Was this weekend your first chance to finally ditch the winter wardrobe and enjoy some long-awaited sunshine? For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere starting to see trees blossom back into life and temperatures rise, summer feels right around the corner – something Govee wants to help you take full advantage of with its latest set of smart lights.
The Outdoor Chromatic String Lights aren’t your regular festoon lights: Govee says they’re first of their kind with per-bulb rainbow effects, for transforming your garden, patio, balcony or pergola into a 24/7 colourful hangout.
Launching as 10- and 20-light strings, the new lights pack in a ridiculous number of LEDs into each bulb. 54 dedicated white LEDs put out 240 lumens of light per bulb, making them Govee’s strongest shining string lights yet, while 55 RGB-addressable ones give you total control over colour. The companion app has over 111 scenes to pick from, along with 12 modes that react to sound, and full DIY customisation if you want to give your outdoor space a particular look.
The bulbs themselves have a timeless and understated look with black casing, a transparent outer layer, and milky inner diffuser, so they’ll suit all sorts of garden styles. The diffused section should deliver a soft yet vivid glow, which sounds perfect for setting the mood, while Govee’s RGBIC tech promises smooth transitions and multi-colour gradients from a single light source.
They’re built for the long haul, being IP67-rated to withstand both moisture and heavy rain. The UV-resistant materials can cope with a temperature range between -20 and 40 degrees celsius, while the LEDs are good for 30,000 hours of use. Essentially once you hang ’em, the Outdoor Chromatic String Lights should keep glowing for ten years.
As with almost all Govee kit they’re Matter compatible, with full integration with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for hands-free voice control.
The Outdoor Chromatic String Lights are launching in the US only for now, but other territories could follow later. They’re on sale right now, from Amazon and the Govee website. Expect to pay $170 for the 10m version, or $300 for the 20m set.
I’ve got a set in for review; now I just need to break out the ladder and hang them up…
