Original link:Yeelight Cube Smart ARGB Table Lamp Review
Good lighting is crucial in any room, including a gamers’ room, and there are numerous devices available in the market to create optimal lighting conditions. Yeelight, a renowned manufacturer in this field, has recently unveiled its latest innovation, the Cube Smart Lamp, which boasts an impressive design. The Yeelight Cube is a one-of-a-kind smart lamp that provides endless possibilities for creative lighting combinations. It is a modular lamp comprising three light modules: dot matrix lights, panel lights, and reflectors. These modules easily connect to the base through magnets, allowing users to create horizontal light strings or vertical light towers effortlessly, without the need for connectors or cables.
Debuted at CES 2023, the Yeelight Cube smart light offers a range of remarkable features in its modular design. Notably, it is the first lamp of its kind to receive certification with the Matter Standard. The lamp consists of three units: Spot, Matrix, and Panel, each serving a unique lighting purpose. Moreover, the Cube Smart Lamp will support additional control options through Apple HomeKit and Samsung SmartThings. Users will also have the convenience of voice control through popular voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
In this review, we will delve deeper into the performance, usability, and overall value of the Yeelight Cube Smart Lamp, providing readers with valuable insights to help them make an informed decision about this innovative lighting solution.
Unboxing
The Yeelight Cube Smart Lamp comes in three distinct models: the Panel, the Spot, and the Matrix. While all three models share the same size and shape, each one offers unique features and functionality.
In the Standard Kit that I received for review, I found a comprehensive package. The Yeelight Cube Smart Lamp Standard Kit includes one Panel Cube with a base, four Dot Matrix Cubes, and one Spotlight Cube. Each cube is individually packaged in separate boxes, ensuring their protection during transportation.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s inside this elegant box. As I begin to unpack, the first box I come across is the Cube Panel box. This particular box is slightly larger than the others due to the additional items it contains. Inside, I find the Cube Panel itself, along with a user manual, power supply, and the base unit that supports the lamp.
Moving on to the Dot Matrix Cube and Spotlight Cube extensions, each box contains a smart lamp specific to its model and a user manual. These cubes provide additional lighting options and can be easily integrated into the overall Yeelight Cube Smart Lamp system.
Overall, the Yeelight Cube Smart Lamp Standard Kit offers a comprehensive package with various cube models and all the necessary components to set up and enjoy these smart lighting solutions.
Design and Build Quality
The Yeelight Cube Smart Lamp LED desk lamp stands out with its innovative design and user-friendly features. One of its notable attributes is the presence of magnetism in the lamp blocks, allowing them to connect to each other effortlessly. This eliminates the need for wires or adapters, simplifying the setup process and offering greater flexibility in arranging the blocks. The cubes are designed in a sleek and modern form, featuring a matte black plastic cover that adds a touch of elegance to the product. This high-quality finish enhances the overall appeal and allows users to freely arrange and connect the light blocks according to their desired shapes and structures.
In terms of dimensions, each cube measures 75 x 75 x 75mm, providing a compact and space-efficient solution for desk lighting. The accompanying base has dimensions of 75x75x19.6 mm, allowing for easy placement on any surface. Despite its compact size, the cube has a weight of approximately 250g, striking a balance between being lightweight and providing a solid grip. This weight distribution enhances the premium feel of the product, ensuring a comfortable and sturdy hold while in use.
Setting up your Cubes is a straightforward process that begins with connecting the first cube to the magnetic connection on top of the base. Each cube is equipped with a circular magnetic connection on both its top and bottom, allowing for seamless linking to the next cube. This design choice is particularly ingenious as it grants you the freedom to rotate each cube independently, providing endless possibilities for creativity and customization. The hot-swappable nature of the lights further enhances the experience, encouraging you to experiment with different configurations and mix and match the cubes to suit your preferences.
On the back of the device, you will find a sleek and minimalist design! devoid of any clutter or unnecessary elements. The focus remains on the cubes themselves, allowing them to be the main attraction. The base, situated at the front, features a single button that serves as the control hub for your Cubes. With a simple press of the button, you can cycle through the pre-programmed lighting presets. These presets can be easily customized using the dedicated app! giving you the flexibility to create your own designs and tailor the lighting to match your mood or surroundings. Additionally, for those moments when you prefer darkness or want to conserve power, a long press of the button conveniently turns off the lights, providing a hassle-free way to control the illumination of your Cubes.
The base unit of the Yeelight smart cube system features a sleek and modern design. It has a square shape that matches the cubes, creating a cohesive aesthetic.
On the front of the base unit, there is a touch-sensitive indent that serves as a versatile button! allowing users to control various functions of the smart cube system. At the back of the base unit, there is a coaxial power socket that enables it to connect to the power supply. This ensures a stable and reliable source of power for the entire system.
On the top face of the base unit, there is a recessed circle that contains four metallic rings. These rings play a crucial role in transmitting power and data from the base unit to the cubes! that are connected to it in a series. The surface of the metallic rings also features relevant information, including electrical specifications and a Matter QR code! providing convenient access to additional information and setup instructions.
The base unit not only serves as a hub for connecting the smart cubes but also acts as a bridge between your smart home and your network. It utilizes standard 2.4GHz WiFi technology to connect to your home network. This allows for seamless integration with other smart devices! and enables convenient control and management of the Yeelight smart cube system from anywhere within the WiFi range. With its thoughtful design and connectivity options! the base unit serves as the central control point, providing a reliable and efficient smart home experience.
The basic Yeelight Cube Starter Kit includes a versatile base that can accommodate up to six magnet light modules in any order. This offers users the freedom to customize their lighting arrangement to suit their preferences and needs. If you wish to incorporate more than six cubes into your design or create intricate arrangements with cubes stacked in various orientations! it will be necessary to acquire extra bases specifically for those distinct configurations. These additional bases will enable you to expand your creative possibilities and construct more elaborate structures using the cubes.
Like other decorative lights in the Yeelight range, the Cube boasts an impressive color range, with 16 million colors available. This vast selection of colors enables users to create a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere! transforming their space into a captivating entertainment area. Whether it’s for work, relaxation, or ambiance! the Yeelight Cube Smart Lamp LED desk lamp offers a versatile and visually stunning lighting solution.
Cubes
Yeelight Cube offers three different lighting modules: Cube Matrix! Cube Panel, and Cube Spotlight, each with its own unique features and capabilities.
The Cube Matrix module consists of 25 dots arranged in a grid formation! allowing for precise control over lighting and the creation of clear graphics and images. With no diffuser, the Matrix cube produces sharp and distinct visuals, making it perfect for detailed designs and patterns. Users can customize their own animated pixel art and transform it into digital clocks, emojis, billboards, and more. The Cube Matrix provides endless possibilities for personalization! and allows users to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art that reflects their style and personality.
The Cube Panel module features a large color panel with a diffuser, resulting in a uniform and blended appearance. Despite its surface appearing as a single color, the Panel cube actually contains 25 individual LEDs. The diffuser allows the Panel to display multiple colors simultaneously, offering dynamic and vibrant lighting effects. This module provides a seamless combination of color and light, creating a more immersive and visually stunning lighting experience. Cube Panels are ideal for creating a soft and ambient atmosphere, perfect for relaxation or setting a romantic mood.
The Cube Spotlight module is designed to emit a single color at a time and can be adjusted horizontally by 350 degrees! and vertically by 90 degrees with a beam up to 1 5 degrees wide. It acts as a focused light source, allowing users to shed color onto walls or ceilings. The Spotlight cube can be angled and adjusted to suit individual preferences, providing flexibility in directing the light where desired. With Cube Spotlight, users can highlight artwork, family photos, or wall decor with adjustable angles that perfectly suit their taste. It offers endless possibilities for accentuating a gallery wall or featuring a beautiful painting as a striking focal point. The Cube Spotlight module makes it easy to turn artistic visions into reality.
Support High Synchronization Features
Unleash the full potential of your entertainment setup with Yeelight Cube, a revolutionary device that takes your visual and auditory experiences to new heights. No longer confined to the boundaries of your screen, the Cube allows you to create captivating and immersive environments using its innovative features.
Seamless Integration with Yeelight Station
With the Cube, effortlessly configure your lighting preferences through the user-friendly Yeelight Station on your PC. By selecting specific display areas, you can synchronize the vibrant hues of your decorative RGB lights, all without the hassle of additional cameras or equipment. Let your surroundings come alive as you delve into an engaging entertainment experience like never before.
Syncing with Music
Not only does the Yeelight Cube excel in screen synchronization, but it also boasts an incredible ability to sync with your favorite tunes. As your music plays, watch in awe as the lights move and blink in perfect harmony with the rhythm. The best part? No need for extra synchronization devices such as a Sync Box HDMI. Simply connect your lights to the Yeelight Station app, hit play, and witness the creation of a captivating lighting space that dances to the sound.
Third-Party App Compatibility
The versatility of the Yeelight Cube extends beyond its inherent features. When connected to Yeelight Station on your PC, you can link the Cube with popular third-party applications like Razer Chroma and Overwolf. Immerse yourself in reactive lighting effects while gaming, elevating your gameplay to a whole new level. Say goodbye to the need for retrofitting an HDMI Sync Box as the Cube seamlessly integrates with your existing setup, delivering an explosive and immersive gaming experience.
Immersive Illumination Experiences
The Yeelight Cube Smart Lamp introduces a captivating dimension to your lighting setup by allowing the pairing of one main light with up to five auxiliary lights. This innovative combination of lights enables the creation of truly mesmerizing lighting effects. Enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal, Yeelight has incorporated dynamic lighting effects into the light blocks. These effects include the enchanting matrix effect, the cozy campfire effect, the graceful wave effect, the vibrant rainbow effect, and the captivating aurora effect. With such a diverse range of lighting effects, the Yeelight Cube becomes an indispensable centerpiece for any occasion, be it lively parties or intimate gatherings.
Moreover, convenience is at your fingertips with the ability to effortlessly switch between modes. You can simply utilize the button on the lamp base or directly access the controls through the user-friendly application. With these seamless controls, adjusting the lighting to suit your mood and ambiance becomes an effortless task.
Yeelight Station APP
Yeelight Station is a comprehensive application that is specifically designed for use with the Yeelight Cube. Available in both PC and mobile versions, Yeelight Station offers extensive customization options. Unlike other similar products that require additional devices like cameras or hubs to access these features, Yeelight Station simplifies the process by providing all the necessary functionality within the app itself. Whether you are using the PC or mobile version! Yeelight Station serves as a convenient one-stop solution for transforming your living space.
The Yeelight Station app allows you to view all the lighting groups you have created and provides quick access to various lighting presets. You can easily adjust the brightness and color manually, tailoring the lighting to your preferences. Moreover, by accessing a specific lighting group, you have the ability to rearrange the order of the cubes, ensuring that the effects are displayed correctly. However, it is worth noting that the cubes are not automatically recognized upon connection, so you need to manually update the cube order whenever you make changes to your cube configuration.
One exciting feature within the app is the Pixel Graffiti tab, where you can unleash your creativity and design custom patterns for each cube. Whether you want to draw your own unique designs or choose from a wide range of pre-existing basic shapes, letters, numbers, or characters! the app provides a vast selection to adorn your cubes. Furthermore, you can customize the speed, direction, and type of effect to be applied to your set of cubes. However, the current limitation is that these settings can only be applied to the entire group at once! which means individual cubes cannot have their own independent effects, representing a missed opportunity for more diverse lighting displays
Nevertheless, Yeelight Station offers a convenient feature that allows you to save specific lighting presets! including those you create, directly to the lights themselves. This means that you can easily toggle between different presets without relying on the app, providing added convenience and flexibility.
Nevertheless, Yeelight Station offers a convenient feature that allows you to save specific lighting presets! including those you create, directly to the lights themselves. This means that you can easily toggle between different presets without relying on the app, providing added convenience and flexibility.
Currently, the additional integrations and settings, such as syncing with music playback or matching colors to your monitor, are only available in the Windows app. These features enhance the immersive lighting experience by creating synchronized effects with other media sources or mirroring the colors displayed on your screen. It is worth noting that these integrations are not yet available on the mobile version of Yeelight Station! but their inclusion in the Windows app suggests potential expansion to other platforms in the future.
Clock Mode
If you have at least four Matrix cubes set up in the Yeelight Station app! you can easily turn them into a digital clock. Simply activate the feature in the app, and the current time will replace whatever was previously displayed on the cubes. By selecting the clock theme, you can access a secondary screen that offers a choice of eight preset color options. These options include multi-colored, tinted, and regular colors, but they cannot be customized except for adjusting the brightness. Unfortunately, if you’re not fond of a particular preset color, such as yellow, you won’t be able to change it.
Additionally, you can choose to display only the time, the date, or both. If you opt for the latter, the display will alternate between showing the time and the date every few seconds. It’s important to note that if you add more Matrix or Panel Cubes to the setup while the clock is active, they will remain inactive. However, the Spot Cube is an exception and will emit a solid color matching the clock’s hue and brightness.
Matter Compatible
The Yeelight Cube lights are designed to support the new Matter standard, a development that aims to enhance communication among different smart devices on the same network. This compatibility allows the Cube to seamlessly interact with popular third-party apps and home assistants such as Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and Home Assistant. The adoption of Matter ensures stable connections and a more reliable user experience. With the Cube’s easy integration with platforms like Google Home, users can conveniently control their lights through voice commands. While we have yet to explore this feature, the Cube stands as the first Yeelight product to embrace Matter! promising effortless connectivity and empowering users to live a more convenient and efficient lifestyle.
Connected to Matter via Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), devices are added quickly via the Yeelight Station app. For gamers or those who love light technology. Then this is one of those products that are well worth owning. You can also connect the Yeelight Cube to a PC device, via the Yeelight Station PC app. For PC monitor and game synchronization, as well as integration into Razer Chroma RGB.
