Quick Links
-
Are the Expo Display Cases Worth the Cost?
Recently, Nanoleaf has evolved its smart lights to accomplish more than just brightening up gaming rooms. Like the just-announced Blocks wall panels, the Expo Display Case offers storage capabilities ideal for showcasing collectibles. Developed in collaboration with Fantaqi, these illuminated boxes easily stack in groups of up to 300 cases in various arrangements.
Some gamers may add cheap LED strips on existing shelving to display figurines or custom controllers. The problem is that most furniture isn’t made specifically for this purpose, leading to uneven light distribution. With high brightness and color accuracy, the Nanoleaf x Fantaqi Expo Display Case was designed to show precious collectibles in their best light. Considering the high price tag, Game Rant fully tested the cases to see if they are an essential addition to any gaming setup.
Packaging
The Nanoleaf Expo Display Cases ship individually in white rectangular boxes. For this review sample, Nanoleaf sent one box marked as the Smarter Kit with Controller Box and five Expansion Packs. Each container has a pull-away strip revealing its contents, saving time when assembling a large display.
Each Smarter Kit includes parts for the main Controller Expo Display Case, separated into six pieces. Installers will find an instruction sheet, plastic links to connect expansion cases, and a 42-watt power supply. Box contents for each additional case are the same, except they lack the AC/DC adapter and power cord.
Installation
Assembling the Expo Display Cases is completely tool-free, without any screws or brackets. Still, putting together the first box can take a bit of time until the process becomes second nature.
The most difficult part is connecting the two side panels to the bottom panel. At first, it doesn’t seem like the parts align correctly, but with considerable force, they combine with a satisfying click. The top and back panels snap into place with less effort. Once installers overcome their fear of breaking any plastic bits, putting together the expansion cases is a breeze.
Nanoleaf Expo Display Cases connect with plastic linkers, which are more flimsy than the rigid links designed for the new Nanoleaf Blocks. Buyers will want to ensure that each case has at least one linker that slots into the case next to or above it. The Nanoleaf mobile app can detect how many cases are connected, but also allows users to adjust a display’s orientation.
While the top of each case has grooves, it’s mostly the links that hold the boxes together. Buyers should set up their displays as close to where they intend to keep them as possible. Moving a stack of six cases on the carpet proved difficult, nearly causing a linker to snap.
The rest of the setup process will be familiar to anyone who has bought other Nanoleaf lights. If everything goes according to plan, after holding the control panel’s power button for a few seconds, the app will instruct users to add the cases to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. The Expo Display Cases don’t support Matter, but can act as a Thread Border router with supported smart home gadgets for low-latency wireless connectivity.
Design
The Expo Display Cases can be arranged in almost any way imaginable on, next to, or underneath gaming desks. Buyers can connect up to 300 cases with expansion packs and maintain coordinated lighting. With more than eight boxes, an additional power supply must be purchased from Nanoleaf. A more potent 75-watt power supply is sufficient for 14 cases, but this introduces cable management issues for more massive displays.
Each display box measures 14.9 inches wide, 11 inches deep, and 8.7 inches tall, with slightly less usable space. In reality, buyers have about 7.5 inches of height to work with in each case. This limits the kinds of items that will fit, with the shoebox-style containers best used with limited-edition sneakers or collectibles that are wider than they are tall. On average, even with boxes, rare Funko Pop figures stand at 6.25 inches tall, so they should be a candidate for the Nanoleaf Expo Display Cases.
Owners don’t necessarily need anything of high value to place in the cases, as even a favorite hardcover book can get the recognition it deserves. Even though it’s extremely quick to open and close the doors, it’s not the type of storage you want to throw random junk into regularly.
Each case has a thicker clear window on its rear and a plastic door that swings open on the front. Most of the case is made of white colored hard plastic, but the door is a bit more fragile. One piece suffered a scratch during installation, so the Expo Display Cases might not be ideal next to gaming chairs.
Owners can access a physical control panel on the top edge of the master controller case. From there, they can turn the entire display on or off, change brightness, or cycle through some preset changes. Even with the door closed, touch inputs register correctly. The cases have magnetic sensors, and lighting effects signal when a door is open or closed.
Software and Performance
Despite being an unconventional Nanoleaf product, the manufacturer doesn’t introduce many new features with the Expo Display Cases. Nanoleaf’s mobile app will be the primary way most buyers control a display’s lighting. The software contains the same preset effects and scenes used with Nanoleaf smart wall panels and other lights. Scenes that react to pulsating beats are marked with a musical note icon. The app also allows users to download user-created effects or create custom lighting patterns. One of the newer capabilities of Nanoleaf lights, AI Magic Scenes, generates personalized effects based on search phrases.
None of the major issues customers have reported recently with Nanoleaf devices were experienced with the Expo Display Cases. Nevertheless, the app periodically lost connection with the cases, which usually quickly remedied itself.
The brilliant lighting effects are what will draw most customers to Nanoleaf and Fantaqi’s display cases.
The LED light strip is barely visible on the back edge of the interior ceiling. Even so, it’s quite bright and effectively diffuses light evenly throughout each case. The color accuracy and fluid transitions from one case to the next never disappoint.
With darker hues, objects in the boxes become less visible compared to scenes with exclusively brighter colors. Fortunately, with RGBW chips, the Expo Display Cases also excel at displaying the subtle differences between cool and warm whites.
Since the cases are perfect accessories near gaming setups, Razer Chroma compatibility can sync their effects with Razer RGB keyboards, mice, and headsets. Users must install the Nanoleaf Desktop software and the Chroma Connect extension in Razer Synapse for this coordination. Then, supported games will react to in-game events with appropriate lighting effects on the cases and synced peripherals. Another use for Nanoleaf Desktop is its screen mirroring capabilities, where lighting is programmed based on images displayed on monitors.
One last Nanoleaf Desktop feature that deserves mention is Orchestrator, which is still in early access. The Expo Display Cases can respond to music without PCs, but Orchestrator analyzes audio tracks in real-time without added latency or potential background interference. It’s easy to imagine DJs and streamers integrating the technology into their broadcasts as it matures.
Related
The Best Lights For Streaming
Lighting is one quick way to make your stream look so much more professional while also adding a bit of flair to your setup.
Are the Expo Display Cases Worth the Cost?
For most buyers, spending $300 on four hard plastic display cases will cause some pause. Still, for collectors who pay thousands of dollars on rare finds, the cost to properly show them off doesn’t seem unreasonable. These collectors should keep in mind that the Expo Display Cases are best suited for sneakers, but many books and figurines also fit.
The RGBW cases’ strengths include easily adding units as collections grow and rearranging them to fit evolving setups. They also look spectacular with both vivid colors and white hues, bolstered by effects triggered when opening and closing doors. There are few complaints about the performance of the Expo Display Cases, particularly the fact that the doors and linkers that connect them are easily damaged.
Gamers looking for an affordable storage solution for their gear should look elsewhere. Nevertheless, when holding precious items, the Expo Display Cases will become the center of attention near any gaming setup.
Similar Display Case/Shelf |
Best Choice For |
Price |
Gudemay Stackable Plastic Storage Bins |
Cheap storage for accessories and collectibles |
$23 at Amazon |
Rojasop 5 Tiers Corner Shelf with Light |
Displaying taller collectibles |
$81 at Amazon |
Bestier Gaming LED Floating Shelves |
Versatile shelving with RGB lighting |
$110 at Amazon |
The Nanoleaf x Fantaqi Display Cases are among the few RGB cases that easily integrate with popular smart home ecosystems. However, buyers can look for cheaper alternatives, like the Gudemay Stackable Plastic Storage Bins. These clear plastic boxes don’t come with any lighting, but installing affordable LED strips on their ceilings is not tricky. Like the Nanoleaf cases, they also have magnets that securely lock doors. Next, the Rojasop 5 Tiers Corner Shelf, with app-controlled RGB lighting effects, occupies the corner of rooms where tall lamps usually stand. Finally, if gamers have unused wall space, Bestier Gaming LED Floating Shelves are a sensible way to display figurines and peripherals.
FAQ
Q: What is the best way to display figurines?
Funko Pop and other collectible figurines can be displayed on bookcases, shelves, or display cases. Nevertheless, even though showing the boxes for these figurines takes up more space, owners should at least keep the packaging to retain resell value.
Q: How to hide an LED light strip?
Some LED light strips appear more discreet than others. Purchase black strips if they better match dark wood furniture or metal casing. Otherwise, look for a crevice on the top of objects that will cast the most illumination below without being visible. For shelves, place lighting as far back as possible, along the top of the shelf space, so that it is hidden when collectibles are viewed up close.