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Nanoleaf x Fantaqi EXPO: one-minute review

The Nanoleaf EXPO is the latest clever home contraption from they company behind some of the best smart lights around: a modular smart case solution that will see your collections displayed in glorious technicolor.

If you are one of those people who collect things (I am one of those people) you will inevitably end up with more things than places to put them. Shelves are fine, but you’ll need to dust every week (I am not one of those people), and the situation can get really out of hand if you ever move house, as most of your collections remain in the attic for months/years while you figure out where it is all going to go. Nanoleaf comes to the rescue with its attractive modular smart illuminated display case system.

Nanoleaf collaborated with US company Meeni Inc on its Fantaqi product, which is sold by Nanoleaf as the Nanoleaf x Fantaqi EXPO. What this collaboration has produced is one of those rare things that is both eye-catching and useful, even if only to collectors and smart home nerds. Each case measures 38 x 29 x 22cm (W x D x H), but you’ll want to shave off roughly 3cm to account for the thickness of the walls. To give you some idea of its scale, a DVD case will stand perfectly inside, but will need to be inserted at a slight angle to get past the lip on the front of the box.

(Image credit: Les Watson)

I must admit to initially being skeptical about these boxy smart lights, but once I saw them in my house brimming with some of my favorite collectibles and objet d’art, I was sold. As with the iPad and the Apple Watch, I just didn’t 'get it' until I got one. I’ve enjoyed liberating my stored collections and being reminded of why I collected all this stuff in the first place. These are a quick and easy solution to my storage problem.

Yes, they are expensive and the petulant software drives me nuts, but alternative Perspex display cases are not cheap and the EXPO’s modular design allows you to try them out in different places easily. Add to that their smart capabilities; totally worth it.

(Image credit: Les Watson) Nanoleaf x Fantaqi EXPO: price and availability

• Starter kits from $299.99 / £299.99 (about AU$440)
• Expansion kits from $69.99 / £69.99 (about AU$100)

The Nanoleaf x Fantaqi EXPO launched in August 2024 and is available from the Nanoleaf website, or from Fantaqi.

There are two accessories for the EXPO if you need more of the inter-case connectors or are expanding to a stack of more than 8 cases. The 75W power supply can power up to 14 cases.

Display case pricing

• EXPO Smart LED Display Case Starter Kit (4 Pack): $299.99 / £299.99 (about AU$440)
• EXPO Smart LED Display Case Starter Kit (8 Pack) $536.45 / £549.99 (about AU$790)
• EXPO Smart LED Display Case Expansion (1 Pack) $69.99 / £69.99 (about AU$100)
• EXPO Smart LED Display Case Smarter Kit (12 Pack) $ 800.01 (US only)

Accessory pricing

• EXPO Display Case Rigid Linkers (9 Pack): $8.99 / £7.99 (about AU$15)
• EXPO Display Case 75W Power Supply: $39.99 / £34.99 (about AU$60)

Nanoleaf x Fantaqi EXPO: specs Nanoleaf x Fantaqi EXPO: design

• Quick and easy to assemble
• Cases are connected electrically by push-fit Linker strips
• Magnetic door latch
• Top panel of the box contains the LEDs

Aesthetically, the Nanoleaf EXPO isn’t much to write home about; each white display cube is simply designed. The real magic begins when you flick the switch to light up your life.

The system has been designed so that only the top case containing the LEDs and back panel (which has the connector slots) is 'live'. As long as you follow the provided assembly diagram you should find it easy enough to connect properly.

(Image credit: Les Watson)

The rest of the cases are simply push-fit, but they do require a bit of force, so I would recommend that they are assembled on a non-slip surface. I worked along all of the seams with my thumbs just to make sure the seams were seated properly.

Each case has four feet, which fit into the recessed top of the case below to provide some vertical stability. Each case is electrically connected to the next one using the supplied linker strips which slot into holes midway along the sides of each case. It can be a bit tricky to get the Linker in the hole when coupling two cases but it’s a minor irritant.

(Image credit: Les Watson)

I was not convinced of the stability of the Nanoleaf Expo when configured in an 8-box vertical stack, but once loaded with your collectible contents, the whole thing became more and more stable. However, it might not survive the onslaught of a small child, but why would you let them near something so precious? Are you mad?

Each case has slots running up the sides to provide a channel for the power supply lead. A slight constriction somewhere along the channel to hold the lead in place would have been nice, but it is possible to put the lead under a bit of tension by curling it under the back of the bottom-most box of the stack.

Fortunately, the power lead is 2.5 meters long which gives you the option of placing them on a shelf, and as each case weighs in at around 2kg, the shelving need not be industrial strength like mine.

I was initially puzzled by the clear back panel until I switched them on and noticed it effectively creates a pleasing halo on the wall around the stack. I also love the magnetic front door latch, as all too often fixtures like interference-fit door latches can make a whole unit wobble wildly when you open a door, or there’s some form of mechanical push-in opener that invariably fails over time. The stack does still move a little when you open a door but all is forgiven when it closes with such a resounding ‘thunk’ noise. Yes, I am one of those people who enjoy the rich sound of a high-quality car door closing.

(Image credit: Les Watson)

My only gripe is with the power supply plug. It’s quite attractive and it’s very cool that it has three different snap-in plug converters, but the three-pin one is upside down.

Look, Nanoleaf, most of us have so many electrical appliances that we need to use electrical extension plugboards; a lot of them. We cannot lay them flush against the wall if someone has decided to provide a plug with a lump on top with the power lead coming out of it. It makes even less sense when plugged directly into the wall, as all the weight is above the socket.

Nanoleaf x Fantaqi EXPO: performance

• Software proved temperamental
• Rhythm Source feature works well

Having reviewed several Nanoleaf products in the past, I knew that reaching the point at which you can power the hardware up is usually the easy bit. In comparison, while the universe descends cyclically from order to chaos over billions of years, the Nanoleaf app will give you a sneak preview of that chaos in just a few hours. After six wasted hours of crashes and bugs (including the infamous 'Accessory already in another home' message from HomeKit) I decided to give up on the EXPO for the day.

(Image credit: Les Watson)

I am sure it will come to pass that it will start working but it’s frustrating that Nanoleaf specifies features that initially do not work. There is better news for the rhythm source feature of the Nanoleaf desktop application on Mac; it now works as it should, much to my delight. The Mac app still crashes regularly though.

I love this product and I want Nanoleaf to continue coming up with original, if somewhat niche, products, but I do hope the company begins to do a little more software quality assurance before products launch and not after. I am willing to accept that some of my problems may be PICNIC problems (problems in customer not in computer), but not the majority of them. What troubles me is that people will stop buying Nanoleaf products if they have the same experience.

Should you buy the Nanoleaf x Fantaqi EXPO? Buy it if

You need a flexible storage system for your treasured possessions

They can be quickly tried out in different positions and configurations around the home.View Deal

You have other Nanoleaf devices

If you’re already pretty stocked up with some of Nanoleaf’s other brilliant bulbs, strips, and shapes, then the Nanoleaf EXPO makes for a perfect addition.View Deal

Don't buy it if

You're on a budget

These are entirely unique products, yes, but that comes at a price. Head to a flat-pack furniture store and stock up on smart light strips for a DIY solution. View Deal

You need a bookshelf

The Nanoleaf EXPO is not really strong enough or big enough for books.View Deal

Nanoleaf x Fantaqi EXPO: also consider

As was the case when I reviewed the Nanoleaf Skylight, there isn’t an equivalent product for the Nanoleaf x Fantaqi EXPO that I am aware of. However, if you want to create a DIY system using smart LED strip lights instead. there are a few options available.

Govee LED Light Strip M1

These super bright LED strip lights could be used to liven up an ordinary bookcase or display case. It's easy to install and a great option for beginners.

Read our full Govee LED Light Strip M1 review

Twinkly Line

These fun smart lights come in short strips ideal for small areas, and you can sync them with other Twinkly products to create a larger 'canvas'.

Read our full Twinkly Line review

How I tested the Nanoleaf x Fantaqi EXPO

• I tested the cases in different configurations
• I tested the Nanoleaf applications for known existing problems
• I tested its compatibility with Apple Homekit
• I tested EXPO in conjunction with other Nanoleaf devices

I ensured that my test environment was up to date and working with the latest versions of firmware and software for all devices before even unpacking the Nanoleaf x Fantaqi EXPO. I visually checked the status of Apple Homekit every time the application crashed and visually checked the status of the application itself on restart and investigated any anomalies.

I investigated the phone application automation options and tried out the various in-app features and functionalities.

I’ve been using smart home devices for several years now, and have a whopping 30+ years (gulp) of tech enthusiasm and experience under my belt.

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If the leaks to date are to be believed, the iPhone 16 Plus will be replaced by the iPhone 17 Air, and the latest rumor coming out of Apple's supply chain is that the 2025 flagship phone will have an upgraded display attached.

According to the usually well-informed DigiTimes (via 9to5Mac), Taiwanese display manufacturer Novatek could start mass production of its next-gen OLED screens during the second quarter of 2025 (April, May, and June).

These OLED screens are said to come with TDDI (Touch and Display Driver Integration) technology built in, which means the same chip handles both output and touch input – which then means thinner and more efficient screens.

And the first customer for these thinner, more efficient screens? Apple, quite possibly, according to DigiTimes. The link is described as "speculation" at this point, but the timings would match – and so would the introduction of a slimmer iPhone model.

The iPhone 17 story so far

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Besides the possibility of a thinner and lighter iPhone 17 Air (or Slim), we don't know too much about the handsets coming next year. It's still early days of course: our iPhone 16 review hasn't been up for long, after the series was unveiled last month.

We have heard that the iPhone 17 could arrive with another new button – or rather, that the Action button and the volume buttons could be combined into one, at least on the Pro and Pro Max versions of next year's handsets.

As for the two non-Pro models, they will apparently get screen upgrades that enable an always-on display option, as well as a variable refresh rate for smoother animations and transitions (on top of the other display upgrade covered above).

It could be the iPhone 17 Pro Max that gets the most updates, however: we've heard that it's going to come with more RAM, enhanced on-device AI capabilities, and an upgraded cooling system to further boost performance.

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It wasn’t long ago that I was sitting in the TechRadar office, talking the ear off of one of my colleagues about how book-style foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold didn’t quite make sense to me. 

I just couldn’t see the utility in a square, mid-sized display running a smartphone operating system – I had been an iPad user for almost a decade, and spending nearly half my life using large tablets had me convinced that nothing could best them for media consumption, reading, and light multitasking. News of the upcoming Huawei Mate XT – the world’s first tri-fold smartphone that expands to a 10-inch tablet – stoked this suspicion even further. But even as I saw my vision of the future unfold, my curiosity for conventional folding phones simmered. 

The thing is, I hadn’t actually used a foldable for any more than fifteen minutes at a time, usually while passing through a busy Samsung store. I’d never really entertained the idea of walking out with a Z Fold of my own thanks to the starting price of $1,899 / £1,799 / AU$2,749, but was always impressed by the construction, design, and possibilities. Maybe – just maybe – my cynicism had emerged from unresolved curiosity.

When given the chance to test out a folding phone long-term, I felt this curiosity reignite. My first hour with the OnePlus Open was spent in a tech-fueled trance as I opened, then shut, then opened it again, completely enraptured by the engineering on display (both literally and figuratively). A few weeks later, and I’m happy to report that I was wrong to doubt folding phones – these things absolutely rock.

More screen, less problems 

If you can't see the crease, is it really there? (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

The central conceit of the OnePlus Open can be described in two words: big screen. Placing two phones next to each other – as Samsung suggests with its Try Galaxy feature – gives some semblance of the Open’s 7.82-inch inner screen, but using one quickly reveals it to be more than just the sum of its parts. 

Embedded videos in articles and other web pages become actually watchable when the device is unfolded, rather than something to note for later or just scroll past. The form factor makes multitasking realistic, with two apps side-by-side and a third in a floating window. You still won’t be doing complex work on a device like this, but cross-referencing web pages or watching a video in the background feels much more practical than gimmicky.

My first hour with the OnePlus Open was spent in a tech-fueled trance

The inner screen on the OnePlus Open turns the smartphone into a bonafide option for media consumption, rather than a compromise. When passing through the airport on a recent trip away, I could unfold the phone to watch The Penguin at each point of stoppage before simply snapping it shut and into my pocket when things started moving again – I’d never have bothered with the smaller screen of a slab phone or unwieldy size of my 11-inch iPad Pro. The mini-tablet size means more room for decent speakers, too – the Open is rivalled only by the larger iPhones for the best smartphone speakers I’ve ever heard.

The OnePlus Open at full screen (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

A larger screen means it’s easier to experience this stuff with friends, too. Injecting a smartphone into conversation can be a risk due to the awkwardness of asking someone to squint at a small screen – the Open makes showing a friend a photo or video clip much more enjoyable for all involved, doubly so when trying to share something across a table or across the room. The screen is just large enough to be inviting, and its hinge is a better conversation starter than any app or meme could possibly hope to be. Seeing people experience the fold for the first time still hasn’t gotten old.

I think there’s also something to be said for the level of intent implied by passing someone a device they need to hold with both hands. In fact, I’ve found myself inspired by the Open to think about the way I use my phone. The cover screen remains useful for checking messages, quick Google searches, and taking photos, but even knowing the inner screen is waiting behind a half-second of effort makes me consider whether what I’m doing is worth throwing onto the big screen, and if not, whether I should put down the phone and get back to the real world.

A couple of compromises 

The OnePlus Open (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

There are, of course, some tradeoffs to using a folding phone. It’s generally accepted that battery life takes a hit, which is understandable if you’re driving the large inner screen more often than not. I found myself needing to charge midway through the day a few times with the OnePlus Open, but could make it through to the late evening most of the time. Additionally, phone makers tend to equip folding phones with objectively worse camera specs than their slab flagship counterparts. For what it’s worth, I found the Open’s camera setup to be very impressive, but photographers may be tempted by the snazzier specs and nimbler ergonomics of a traditional slab phone (see the Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max). 

I’ve found myself inspired by the Open to think about the way I use my phone

There are also a couple of issues that come with the territory of being foldable. I found a few apps – especially older games like Professor Layton or Plague Inc. – did not respond well to my folding or unfolding of the phone while they were running, and I even experienced some crashes on Instagram when using the Open unfolded. It’s up to app developers to optimize their apps for the foldable platform, but there’s little incentive for them to do so while foldable devices remain a very small niche. And even as someone with large hands, the Open is undeniably large and heavy – I sometimes felt it weighing on my wrist while using it one-handed, and the unique geometry isn’t always the most comfortable to hold. 

Still, though, these feel like small prices to pay for access to a unique, adaptable, and gorgeous device. What surprised me about the OnePlus Open – and what I think probably sets it apart from some of its contemporaries – is just how good it is at being a regular phone. The 6.31-inch cover screen is not much narrower than my trusty old Huawei Mate 20 Pro and certainly feels a lot wider than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s strip of a cover display. The Open’s front screen is a bright, high-resolution, high refresh rate panel and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset gives the Open reliably fast performance. 

Do you need a foldable? 

The OnePlus Open next to an iPhone 15 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

The foldable experience is not one that’s built on necessity. There’s no real need to have Instagram take up six horizontal inches of screen space, to read articles with two hands, to see such a broad smorgasbord of apps in the app drawer – but it is nice.

Arguably, when it comes to modern ultra-premium smartphones, we’re past the point of thinking about necessity anyway. Are most users actually finding the bottlenecks in the iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 Pro chipset? Do shutterbugs reach for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 100x zoom as often as they do the 1x wide lens? Is anyone so impatient as to need the Realme GT5 240W's eponymous charging speed? So much of the joy that comes with improving phone hardware is in how much it improves the small stuff, the things we’ve been doing for years and will do for years to come, and having a mini-tablet display available at a literal flick of the wrist* improves day-to-day web browsing, social media, video, and music much more than I ever expected (*don’t actually open it like this).  

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In this early Amazon Prime Day deal, you can save a massive $170 on one of our favorite cordless stick vacuums.