When people hear of Dyson, they think of bladeless fans and expensive vacuums. While these connotations are accurate, there should be one more added to the list. Dyson also sells gadgets lesser known to the public—ones that deserve to be in the spotlight yet are hidden behind the scenes. I am, of course, talking about the Dyson Lightcycle, one of Dyson’s most over-engineered and underappreciated products. Set in a market full of boring, cookie-cutter desk lamps, the Lightcycle stands out for its striking design, intelligent features, and, most important of all, price. If you can look beyond the price tag—$600, although it is often on sale—the Dyson Lightcycle is quite a showstopper and would make a great addition to any home or office.

Setup

The first thing that I noticed after opening the box for the first time is that the light has to be manually assembled. Directions labeled on the lid of the box guide the user through the various steps needed to ensure that the light is connected to a power source and is firmly set in its weighty base. Touch-sensitive pads on the top of the light panel control some of the most frequently used aspects of the light while buttons on the underside of the panel operate settings that are less often manipulated. Aligned with these buttons are a pair of sensors, which will be explained in more detail later on. Tapping the “⏻” button on the top of the light instantly illuminates the surface it is pointing down onto, creating a steady stream of light that is both surprisingly bright and noticeably soft. Don’t be too fascinated though, because now it is time to connect the light to the Dyson Link app (yes, a desk lamp pairs to a smartphone). Connecting the light for the first time directs the user through a series of questions, asking what neighborhood they live in, how old they are, (both of which are essential to answer in order to gain access to one of the light’s main selling points), and where the lamp will be located in the building. Now that the lamp has been assembled and is connected to a phone, it is time to review the features that would convince someone to purchase this light in the first place.

Features

The Dyson Lightcycle is unique for a multitude of reasons. First, the light is aptly named “Lightcycle” due to one of its most impressive characteristics. Following the brightness and tone of the sun’s light throughout the day, the Lightcycle is able to monitor and adapt to the color temperature of the user’s surroundings. This explains why the app wants to track location, so that the lamp can automatically monitor where the sun is located in relation to the user’s position on the planet. Second, the Lightcycle can detect motion and dim or turn off its light after a specified period of time when there is no movement sensed. This feature will be most appreciated by stockbrokers and capitalists who are too busy moving around their spacious offices that they forget to turn off the light, or by mothers who have to rush to comfort their screaming children on the second floor of their mansions because their team of nannies are away on holiday. 

Moving on, the next sensor that can be found underneath the light panel analyzes the light in the room and can adjust the brightness of the lamp accordingly. This ensures that the light is never too bright or too dim, but just what the user’s precious eyes are pleading for. Guests of a particularly older or younger age might not be as impressed with the quality of the light; remember that the app asks for the user’s age to determine what would be most pleasing to their retinas. Other features of the lamp include the ability to regulate blue light and reduce eye strain. However, possibly the most important addition to the lamp is the thin copper coil running through the horizontal beam, connecting the light housing to the mechanism at the other end. Although it may seem to exist purely for aesthetic reasons, droplets of water inside of the copper strip dissipate heat from the LED lights, creating steam that slowly condenses into liquid water, with this cycle constantly repeating. This allows for the Lightcycle to last for an estimated 60 years without ever having to change a single bulb! The team of nannies will be retired by then, never having the opportunity to visit the desk lamp before it slowly fades into total darkness.

Review

I have used the desk lamp more often than I expected, whether it be to complete a worksheet or write a lengthy email. While I am no light bulb expert, I have noticed that the light released from the LEDS looks very “silky,” even on its brightest and whitest settings. The entire desk is covered in smooth light, almost as if you can reach out and touch its rays (don’t try it in front of other people though, you’ll look weird). The lightbulb housing is very small and unobtrusive, while the touch-capacitive buttons are fun to interact with. What might be even more enjoyable, though, is just mindlessly spinning the light around. The design of the light allows for the stem to be rotated 360 degrees and the horizontal bar to be raised and lowered with just the push of a finger. There is no need to worry about the hardware breaking because the light is suspended using a durable pulley system. Exposed wheels and ropes give the light an industrial look, while still maintaining a contemporary design that follows throughout the lamp. While this design may not tickle everyone’s fancy, it is extremely unique and will certainly cater to an audience of lamp aficionados. Speaking of contemporary, Dyson has fitted a USB-C connector to the stem of the lamp, capable of charging devices. Sometimes I plug my phone into the port while I am working for a quick power-up.

In terms of the sensors, I found all of them to be extremely reliable and useful, especially the daylight tracker. This feature has aided in keeping my eyes in sync with the time of day. I often lose track of time while I am working, and being reminded about what time it is based on the color temperature of the light has helped me frequently. When night comes, the warmer light helps me calm down and prepare for sleep while remaining focused compared to the brighter, whiter light found in the morning and afternoon.

Verdict

The Dyson Lightcycle is definitely impressive all around, but the high price tag and assembly may turn some buyers away towards more traditional, modest desk lamps. Additionally, the design of the lamp is quite outlandish and may be too extreme for some. Despite this, I would definitely recommend the lightcycle to anyone who wants more from their task light or would rather invest in a quality product rather than a generic, short-lived one.