After nearly eight years of development, Nanoleaf has finally released its long-awaited Sense Plus Smart Wireless “Anywhere” Switch overseas. The device, which is available for pre-order with a price tag of $30, will be available to consumers in October. Sense provides physical control of Nanoleaf’s smart lighting systems, allowing you to perform many functions, from turning lights on and off to adjusting brightness and colors, with just a single button. In addition, the device’s motion and light sensors allow for automatic adjustments based on ambient conditions.
Nanoleaf initially planned to use Thread technology in its smart devices, but encountered some technical challenges along the way. To overcome these issues, the company developed a new proprietary protocol called Litewave. Litewave allows the wireless switch to work seamlessly with all Nanoleaf lights. This new technology connects via both Thread and Bluetooth, allowing users to control all of their lights over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Because it’s wireless, the Sense doesn’t rely on any lighting circuitry, making it ideal for controlling lights in multiple rooms in your home. Similar to devices like Philips Hue’s wireless dimmer switch and Lutron Caseta’s Pico remote, the Sense can be wall-mounted or used as a portable remote. The six-button device offers on/off, brightness adjustment, and two custom programmable buttons.
These programmable buttons can be customized with the Nanoleaf app and work with platforms like Apple Home or Samsung SmartThings to enable smart home automations like closing curtains or adjusting the thermostat, as well as adjusting lighting settings. However, these features are limited because the Matter standard does not yet support button integration on all platforms.
Gimmy Chu, CEO of Nanoleaf, describes the technical challenges experienced in the eight years since the wireless switch was first developed. Due to the complexity of the Matter and Thread platforms, the company had to develop an alternative like Litewave. This new protocol provides users with a fast and reliable control experience, allowing smart lighting systems to operate more smoothly.