by The BlissLights Sky Lite 2.0 is one of the best star projectors that cares less about the accuracy of the night sky and more about atmosphere and mood. BlissLights has one of those backstories that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. It all started when a father named Randy wanted to ease his daughter’s fear of the dark. He used his knowledge of working with festival lights and lasers to make him a homemade projector. Finding out that he did indeed help lull her to sleep, and with friends and family asking him to make one for them as well, the company was born. But this was not the reason we named it one of the best star projectors you can buy today.
specs
Size: 15*7.5*15cm
Bulb Type: 5 Watt LED and Laser
Rotation: Yes
Sleep timer: Yes (via app)
Speaker: Yes
Projection Surface: Laser – 30 x 30 ft., Cloud Nebula – 15 x 15 ft.
BlissLights has a collection of ‘Galaxy lights’, mood lights and seasonal lights available at a reasonable price. Here, we look at Sky Lite 2.0, the second generation of galaxy projectors from BlissLights. Unlike the first generation version, Sky Lite Classic, has three color, green lasers, is app controlled, has a customizable timer, and has more default light display modes. We put it to the test to see if it’s worthy of sitting among the top star projectors like the Sega Homestar Flux from our other reviews. If star projectors are your thing, you might also want to take a look at the actual night sky. Be sure to check out our guide to the best telescopes, the best binoculars, or if you’re looking to get images of the stars, take a look at our roundup of the best cameras for photos and video, and the best lenses for astrophotography.
Sky Lite 2.0: Design
- Simple 3 button operation
- compact and light
- 2 angles
After opening the box, it doesn’t take long to get the Skylite 2.0 up and running. Plug it in and press the power button. The default screen on power up is to enable all features. There are three tactile buttons that can be easily felt in the dark if needed, they’re not backlit but don’t feel like they need to be. One is to turn on and cycle through the default screens, one starts and stops rotation, and the other adjusts the brightness (or turns the device off if you hold it down).
The unit is shaped like a very compact and lightweight wheel with two “support panels” (legs), which means you can point the light and laser directly at the ceiling or set it at an angle of more than 45 degrees. This is a bit limiting and means it’s not as easy to position, compared to a star projector like the Sega. natal star flow. However, the advantage of this shape is that it would easily sit on a bookcase or small nightstand, without taking up much more space than a book.
The projector comes in a compact box that serves its purpose, but we think it could use a little better design so it doesn’t look so much like a cheap toy. This would be especially attractive as a gift to adults, as it would feel more like a premium product than a child’s toy.
Sky Lite 2.0: Performance
- Vivid colors and lasers
- Near silent operation
- a reasonable price
The colors are vivid and the lights shine brightly, they can even be seen on the ceiling with daylight peeking through the windows. There are three brightness levels, so it won’t light up the room if you don’t want it to, like when you’re using it to fall asleep.
Although they are bright, we are personally not a fan of the little green laser dots like “stars” and find ourselves turning them off more often than not, although we are aware that this may be a more subjective preference and we are aware that others may love them. There are seven default modes and 10 saveable and shareable custom modes available.
The marketing for this product says that the lights have been “inspired by the natural beauty of the world”. This feels like fair wording, as it’s immediately obvious that the lights don’t resemble the night sky as we see it. However, the colors are vibrant and the color combinations are pretty, so they add a nice ambiance to the room and can double as a party light. The lasers would also complement a party atmosphere.
When in operation, you literally can’t hear the device at all without pressing your ear against it, even when rotation is on. We’ve reviewed other models that claim to be quiet, but there’s usually still a little buzz, but we found the Sky Lite 2.0 to be nearly silent.
Bliss Lights Sky Lite 2.0: Functionality
- USB powered provides flexibility
- App controlled
- Allows creative control.
The drive uses a USB-C cable for power and also ships with one or two power adapters, depending on the region of purchase. That means you can run it from anywhere with a USB port, like a power bank or laptop with a USB output.
The device can be controlled via a smartphone app, which is very easy to connect via Bluetooth, but those who are privacy conscious should be aware that it asks for a list of permissions which some may feel intrusive. Other than this, the app can turn the device on or off, turn the timer on or off, and select an effect to run.
There is a ‘DIY’ mode for custom color combinations and control of lasers, rotation and fade functions. The downside of Sky Lite 2.0 connecting via Bluetooth and not connecting via Wi-Fi is that you have to stay relatively close to the device to operate it.
After about a month we encountered an issue with the app (version 3.3.61) in that it ‘forgotten’ our Sky Lite 2.0 and then wouldn’t reconnect until we restarted the phone and uninstalled/reinstalled the app. Based on reviews on the Google Play Store, it seems like this is a common issue. However, we are glad that we found a solution, otherwise we would have missed the timer function. Hopefully this can be fixed in the next update.
Should I buy the Sky Lite 2.0?
If you are interested in scientific accuracy or having a realistic view of the night sky and solar system, this is definitely not the device for you, the Sega Homestar Flow, although the more expensive option would be more suitable. However, if you want to create a nice and relaxing environment to fall asleep, or even create cool party lighting loosely inspired by the colors of a nebula and other natural phenomena like sunrises or the ocean, why not?
