The Govee Outdoor String Lights 2 can create bold and flashy environments, but most of the time, they just look like plain white lights. That then begs the question: Are they worth the price leap above standard outdoor string lights? They probably are for some people.

Govee String Light 2

Easily customize your outdoor space with the Govee Outdoor String Lights 2 to match the vibe of your get together. Whether you want a sophisticated white light or colors that match your music, these lights shine bright.

Pros & Cons

• Bulbs have an IP65 rating
• Heavily customizable lighting effects
• Decent range of warm to cool whites
• Shatterproof bulbs

• Color changes look rigid rather than gradual
• Bulbs feel cheap to the touch

See Our Process

How We Test and Review Products at How-To Geek

We go hands-on with every product to ensure it’s worth your time and money.

Price and Availability

Available on both Amazon and Govee’s website, there are three different lengths for you to choose from. The 144ft retails for $170, the 96 ft $130, and the 48 $80. Both Amazon and Govee offer sales regularly, so no matter which model you choose, you can expect to find it for slightly less.

Simple Enough to Install Once Untangled

It was pleasant to open the box and see three separate strands with 15 lights each. The thought of carrying around a 48 ft long section during installation is a lot more appealing than that of 144 ft.

When you open the box, the bundles of cable are misleadingly neat. You don’t foresee the endless untangling that is about to unfold. It took a handful of minutes of unweaving the bulbs through knots of wire to get each strand ready to install.

Standing there with 51 clips and 51 zip ties, I was nervous that this would take quite a bit of effort. The clips attach either to the cable right near a bulb to hold it in a particular spot or around any other part of the span to give you a more draped effect. The zip ties then secure the clips onto your railing, porch, or shed.

The level of difficulty all comes down to how your space works with the clip and zip tie method. It was extremely simple to install the strand on a fence, but to hang them on the top of my balcony, I did have to hammer some small tacks in place.

It is worth noting that these lights are meant to be hung in a straight line. My initial plan was to drape some from a railing, but the three feet of wire between each bulb is excessive for that.

Once your lights are up, it’s simple to plug them in and connect them to the Govee Home app, available on iPhone and Android, via Bluetooth. Overall, it was easier than anticipated.

Fun Scenes and Relaxing Solid Colors

Some RGB lights only offer blue-based cool whites, but these allow you to set them to any white within a slider from orange to blue. I can’t tell what the numerical color temperature range is, but there are enough options to get you the overall look you are after.

The center value feels pretty warm. During the day, I like to set it in the middle of the cool blue tones at full brightness. In the evening, a slight slide to the left of the center is a great warm white for a soft evening ambiance, especially when set to around half brightness.

While these lights can be plain, sophisticated string lights, the Govee Home app lets you customize your atmosphere to create engaging spaces.

There are over 40 pre-made scenes you can select from, ranging in colors and transitions. Switching between them instantly brings an energetic excitement to my space. If I can’t find what I’m looking for, I create it. With an interactive color wheel, recommended color schemes you can alter based on mood, and the creation of AI scenes from your photos, there are tons of possibilities.

You can select individual bulbs to manually control, which I see as quite practical for some users. For example, you can turn off specific bulbs to avoid glare if you have an outdoor TV.

Music Sync Mode is quite flashy and fun. You can use your phone or the control box as the input to pick up music or other sounds, then customize your own lighting effects that respond to the tempo and volume.

When playing in the app, the lights clearly just want to party. Now that my initial excitement has faded, I only use the app to set holiday scenes or use music sync mode for events. I find the vibrant, colorful options truly fun, but I don’t use them that often.

I don’t use scenes to create relaxing environments even though many are meant to be calming. The transitions between colors are quite rigid no matter the speed they are set to. Instead of a smooth fade, there are several distinct and often harsh steps. If you are looking to relax, I suggest sticking to a solid color. For me, that solid color is often just white.

I set up a schedule that turns the white strand on and off automatically in the evenings. After integrating my lights with my smart home setup, I just say, “Hey Google, set my backyard string lights to purple,” if I’m feeling adventurous.

Weathering the Outdoors

While the power adapter is only resistant to splashes of water, the lights and control box have an IP rating of IP65 and can handle most weather conditions. Even with snow sitting directly on the bulbs, water never entered the enclosures. I’m happy to see it is dust-tight too. One of my biggest pet peeves is when lights collect dust that creates visible dark spots, and thankfully, that doesn’t happen with these bulbs.

They use an “anti-UV material,” which helps elongate their life. This unspecified material helps make the bulbs shatterproof. After dropping them ten feet onto cement during installation, there was a tiny scuff but no notable damage. The only downside is that whatever this mystery material is that it feels like cheap plastic to the touch.

Should You Buy the Govee Outdoor String Lights 2?

These lights are a lovely addition to large outdoor spaces. The spacing between the bulbs makes them ideal for hanging in long segments. If you are looking for a more draped and relaxed look, I’d suggest looking for an option with the bulbs closer together.

The Govee Outdoor String Lights 2 let you completely customize lighting effects with a few phone selections. While the neutral white settings get the most use, it’s fun to play with colors and energize your atmosphere if you host events or decorate for holidays.

With a bit of a steep price considering the fact that they are just string lights, you should ask yourself if you will really use the color customization features. If you are just looking to create a relaxing atmosphere, it’s probably not worth the large price jump from regular old string lights.

Govee String Light 2

Easily customize your outdoor space with the Govee Outdoor String Lights 2 to match the vibe of your get together. Whether you want a sophisticated white light or colors that match your music, these lights shine bright.