Review: Govee’s Smart Rope Light Adds Some Flexible Neon Ambiance to Your Walls
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The right mood lighting can make a good experience even better, and that’s especially true inside our own homes. And if you’re anything like us, that’s exactly where you spend most of your time right now. Whether it’s an intense evening playing a new video game, a romantic night of Netflix and chill, or a mellow night in after a long day at work, smart color-changing lighting can help you create the perfect environment.
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Smart lighting can make a room feel warmer or cooler. It can make movie night more intense by adding to the overall ambiance. It can also totally change the mood of a room when it starts to feel stale and stuffy. Govee’s Rope Light is designed to add that color and intensity to your home both indoors and out, but is it up to the task?
Govee sent SPY a sample of their new flexible rope light to review. Keep reading for my thoughts on the product. You can also head to Amazon to check out this device for yourself because, spoiler alert, I had a great experience.
Design
In short, this dual indoor-outdoor lighting kit is a 10-foot (3-meter) long flexible, bendable silicone snake that you can place almost anywhere — indoors around your TV or gaming set up, outside on your patio or along the sidewalk. Perhaps most importantly, there is no hub or bridge required for WiFi connectivity and smartphone control.
That instantly sets it apart from a lot of other popular smart lighting systems such as Philips Hue.
This version is internally segmented, meaning you can adjust sections of the strip to be different colors. Unlike some other smart strip lighting, this rope isn’t flat (it’s about an inch thick rectangular silicone tube) and it cannot be connected to other sets for longer installations. It is, however, water-resistant.
In the package, you get the Govee rope light with a plug. There are also small mounting clips if you want to install them permanently.
Setup and Installation
Getting the smart light strip set up was practically instantaneous. Plug it in and it will automatically be in pairing mode. Using the Govee app, you’ll connect the light to your home’s WiFi for app and voice control. Using the app you can control the color, set scenes, and play with the different segments. The Govee Home app also lets you play with preset scenes, color patterns and use the music sync setting.
I didn’t want to install the light permanently, as I planned to test it in a few areas, so I started off by installing it behind the sofa for a more ambient lighting vibe. I also tested it by wrapping it around the TV, laying it across the fireplace mantle, and using it as a backdrop for my home office desk. I should note, though, that the rope itself is a bit on the thicker side, which makes getting it into and around corners a little tricky.
Features and Performance
You can adjust the color of the Govee Rope Light using the Govee Home app. Tap simple single colors along the length of the strip, or use Scenes or Schemes to play with different options. I do think there are almost too many settings and options inside the app, from choosing “Style” to “Scene,” “Color Matching Method” and “Mood,” it’s often not clear what each of these words actually means for the light, so there’s quite a bit of trial and error. Some of the Scenes or effects flash or swirl around the light, while others are simple static colors and blends.
You can manually choose the colors for the different internal segments of the light too, though after the initial novelty of this wears off, you’ll probably find a few favorites and leave it at that.
If you want a more dynamic experience, the Govee Rope Light can sync to music, audio or even the TV. Just switch on this easy-to-find setting in the Goveee Home app and the light will pulse, flash and adjust to ambient noise. The setting works well and is quite responsive to whatever it hears, from talking to songs and movie dialogue, too.
The Govee Home app is one way to control your Rope Lights, but you can also pair them with Google Home or Amazon Echo, too. I connected mine to my Google Home hub in seconds (go to the Google Home app and choose Add New Device) and was able to get the light to turn on and off as well as change colors, just by asking.
Our Verdict
This smart light strip is enough to knock my all-time favorite smart light (Philips Hue) off its podium. It’s ultra-easy to set up, needs no extra bridge to operate and has a wildly customizable app that lets you do everything you could possibly want with a smart light.
So Should You Buy it?
Yes, do not wait, especially since you can invent some neat designs to spruce up your walls. If you have a short name like me, you can even use this rope to spell out your name (see the image at the top of this post).
Pros
Easy setup
No hub/bridge needed
Thousands of colors
Syncs with music
Voice Control
Cons
Thick silicone tube construction may not be best for all applications
How Long Will It Last?
I’ve had a similar silicone tube light (albeit from another manufacturer) installed outdoors for about five years. In comparison, Govee’s Rope Light feels durable, long-lasting and weatherproof. We’ll update this post as we continue testing it.
What Are Some of the Alternatives?
You can find Philips Hue smart lighting that looks almost identical (but you’ll need that hub!).
Philips Hue Outdoor Light Strip
Buy: Philips Hue Outdoor Light Strip $124.99
LIFX Light Strip
LIFX has bendable lighting products too that also work without the need for a hub. Their option is more suited to dry, indoor locations.
Buy: LIFX Light Strip $71.99 (orig. $89.99) 20% OFF
Novostella Outdoor Rope Light
Check out Novostella’s sculptural lighting option, too. Another flat, primarily indoor option, this lighting strip can more easily wrap a screen or TV for multicolored gaming action.
Buy: Novostella Outdoor Rope Light $76.99
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