After spending countless hours decking my halls and wrapping my trees with various smart lights over the years, I must say that the Govee Christmas Lights 2 have truly stolen the show this holiday season. As someone who has tested and reviewed numerous smart lighting solutions, I can confidently vouch for the significant improvements made between generations by Govee.
Year-round, innovative smart lighting solutions are released by brands such as Govee and Nanoleaf. However, their holiday-themed products have a limited time to illuminate during the festive season. The initial Govee Christmas Lights showcased many of the brand’s popular features for indoor trees and outdoor spaces. Regrettably, extended size options were not available, and the lights did not support Matter technology.
The Christmas Lights 2 now works with more installation scenarios and syncs with a wider variety of lights. As with many of the best smart lights, AI-generated scenes promise to add more creativity to the holidays. I always look forward to this time of year to see how technology can make decorating more fun and less stressful. The Christmas Lights 2 are sold in lengths up to 328 feet, with Govee kind enough to send me a sample of the 66-foot version.
Contents of Package
The Govee Christmas Lights 2 come neatly packaged in a square box, with the length of the included LED string light clearly stated. Unfortunately, the 66-foot version with a white cord is not offered. The color of the lights can only be discerned from the box’s images. Upon opening the box, you’ll find the lights on a spool, a removable power adapter, and user manuals tucked inside an envelope styled like a Christmas card.
Installation and Setup
For this year’s Christmas Lights 2 display, indoor trees will likely be the top choice. However, I received the lights ahead of schedule and was curious about their outdoor performance, so I decided to try them around our deck railing. To my surprise, even the shortest length was sufficient to cover most of the deck. Yet, for larger trees exceeding five feet, it might be advisable to consider longer options like the 99-foot or more. It’s worth noting that Christmas Lights 2 can’t be extended but can be synced with other lights using Govee’s app.
The Christmas Lights 2 – A Unique Design
In simpler terms, both the string lights and the control box are designed to withstand moderate amounts of water and dust (IP65 rated). However, it’s just the power adapter for the 328-foot version that has additional protection against water and dust. Since this specific power adapter isn’t fully protected, it would be a good idea for owners to safeguard the connection point by keeping it in a waterproof container or an indoor location.
It’s not advisable to use a plastic bag for long-term use, but it held up through some rain showers during the trial phase.
After setting up Christmas Lights 2, the rest of the process occurs within the Govee Home app. One notable improvement for this year’s holiday lights is Matter compatibility, a feature that expands control options to include software such as Apple Home. Previously, some apps may not have been compatible with older Govee devices.
Once you turn on the lights, users should encounter a prompt from software that works with Matter-enabled devices. As an option, pairing can be started via Govee’s own software. To connect with the Christmas Lights 2 outside of the Govee Home app, you will require a Matter controller – these are available in various Google, Amazon, and Samsung smart speakers, displays, and hubs. Additionally, ensure your connection is WiFi on the 2.4 GHz band to facilitate communication. Typically, the preferred home automation app will guide you to scan a QR code on the lights’ controller or provided in the Govee software.
Using the Christmas Lights 2, I didn’t face the same difficulties with Matter pairing as I did with previous smart lights. However, it seems that some of the advanced functions for the string lights are unavailable through this connection method. With Matter, depending on the app, users can expect basic control such as turning off the lights or scheduling. If you want to explore more complex features like creating intricate scenes and utilizing AI functionality, a Bluetooth connection within the Govee Home app is required. As a result, I found myself mainly using the Christmas Lights 2 without Matter.
Software
As Govee lights grow more advanced, their mobile app needs to adapt as well, given its current complexity. The multitude of tabs in the software and options to control the Christmas Lights 2 can be bewildering. A quick method to explore what the lights can do is by using the Scene mode. Govee has introduced over 130 pre-designed scenes, specifically for Christmas and other festive occasions.
Before proceeding to experiment with any effects, it’s beneficial to go through the Shape Mapping process first. This involves snapping a picture of your installed lights, which allows the app to identify each bulb’s location and configure custom segmented colors and animations accordingly. Additionally, you can draw various colors and animations on segments using your fingers, which works particularly well with Christmas Lights 2 hanging from trees rather than running in one direction along a railing. The Twinkly lights, such as the Strings, have offered this functionality for quite some time now, making a significant impact.
Govee smart lights now include AI-generated effects, which were initially introduced with their TV backlighting products like the Govee AI Sync Box 2. However, custom requests for scenes might not always result in visually pleasing results. The AI may not produce a seamless pattern, but it does serve as a shortcut to help you find your preferred settings more quickly.
I asked for straightforward depictions of Easter or St. Patrick’s Day and was satisfied with the output. Otherwise, you’d need to sift through many tabs or manually browse DIY effects shared by users.
Using the Govee Home app can be a bit puzzling when you delve into its grouping functions with compatible lights. The DreamView setup isn’t straightforward, yet it can synchronize lighting with the backlights of the Govee monitor and wall panel lights in gaming rooms. More problematically, the software occasionally loses its Bluetooth connection with the Christmas Lights 2. Although these issues are usually temporary, they create a disconnected user experience. Furthermore, when using the lights outdoors, controlling them from a distance might amplify any existing problems.
Design and Performance
In comparison to the Nanoleaf Holiday Lights that boast larger, slender bulbs, the Christmas Lights 2 features smaller, densely packed LED beads. The 66-foot version accommodates 200 lights on its cable, resulting in a vibrant, intricate display. As users opt for larger sizes, the number of beads increases to 300, 500, and 1000. Unfortunately, I wished there was a white-corded option for the 66-footer, but the green wire complements surrounding outdoor greenery.
One significant improvement in Govee’s holiday light strings is the integration of RGBWIC technology. This new feature includes a specialized chip for white tones, allowing the lights to display subtle distinctions between warm and cool whites. While I find that the pure white sometimes leans towards yellow, scenes with white colors now offer a wider range of options.
As a fan, I’m thrilled about the latest Shape Mapping upgrade! It opens up intricate visual effects that can be personalized with adjustable lighting zones. Although not everyone might delve into sketching groups of luminescent bulbs in different hues, there are plenty of pre-set scenes that truly unleash the brilliance of these lights.
In Govee’s Scene mode, the Festival section boasts a variety of Christmas-themed patterns. Some selections really stand out, while others are equally captivating. After finishing the Shape Mapping process, scenes that utilize precise animations will be marked with an “M.” This allows users to choose not only the speed but also the direction of the lighting in these scenes.
Regardless of their name suggesting they’re only for Christmas, the Christmas Lights 2 are in fact prepared for year-round festivities. Govee offers a broad range of effects that go beyond just red and green, making these lights versatile for various celebrations. Although the quality of scenes can fluctuate, it’s worth noting that many Twinkly and Nanoleaf smart lights don’t come close to matching the multitude of options available.
During the chillier seasons, it’s more pleasant to appreciate a lights display’s music-activated features indoors. Nonetheless, Christmas Lights 2 reacts swiftly enough to festive tunes to elevate get-togethers. Moreover, having Govee’s AI bot provide customized visual settings upon request offers an extra dose of entertainment.
Should the Christmas Lights 2 Make Your Holiday List?
Govee’s smart lights haven’t always seen significant changes from one generation to the next. However, the Christmas Lights 2 tackles some apparent flaws in the initial holiday string lights I tested. Although I reviewed the 66-foot variant, it comes in lengths up to an impressive 328 feet. Regrettably, only the longest version includes a water-resistant power adapter.
A significant number of the upgrades in the Christmas Lights 2 are driven by software. With Shape Mapping, installers can effortlessly drape the lights around trees in various positions while still ensuring seamless animations. Moreover, the AI Lighting Bot has been enhanced to create custom effects more efficiently, eliminating the need to sift through 135 pre-programmed scenes.
Until other apps offer more functionalities, Matter support may not seem very attractive. However, the Christmas Lights 2 are basic, wirelessly manageable string lights with scheduling options. Alternatively, they can provide advanced effects that remain fresh and exciting. Regardless of the method, buyers might find themselves wanting to keep the Christmas Lights 2 up all year long.
Related Products
| Alternative Holiday Lights | Best Choice For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Twinkly Strings 250 | Apple Home support | $69 at Amazon |
| Philips Hue Festavia String Lights | Build quality | $154 at Amazon |
| Nanoleaf Smart Holiday String Lights | Densely packed, bright bulbs | $76 at Amazon |
Traditional holiday light strands continue to be popular in the market, yet high-end alternatives are becoming more common. Products like Twinkly’s line cater specifically to the festive season and offer a safe option with their 65-foot Strings featuring 250 bulbs. Similar to the Govee Christmas Lights 2, they also have a mapping feature, but uniquely support Apple Home without requiring Matter technology.
Philips Hue Festavia Outdoor String Lights come with a premium price tag, designed to endure various weather conditions throughout all seasons. Meanwhile, Nanoleaf has made improvements to its Smart Holiday Icicle Lights since my initial review. The new edition features approximately 300 LED bulbs spread across about 78.8 feet, which is slightly longer than the Christmas Lights 2 model.
FAQ
Q: Can you use a smart plug with traditional Christmas lights?
A smart plug is a way to modernize string lights that can’t be controlled wirelessly. While this enables scheduling, the lights won’t have access to the complex scenes and other features available in Govee, Nanoleaf, and Philips Hue apps.
Q: Can you leave Govee LED lights on overnight?
Govee light strips and bulbs are quite energy-efficient and safe to leave on for long durations. Nevertheless, when it comes to outdoor lighting, it’s essential to make sure they have a minimum IP65 rating to protect against water damage.
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2024-12-03 16:12