay current with the latest features and security enhancements.

The light reacts to sound, picked up by a microphone in the light or by the phone running the app.

A microphone in the light keeps working when the phone leaves the room. Most ceiling lights only sync to music with the phone, and some have no music mode at all.

The ability to create automated actions based on schedules, sunrise and sunset, or other devices.

Automations let the light fade up as a wake-up alarm, follow the hours of the day or turn on with a motion or presence sensor.

A physical remote ships in the box.

A ceiling light is switched from a wall switch that has to stay on, so a remote is what lets anyone in the house use the light without the app. Most models do not include one.