Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror Kit review: What can the Ambilight alternative do?

Some time ago the company Nanoleaf, known for its lighting, introduced the Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror Kit. I found out for you what the 4D kit has to offer and whether it's worth buying.

Nanoleaf is trying something new with the 4D Proproduct category. This is a TV backlight with a camera that has some cool features. You can read below how they managed their first TV backlight and whether it is worth buying.

tl; dr

Overall, I liked the Nanoleaf 4D. Installation was pretty easy and well explained. The workmanship of the camera and the LED strip is also really good. Thanks to the adjustable length of the LED strip, the Screen Mirror Kit can be used on all screens and monitors up to 65 inches. The synchronization of the screen also worked most of the time, although I had a few ProProblems with ambient light that is too bright and with reflections on the TV screen. I also liked the Nanoleaf app. It offers many features and customizable scenes. Control with Alexa, the Google Assistant and even Siri and Apple HomeKit is also possible here, which is another reason to buy.

For the reasons mentioned above, I can recommend the Nanoleaf 4D to those looking for a well-implemented backlight for their TV or monitor that is quite smart. I think the purchase price of around 80 euros is justified for what is on offer. In addition to a very high-quality LED strip, you also get a generally good screen synchronization function with a camera. The Nanoleaf 4D is available at all common electronics stores as well as from Nanoleaf itself.

• Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror Kit (for devices up to 65 inches) buy from Nanoleaf
• Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror Kit (for devices up to 85 inches) buy from Nanoleaf
• Buy Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror Kit (for devices up to 65 inches) at Cyberport
• Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror Kit (for devices up to 85 inches) buy at Cyberport

Unboxing & scope of delivery

The Nanoleaf 4D is coming, like the other Nanoleaf Proproducts, in a simple white packaging with a large picture of it. When you open the box, you immediately notice how little plastic was used in packaging. Almost everything is made of cardboard, which I quite liked. In addition to the LED strip, camera, a controller and corner pieces, the usual paperwork and a power supply are also included.

Installation & Setup

After unboxing the Screen Mirror Kit, you should first prepare the television or monitor for installation. I would recommend that the buyer place the device on which the Nanoleaf 4D is to be installed on a soft surface such as a bed or couch, as this will make installation much easier. Next, you should glue the corner pieces on with a distance of 2 centimeters from the edges of the device. You can then start sticking on the LED strip. You should start on the bottom side in the middle, but then it doesn't matter which direction you stick the LEDs. Once you have reached the bottom middle again, cut off the excess LEDs at the marking with scissors.

Once you've done that, all you have to do is set up the TV or monitor again, install the camera and wire everything up. There are two options for installing the camera. You can either hang it up using the holder on the top edge of the device or place it at a certain distance in front of it. In the last step you just have to plug the cables of the camera and the LED strip as well as the power cable into the controller and download the Nanoleaf app to set up the screen mirror kit. You then use this to determine the positions of the camera and then calibrate the LED strip to the device's screen.

Design, workmanship & optics

I really liked the design and workmanship of the Screen Mirror Kit and are of a high standard. The camera, camera mount and controller are made of matte black plastic and are well made. The workmanship of the LED strip itself is also at a high level. It's pretty flexible and stuck to my TV pretty well with the pre-installed adhesive tape. At first I found the camera above the TV a bit annoying, but I've gotten used to it now.

Now let's get to the optics. I always really liked this review. Thanks to the many individually controllable lighting zones, the 4D can adapt its color precisely to the content displayed on the television. This usually worked well review. Depending on the mode set, the lighting effect also differs. The colors are always nice and rich in “Vivid” mode, whereas in “Cinematic” mode they seem a little paler and more natural. The brightness can be adjusted almost continuously, which I found good. At the highest setting, the 4D becomes quite bright, which is of course useful during the day.

Operation, Nanoleaf App & Smart Home

There are several ways to control the Nanoleaf 4D. One of them is the controller, which has three buttons that can be used to activate the screen synchronization and the rhythm function, as well as to switch through the individual scenes. Another way to control the Screen Mirror Kit is the Nanoleaf app. This gives you access to all functions and settings of the 4D. This includes, for example, the creation of your own scenes, group scenes or schedules. In addition, other Nanoleaf can be used in the app using the Sync+ feature ProConnect ducts in the room to the 4D to achieve a better color effect across the entire room when watching TV, for example. Overall, I liked the app relatively well, but I often had this ProThe problem is that the app hangs briefly and you have to restart it.

The 4D works just like any other Nanoleaf Proproducts with all common smart home systems, even with Apple HomeKit. The control via my HomePod always worked proNo problem, but unfortunately the Matter Standard is not supported, which I find very unfortunate.

Prices & Availability

The Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror Kit has an RRP of 99 euros in the version for televisions with a maximum diagonal of 65 inches (approx. 165 cm). The variant for TVs with up to 85 inches (approx. 216 cm) has an RRP that is 30 euros higher, i.e. 130 euros. However, the current market prices are significantly below the RRP. You can get the 65-inch version for around 80 euros and the larger 85-inch version for around 100 to 110 euros. Compared to the competition, these prices are justified for what is on offer, although not entirely cheap. You can buy the 4D Screen Mirror Kit at all standard electronics stores, as well as from Nanoleaf itself.

• Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror Kit (for devices up to 65 inches) buy from Nanoleaf
• Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror Kit (for devices up to 85 inches) buy from Nanoleaf
• Buy Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror Kit (for devices up to 65 inches) at Cyberport
• Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror Kit (for devices up to 85 inches) buy at Cyberport

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