Nanoleaf’s Latest Gamer Smart Light: A Practical yet Flashy Addition to Your Gaming Desk

If I were any more enamored with RGB lighting, I would be utterly captivated by Nanoleaf’s latest offering: a gamer smart light that brings a touch of practicality to the typically ostentatious world of gaming ambiance. The company’s new $60 Pegboard Desk Dock is a multifunctional device that combines an RGB gamer lamp, charging dock, and pegboard with hooks to hang your controllers, headsets, handhelds, or other accessories, helping to declutter your desk and keep your gaming essentials within easy reach.

The Pegboard Desk Dock boasts 32 LEDs per side, with a total of 64 color zones that emit a glow both towards the user and against the wall. One side features the light without a cover, while the other is concealed with a pegboard that resembles a cheese grater. A notable feature of this device is its versatility: you can remove and flip the light around to create a lava lamp-like ambiance. The lighting settings can be controlled through the Nanoleaf app, which also offers various color effects, such as “candlelight” or “fireplace.” Additionally, if you connect it to the desktop app and enable Music Sync, the colors will adapt to the music you’re listening to.

While the dock base requires a separate power source, it features two USB-C and one USB-A port, allowing for 15W power passthrough to charge devices like wireless mice or controllers. The Pegboard Desk Dock comes with two sets of arms, and although the 10 inches of pegboard space may seem limited, it should still accommodate two items at a time, freeing up valuable space on your workstation. For example, you can hang your Steam Deck or other handheld PC, and use your desktop monitor as a second screen.

That being said, if you’re looking for a dock with HDMI passthrough for handheld gaming, you may want to consider alternative options, such as the Razer Handheld Dock Chroma. However, the Pegboard Desk Dock excels when it comes to keeping your headset and controller within easy reach, eliminating the need to stretch or leave your desk. Its sleek design also gives it a distinct “gamer chic” appeal, setting it apart from industrial-sized desk peripherals or Ikea products.

As someone who is constantly surrounded by multiple pairs of headphones and controllers, I can appreciate the potential of the Pegboard Desk Dock to save me a few inches of space. Although I might be tempted to fill that space with more clutter, the company’s 2-pack offer for $100 could be a viable solution. Perhaps I’ll surround myself with multiple Pegboard Desk Docks, creating a mesmerizing display of RGB lights that would be the envy of any gamer.