Govee Outdoor Projector Light review: this smart projector left me more annoyed than overjoyed
Govee Outdoor Projector Light Review
As the name suggests, the Govee Outdoor Projector Light is an outdoor-friendly projector that comes with smart features that can be controlled through the Govee Home app. It’s priced at $129.99/£159.99 Amazonand is also available to buy on the Govee UK website with a price tag of £159.99, although at the time of writing Govee is running a Christmas deal that brings the cost down to £109.99. Currently, the Govee outdoor projector does not appear to be available on the US Govee website.
The Govee Outdoor Projector Light measures 6.7 x 7.9 x 11.8 inches / 300 x 170 x 200 mm and weighs 4.4 lbs / 2 kg. Most of the projector is made of black plastic, which looks and feels a little cheap, but seems sturdy enough. The adjustment bolts work great and allow me to easily adjust the angle of the projection, and the metal stand is heavy enough that I can place it on the floor without it tipping over.
Does the face of this projector look a bit like WALL-E going through his cyber-goth phase to anyone else? No? Then it’s just me. Fast forward: Govee outdoor projector lights feature an IP65-rated control box and IP44-rated adapter, making them suitable for outdoor use. There is an option to mount it to a metal base plate or plastic stakes to suit different requirements, and it can project an area of ​​up to 749 sq ft / 255 sq m, depending on the distance between the projector and its projection surface.
The Govee Outdoor Projector Light syncs with the Govee Home app, if you have read my review of the Govee Home app Govee table lamp 2you’ll know I’m a big fan. The app has a user-friendly and attractive interface, with easily navigable settings that allowed me to customize the effects easily. There are a range of useful features within the app including timers and Matter, Alexa and Google connectivity so you don’t have to brave the cold to switch.
I spent a lot of time checking out the various settings to see how they performed. First, I tried changing the color of the aurora, the shadow and pattern of the colored waves, with options like breathing and gradients. The results were mixed, as I found that even if I only had pinks and purples in my color selection, there were always blues and greens in the shadow. I don’t mind the colors, but I find it strange that they are still there even though they are not in my chosen palette. Unfortunately, the AI ​​bot insists on adding laser dots to anything it generates, and while there’s an option to edit the results, this is limited to the color of the aurora, so the bright green laser pattern is retained.
Many of the preset scenes have different speed options; on the fastest setting, thematic patterns appear and disappear faster, and the colorful wavy scenes move and change color faster. At first I couldn’t find a way to remove or change the theme pattern background; I wanted the option to project the snowflake icon myself. I explored DIY and AI scene creators, but unfortunately they don’t work with these shapes; they only work with colored lights and laser points. I found the laser dots the Govee app calls stars a little harsh on the eyes, but I was able to modify the brightness and color combinations in the Actions section, which made them less of an eyesore.
Eventually I found a way to project the thematic pattern alone, albeit with a limited color selection. Hidden in the Actions tab, it is possible to change the projection of the default red, green, and blue laser dots. I assigned each color to display the snowflakes, turned off the aurora setting that played in the background, and voila, simple snowflakes. I do wish there was an option for white or another color as these colors have a cheap aesthetic when seen together, although the remaining blue snowflakes after turning off the red and green look pretty enough. I also found that I could turn off or adjust the track speed so that the icon remained static or moved more slowly, and I could also adjust the breathing speed to customize how long the shadow stayed before fading out each cycle.
Overall, my experience with the Govee outdoor projector lights has been frustrating and discouraging at times. It produces some nice, colorful lights, so if you’re just looking for a smart light that can add a little pizzazz to your outdoor space, that’s great, but if you’re looking for something that’s easily customizable and can Projecting attractive patterns onto the exterior of your home may not be for you. We love testing smart light at TechRadar, so if you do too, I recommend checking out our picks The best smart lights See if there’s anything you like.
Govee Outdoor Projector Light Review: Price and Specs
| price | $129.99/£159.99 |
| Model | H7070 |
| color | RGBIC |
| Coverage | 749 sq ft/255 sq m |
| Weatherproof | IP44/IP65 |
| aspect | 6.7 x 7.9 x 11.8 inches/300 x 170 x 200 mm |
| weight | 4.4 lbs/2kg |
| power supply | Corded electric |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Material |
| Voice control | Alexa, Google Assistant, Matter |
Should I buy Govee outdoor projector lights?
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Govee Outdoor Projector Light Review: Also Consider
How I tested the Govee outdoor projector light
- I tested the Govee outdoor projector for a week
- I evaluated how easy it was to set up and sync with the Govee Home app
- I tested different features and customizable settings
I used Govee Outdoor Projector Lights to add some brightness and color to a white-painted cinder block wall and dark room.
I evaluated the quality of the materials and the ease of assembly.
I explored the various presets in the app, fine-tuning the projection by changing the preset’s settings, and creating my own presets through the various features in the app.
