Nanoleaf Pegboard Desk Dock
design
The Nanoleaf Pegboard Desk Dock keeps things refreshingly simple on the assembly front. There’s just two parts: a sturdy base and the light panel. Slot them together like you’re sticking a Nintendo 64 game into the console, connect the permanently attached USB-C cable to your PC, and you’re done. No complicated assembly, no hunting for tiny screws—just plug and play in every sense. It’s all plastic but not in a cheap way, and you’re given the option of black or white for the non-light-up elements.
The dual-sided design of the 27cm high main pillar is the star of the show, as you’d expect. One side gives you a clean, diffused LED panel with an impressive 64 colour zones. Spin it 180 degrees, and you’ve got the pegboard side with its perforated pattern and space for the four included modular hooks. Swapping between the two is straightforward—unplug, rotate, replug.
The base footprint is just beyond 10cm square so it doesn’t hog desk real estate, and despite its size that base has proper heft to it. Throughout testing, the Nanoleaf Pegboard stayed planted to my desk with no real wobbling or tipping concerns, even when I had items hanging from the pegboard side. When I was grabbing gear off the hooks I trusted it to stay put too. The whole thing is satisfyingly solid with a level of build quality you’d expect from a brand like Nanoleaf.
Those hooks that slot into the pegboard do so with little resistance which is both a blessing and a curse. It makes them super easy to install but also means you’re left with quite a lot of movement and play to each. I’d call it more an observation than a problem, but there’s definitely room for whatever you choose to hang here to wiggle about, so maybe give it a little nudge test when you first place something new. Four hooks means realistically you’re limited to display two items, though the overall size of the plinth is a factor here too.
For a pair of controllers it’s ideal, same too with one decently sized headset, trying to do one controller and one headset will be getting tight however. For F1 fans, the Nanoleaf Pegboard Desk Dock is the perfect size to proudly display a LEGO Speed Champions F1 car and that’s how I left mine most of the time. As a show-off piece out of arms reach it does the job perfectly, for day-to-day grab and go it’s fine but the execution could be a touch tighter.
The base houses a useful USB hub with two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, plus a USB-C PD port for extra juice if you’re connecting higher-draw devices. The 15W charging from that port is perfectly adequate for peripherals or your phone and in testing I was impressed at how quickly my iPhone 15 Pro charged from the Nanoleaf Pegboard Desk Dock. The cable running from the base is non-detachable, which is a shame—I’d have preferred the flexibility of a removable cable, primarily for repairability if something happened, but it’s not ruining my day.
performance
It probably shouldn’t be surprising when it comes to Nanoleaf gear, but at a basic level, the lighting on the Nanoleaf Pegboard Desk Dock is great. Colours are vibrant, brightness is punchy, and the sheer number of options (16+ million colours, apparently) across those 64 zones means you can dial in whatever look you’re after. Beyond solid colours, the preset scenes are neat and I enjoyed how smooth transitions and movements were. The light poking out between those pegboard holes is effective and when up against a wall, the throw onto surfaces creates a nice ambient glow without being overpowering.
Screen mirroring is where things can get interesting if you’re into that kind of thing, which I’ll be honest and say from the start, I’m personally not really. Once you’ve connected through the Nanoleaf Desktop App the Pegboard Desk Dock can sync its colours to mirror what’s on your display. This is particularly effective when gaming in a dark room and for the right games or situations can add a layer of immersion. Responsiveness was good, and improved further with a dedicated game mode, though much like Philips Ambilight I tend to find this feature more a distraction than an enhancement. Again though, that’s more me than Nanoleaf. Music visualisation works well too and ends up being rather pleasant when you’re working with ambient music playing. It’s one of those things that just makes the setup feel a bit more alive without demanding attention.
Now, here’s the trade-off and my biggest gripe with the Nanoleaf Pegboard Desk Dock: all of this runs through the Nanoleaf Desktop App only. No mobile app support, no smart home integration with HomeKit, Google Home, or Alexa. For a product designed as a PC accessory, I get it, it makes a certain amount of sense but it does mean it feels like a black sheep in the family. Yes it’s primarily a desk toy, but what if I want to use it as a console companion or even just a funky feature in the corner of my bedroom?
Well, that’s exactly how I did want to use it and while I can – it’s awkward. Using the physical button on the base of the Nanoleaf Pegboard you can turn it on and off and cycle through a few basic modes, but that’s a pretty dumb control scheme for a smart light. Surely sticking app compatibility into the base isn’t too much to ask?
summed up
Ultimately the Nanoleaf Pegboard Desk Dock delivers on its core promise: adding vibrant RGB lighting to your desk while providing some basic organisation and a little extra USB hub functionality too. At £59.99, it’s reasonably priced for what you’re getting in that sense, though you’ll get better value elsewhere if the USB functionality is of primary concern. The lighting is bright, saturated and smooth and there’s a few extra jazzy modes that while not for everyone, do all work as they should.
Being limited to desktop-only control will matter to some and not to others, though I really can’t help but feel it’s a mis-step. If you’re after a PC-focused RGB accessory that lives on your desk permanently, that’s fine. If you wanted something more flexible that integrates with your smart home or works independently of your computer, this isn’t that product. It’s a well-executed desk accessory for a specific use case and with those limitations clear, the Nanoleaf Pegboard Desk Dock does exactly what it sets out to do and does it well.
