Philips Hue x Nanoleaf Hexagon Shapes review: The smart lighting collab we've been waiting for

Nanoleaf and Philips Hue might seem like a natural pairing, given their shared love of colourful and customisable lighting. However, despite their similarities, the two smart home ecosystems have largely operated separately until now. That's finally changing, opening up new possibilities for existing Hue users who want to bring Nanoleaf's distinctive wall lights into their homes.

We recently spoke to the brains behind the collaboration to get an insight into how it came about and what it means for the future of smart lighting. Now, I've been trying the new integration for myself with the Hue x Nanoleaf Hexagon Starter Set, which includes nine panels and the dedicated wall light module, to see how well it all comes together in practice.

Price and availability

The Philips Hue x Nanoleaf Hexagon Shapes bundles start at £214.98 for 9 hexagons or 9 triangles plus the Hue Wall light module. Starter sets with 12 panels will set you back £259.97, while the 15 pack of hexagons costs £304.95.

If you already happen to own any of the Nanoleaf Shapes panels mentioned above, you can also buy the Philips Hue wall light module separately for £34.99.

Unboxing and set up

If you already have the Hue ecosystem set up in your home, the starter bundle comes with everything you need. This includes the Hue module, 9 hexagon panel lights, 9 backing clips, 10 connectors and a multipack of backing stickers to attach them to your wall.

I found the setup really easy. You just stick and click the panels as you go, so you don’t need to build your entire setup before adding it to the wall. I also found the included plug cable to be a good size if you need a little extra stretch from your sockets to where you want the panels on your wall.

The one downside I did notice during setup is that there’s only ten connector clips included in the starter pack. This means the initial layouts you can create are limited, as some structures need multiple clips to hold them securely in place.

Once the panels are assembled and powered, getting them into the Hue app is just as simple. The small Hue wall light module connects to the panels via a Nanoleaf linker, and all you need to do is open the Hue app and scan the QR code on the module. The Shapes will then appear alongside your other connected Hue lights, without needing to set them up separately through the Nanoleaf app. A Hue Bridge isn't essential for the initial connection, but having one gives you access to additional Hue features.

Design and features

The appeal of the Nanoleaf Shapes has always been their customisable, interchangeable design – and the introduction of the Philips Hue functionality only adds to this. Each panel can be connected to another to create a layout of your choice, whether that's a simple geometric pattern or a much larger wall installation. The panels are designed to sit together seamlessly, with coloured lighting that can transform a wall into a decorative feature.

Once connected, you can control the Shapes just like other Hue lights, adjusting their brightness and colours, adding them to rooms and zones, and using them in the hundreds of pre-made static and dynamic Hue scenes. You can also include them in schedules and automations, control them using compatible voice assistants and group them with other Hue lighting to create a more cohesive atmosphere throughout your home.

That said, there are a few limitations worth keeping in mind. As this partnership is primarily designed to bring Nanoleaf lighting into the Hue ecosystem, not every feature from the Nanoleaf app carries across. Music visualisations, Nanoleaf-specific scenes, effects and touch gestures aren't available through the Hue app, and you'll also need to have compatible Nanoleaf Shapes panels, as older products such as the original Aurora and Canvas ranges aren't supported. The integration currently covers Hexagons, Triangles and Mini Triangles.

Performance

Thankfully, the Nanoleaf Shapes integrate seamlessly with the Hue app, so switching over doesn't mean having to compromise on responsiveness or compatibility. I found it really easy to move between different lighting scenes, and the panels worked particularly well alongside my main office light, which also uses a Philips Hue colour bulb. Everything felt nicely joined up, rather than like I was managing two separate lighting systems.

I'm a big fan of colour lighting and enjoy changing things up depending on my mood and the time of day. On darker days, I'll often opt for a brighter, more vibrant gradient to lift the room, before switching to softer pinks and oranges when I'm winding down in the evening. With so many colours and scenes to choose from, there's plenty of scope to experiment, and I found myself regularly changing the look of my office throughout the day.

That said, there is one limitation worth mentioning. At the moment, you can't have the Nanoleaf controller module and Philips Hue wall light module connected at the same time, meaning you can't control the panels through both apps simultaneously. Philips Hue has confirmed that combined control is planned for a future software update, but there's no confirmed release date just yet.

For existing Hue users looking to bring Nanoleaf lighting into their setup, this shouldn't be much of an issue. However, if you already own Nanoleaf Shapes and want to retain the ability to switch between both ecosystems, it may be worth holding off on buying the Hue controller until that update arrives.

Verdict

As an existing Philips Hue user who loves adding a bit of colour to my office, I think the Nanoleaf Shapes are a really lovely addition. While Nanoleaf products have traditionally been popular with streamers and gamers, I think these starter kits have much wider appeal and would be perfect for anyone who enjoys experimenting with smart lighting.

My main disappointment is that, at the time of writing, the Nanoleaf and Philips Hue apps and controllers can't be used simultaneously. This is a particular drawback for existing Nanoleaf users who want to enjoy the benefits of both ecosystems. As mentioned, Philips Hue has confirmed that combined control is planned for a future update, but it's a shame this functionality wasn't available from the outset.

Alternatives to consider

If hexagons aren't quite your thing, Nanoleaf also offers starter kits featuring triangles and mini triangles, available for the same price as the Hexagon Shapes range.

Alternatively, if you're not sold on the Nanoleaf Shapes but still want to expand your smart lighting setup, it's worth checking out some of Philips Hue's latest smart lighting launches, which were unveiled alongside the Nanoleaf collaboration. T3 is currently reviewing several of these products, so look out for those reviews coming soon.