Nanoleaf unveiled its latest innovation Tuesday that should catch the attention of Mac users looking to enhance their desktop aesthetics. The new Nanoleaf PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip, available for pre-order at $49.99, offers a simplified approach to ambient lighting. You plug it right into your computer and stick it to the back of your display.
Nanoleaf PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip
Nanoleaf is know for a variety of smart lighting. Some previous ambient lighting solutions require complex hardware setups including control boxes or cameras. But Nanoleaf’s new offering connects directly to computers via USB-C — a connector that has become standard across Apple’s Mac lineup. This plug-and-play approach mirrors Apple’s own design philosophy of creating technology that “just works.” That should make the new lightstrip an attractive add-on for Mac users looking to enhance their setups without committing to more elaborate or pricey lighting systems.
The lightstrip features 75 color-changing LEDs arranged in a flexible zigzag pattern designed to attach to the back of displays up to 32 inches in size. For Mac users with smaller monitors like Studio Display, the strip can be trimmed to fit without limiting its functionality.
While the product is named “PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip,” Nanoleaf has confirmed compatibility with both Windows PCs and Macs through its desktop app. This cross-platform support means Apple users won’t be left out of the immersive lighting experience.
16 million colors and custom lighting animations
Photo: Nanoleaf
The software integration allows users to select from over 16 million colors and create custom lighting animations that transform the space around their display. For those who use their Macs for entertainment, the lightstrip can mirror onscreen content in real-time. It extends colors beyond the display to create an ambient glow that enhances both gaming and content consumption.
Music producers and audiophiles using Logic Pro or other Mac-based audio applications will appreciate the Direct PC Audio Capture technology. It synchronizes lighting effects with music rhythms without requiring additional audio routing software.
And for an additional subscription fee of $1.99 monthly or $19.99 annually, users can access Nanoleaf Premium’s Orchestrator mode. It analyzes music to create “dynamic colour palettes and animations tailored to each track.”
Simple installation
Nanoleaf created a simple installation process. The lights include adhesive backing and a zigzag design resistant to twisting during mounting. That consideration should appeal to Apple users who value easy setup and clean, distraction-free workspaces.
For those who prefer official retail channels, the lightstrip will be available at select retailers beginning mid-April, Nanoleaf said. That will probably include Amazon. Nanoleaf’s direct pre-orders should ship by the end of March 2025.
At $49.99, the PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip represents one of the more accessible entry points into Nanoleaf’s ecosystem of smart lighting products.
Preorder from: Nanoleaf
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
