Sparkling dots
MSRP $115.00
“Twinkly Dots dominate the market with a unique shape and aesthetic design and offer a range of dynamic light patterns to choose from.”
Avg
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Long and flexible
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Numerous light patterns to choose from
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Unique shape
Against
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expensive
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More decorative than useful
Smart lights have been around long enough that new types of smart lights have to bring new functionality, not just a new form. That’s where Twinkly Dots fit in — a new form of light that doesn’t bring new functionality to the table. They look soothing, and while the new design makes them far less bulky than traditional LED strings, that’s just not enough to set them apart from other lights on the market.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Design and installation
Twinkly Dots have a premium feel from the moment you take them out of the box. I wove mine around the frame of my bed to add some holiday cheer to the bedroom; after all, Twinkly is best known for its clever Christmas lights. The cable itself is narrow, and each Dot is a diffuser about half the size of a small fingernail with an LED inside. It makes it easy to place the lights where you want them, and I found that the thin design of the cord allowed it to be pulled tightly around each bed post to keep it from slipping.
However, Twinkly Dots are IP44 rated, so they can be used on your porch. The power connector has an interesting twist design that makes it more secure than regular lights.
Setup took less than five minutes. All I had to do was follow the on-screen instructions to configure the lights via Bluetooth, although Wi-Fi is an option. You’ll need the Twinkly app from the App Store or Google Play Store, but once you’ve downloaded it, it’s as easy as naming your lights, testing them, and then setting them up in any design you want. Once you’ve done that, you can point your phone’s camera at them to see a 3D rendering of the lights inside the app.
Twinkly Dots can display 16 million different colors. There are three main configurations: a 33-foot option with 200 RGB lights (which is the option I’m testing), a 66-foot option with 400 RGB lights, or a USB version that has 60 lights. It is also the first Twinkly product that can be powered via USB.
Twinkly, Twinkly, a small app
The Twinkly app seems a bit barebones at first glance, but I appreciate the lack of menus and sub-menus. It makes it easy to find exactly the settings I want when navigating. There are five tabs to choose from: Controls, Gallery, Effects Wizard, Appearance and Devices.
The controls are self-explanatory; turn lights on or off, adjust their brightness, and set timers and schedules from this tab. That’s all.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
The Gallery tab is where you’ll spend a lot of time, at least initially. You can choose from a number of different effects ranging from one called just Snow (which is actually a nice representation of snowfall, in my opinion), to one called Unicorn Sun which looks like a vaporwave rave.
FX Wizard is perhaps the most interesting card of all. It allows you to create your own effect. You start with a basic pattern or draw with your fingers, and you can choose from interesting patterns.
The Appearance tab shows the physical position of the lights relative to each other. This is used to further adjust your light settings, especially if you have arranged your dots in a more intricate pattern. You can choose between simple mapping, a method that relies on your phone’s camera, and advanced mapping. Advanced mapping takes multiple snapshots and gives you a much more accurate map in the end.
Finally, the Devices tab shows every Twinkly device connected to your account and its current status.
Prices
Traditionally, Twinkly-branded smart lights have been priced higher than average, and the Dots are no exception. Three different configurations have different prices:
- Points 60: $50
- 200 points: $115
- Dots 400: $176
How smart are these lights?
Twinkly Dots work with the usual suspects like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and even Apple HomeKit — but they also have support for Razer Chroma and HP Omen. This means the lights can sync with what’s on the screen if you’re watching content or playing a video game, making them even more decorative than they would otherwise be. If you plan to use them as a way to enhance your gaming room, I suggest using the USB powered version. The rest are simply too long to feasibly decorate a desk or the back of a computer monitor.
Our opinion
Twinkly Dots are a beautiful, aesthetic addition to any room in the home, but their functionality is somewhat limited. The lights are not utilitarian, but purely decorative. Aside from their physical form, Twinkly Dots don’t bring anything new to the table.
Is there a better alternative?
If you’re looking for an alternative in exactly this shape, you’re out of luck — Twinkly has cornered the market for unique shapes. The Govee Rope Light is a potential alternative for just $66, but it looks completely different from the Dots. Twinkly Dots stand out with their design and so far no other company has matched it.
How long will it last?
Twinkly Dots are well built. With proper care (assuming you don’t pinch the wires and take proper care of the plug), they should last for years. Twinkly rates their lights at over 30,000 hours of life, and they include a one-year limited warranty.
Should you buy them?
Yes, if you want a nice set of string lights. Again, this shape is unique, but if you’re just looking for smart lights and don’t care that much about design, there are cheaper alternatives.
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn