If you need more lighting in your yard to keep a walkway illuminated, for better security and brightness, or just to have a little fun with your outdoor decor, a set of smart outdoor lights can be the answer. Govee recently launched a new version of its popular Outdoor Ground Light, and in my hands-on, at home review, I’m going to try them out and see for myself what’s new, how they work, if they’re an improvement over the originals and what you can do with them. I’ll wrap things up with the pros and the cons and let you know if I can recommend this outdoor lighting product for you.
Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2
Summary
The improved brightness levels, longer wiring, and enhanced illumination make the Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2 truly worthy of the “2” moniker.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Fast app set-up
- Very bright
- Wider light
- Colour and scene options
- Longer length
- Easily moveable
Cons
- Too tall for mowing
What you get
Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2 are a set of corded, AC-powered colour changing flat LED lights that are designed to run along a pathway, driveway or to light up a border.
Govee is one of the more established brands of both indoor and outdoor smart lighting in recent years. We reviewed several of their products and while each of them had their share of flaws, Govee’s product ecosystem continues to expand and more importantly, Govee continues to update their app. Govee’s product lineup has gotten so big that the company is launching some direct sequels to some of their best-selling products like the Govee Outdoor Ground Lights. Meet the Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2!
Improvements Over Gen 1
I owned a set of original Govee Outdoor Ground Lights and found them to be a great, easy to install set of lights that were a very bright addition to my otherwise dark yard. The original lights are smaller and flatter than the new version, but the overall concept is the same and Govee still sells the older version on Amazon for a lower price. Depending on your specific needs and budget, the older version might better fit the bill.
Watch my full hands-on review of Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2
Extended Lengths
Govee has increased the lengths of both the short and long variants of the Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2. This is crucial if you want to cover longer paths because you cannot link two separate ground light chains together and share the same power source.
The updated set introduces a new 30-light version which measures 30 meters/98 feet long. This variant also comes with a splitter connector so you can use a single pack of lights to illuminate both sides of a short path. If you want to save and go for a shorter variant, Govee offers the 15-light version which is half the length or about 50-feet. (The older 15-light version maxes out at just 11 meters/36-feet and the 24-light version can stretch to just 15.2m/50-feet.)
Increased Brightness
Every individual light of the Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2 can reach a max brightness of 100 lumens. That’s a nice 20 lumen increase over the older model. Reaching those higher brightness levels will consume more power, but since these are hardwired via a plug, that shouldn’t be an issue. And like other Govee products, you can fine tune the brightness via the app to suit the mood.
Improved Design
The Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2 features a new reflecting cup design which helps maximize the light directed around the light pod. This means the illumination of every light can still cover a broad area even at lower brightness levels. The spike of each light also has a longer length of 2.9 inches for a firmer installation.
What’s in the Box?
I opted for the 15-light set covering 50-feet. In the box you get the ground lights themselves and a set of 16 stakes (or 32 stakes depending on the length you buy. The splitter connector is exclusive for the longer 30-light model.) You also get a control box which serves as a bridge between the ground lights and power source.
Installation
The most challenging part of the installation is untangling the lights! They arrive tied with a Velcro wrap and you just need to undo them and lay them out. Each of the lights has a small clip style back and each of the stakes simply clicks into place, making it really easy to install. Push the stakes into the ground and then plug them in.
The first thing I noticed is how very bright they are even in the daylight. The additional brightness power in these lights is very obvious and means this should be a great addition to houses that are looking for a bit of extra lighting for safety along walkways or general security.
Easy operation with Govee app
Like other Govee products, I had no trouble setting up the Govee Ground Lights and getting them connected to my phone for wireless control and scheduling. You don’t have to purchase any separate hub or bridge as the lights can connect directly to your router. The Govee Home app takes care of the rest, and you can easily integrate it with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
I set up a simple schedule where the lights come on shortly before sunset and turn off automatically at sunrise. It’s so easy to do and means I have 24/7, 365 automatic lighting around my house. I can easily change the colours depending on the time of year or any holidays.
Govee’s app is the best in the business, and with it you can choose a single colour for all the lights in the string, or pick out individual colours to your liking. You can also use Govee fun lighting scenes which allows you to use automated colour and lighting effects too.
Govee has outfitted each light with RGBIC+W technology which grants you the full 16 million-colour spectrum. You can either set the colour of every light or use one of the 63 scene modes which highlights the depth of fun customization options.
Taller light pods pose a challenge
Just after my installation, I noticed that because of the new taller light dome, these lights do stick up from the ground a lot more than the previous version.
I could run a lawnmower over the original lights no problem without doing damage, but as soon as I set my Husqvarna Automower Robotic Lawnmower out to do its work I realized these lights were in danger. I opted to use a trowel to dig small divots for each light in order to push it further into the ground and make it flush with the grass. That seemed to do the trick.
Other Features
Many features of the Govee Ground Lights 2 have a similar feature set to other Govee outdoor products. I have long been a huge fan of Govee lights because they are without exception easy to set up, easy to use, and easy to schedule and operate entirely problem free.
After several weeks in my yard I can see these new Ground Lights 2 are no exception.
Weatherproof Components
All components of the Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2 have some degree of water and dust protection. Both the lights and control box have adequate IP67 ratings for dust and heavy rain protection while the adapter boasts a lighter splashproof IP44 rating. Just make sure you fully screw in the cable connecting the control box and lights to fully protect the wiring from water.
Pricing
All the new improvements of the Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2 come with an increased price as well. The 15 pack costs $149 CAD / $99 USD while the 30 pack costs $249 CAD / $189 USD and that’s still without potential discounts and coupons. The older Govee Ground Lights can cost less especially when factoring the discounts which might make those lights tempting since they boast the same level of light customization, app compatibility, smart home support, and water protection.
Overall Thoughts: Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2
The improved brightness levels, longer wiring, and enhanced illumination make the Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2 truly worthy of the “2” moniker.
Let’s cover the pros and the cons.
On the pro side these are super easy to install using the included stakes. They set up in a minute with the Govee app giving you full remote control and scheduling abilities so your lights can act automatically. They are extremely bright meaning they will be ideal for security applications, and the wider light cone helps a lot, and with the colour and scene options they are a really fun and beautiful addition to your yard decor. The longer length is nice, and since these install with removable steaks, you can easily relocate them or take them with you if you’re moving.
So what are the downsides? The biggest issue I found is that the taller design of each individual light pod may limit your placement especially if you don’t want to have to move them every time you cut your lawn. But the fix was pretty easy; just digging a small divot for each light pod.
In short, I love these lights and think they’re a cut above the original. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to you if you want to add more life and light to your yard.
Govee Outdoor Ground Lights 2 – the 15 pack costs $149 CAD / $99 USD while the 30 pack costs $249 CAD / $189 USD
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