My kids have become quite accustomed to using HomeKit in our home as the years have passed. A smart HomeKit socket controls white noise devices, we run HomeKit compatible air filters in their rooms, and we recently experimented with fun lighting options for "night lights." I discovered one of the best HomeKit night light options and it is Cololight Hexagon Light Works.
HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks and everything to do with the smart home frame from Apple.
When the product arrived, I involved my kids in deciding how to build it. I found that it is one of the best aspects of this product - you can create any shape you want. It is relatively easy to build once you have installed the base. There are two types of connectors on ColoLight. There are physical connectors to stabilize the hexagons and there are power connectors.
Added to the Home app
Once everything is built, you will need to find a USB-A power cable. I was somewhat shocked that it wasn't included in the box, but I have a drawer full of them from previous iPhone and iPad purchases. The HomeKit code is at the bottom, so you'll need to open the Home app> Tap +> Add an accessory. You will see that the camera overlap appears and then you can scan the HomeKit code. Unfortunately, the company doesn't include a backup code sticker, so it's always a good idea to back it up in an app like HomePass. Without this code, you will not be able to add it to HomeKit in the future if you rebuild your Home application configuration or need to remove / re-add it for troubleshooting purposes.
Cololight application
You will need to download the Cololight app for iPhone to take full advantage of the product. The lights can be set to animate using prefabricated scenes and are only available in the Cololight app. If you find a scene you like, you can stop and restart it using the Home or Siri app and it will remember what setting you last used. However, moving to a new scene requires the Cololight app. The light also includes a physical on / off button - which I appreciate for a child's environment. It can often be easier than starting it from Siri using a HomePod mini.
This limitation seems to be related to the Home application environment, as other products have had similar experiences. For example, the Home app allows you to select static colors, but not to create animated scenes.
The Cololight app has a few fantastic scenes, however. As we approach the Christmas scene, there is a great one that would be perfect to give a smaller space some Christmas vibes. Also, as you can see in the video below, each cell is much more interactive than just the standard static color.
summary
The ColoLight HomeKit lamp, although not the cheapest light on the market, is incredible. We enjoyed building it. It works great with HomeKit and offers some great options to provide some fun lightning options to spice up the look and feel of a room. It can be easily placed next to a bed, behind a TV or on the desk. The possibilities are endless. It is currently my favorite HomeKit lamp and is available on Amazon.
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