Top pick
This light strip has more LEDs per foot than any of our picks, making it bright enough for task lighting, but it can be dimmed and includes a large number of special effects.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Matter
The Govee LED Strip Light M1 was the brightest of our picks, which makes it an excellent choice for task lighting in the kitchen or over a work bench or desk. You still have the option to dim those bright lights, so this set is also great for creating accent areas around the house. The latest version of the Govee M1 includes Matter support (Govee added it in fall 2023), so it works with all of the major smart-home platforms—those may be preferable for some users since I found the Govee app to be especially busy and sometimes confusing. Curiously, the M1 relies on a Bluetooth connection when you are close by and switches to Wi-Fi when you connect remotely, though we didn’t notice any hiccups.
It’s got more LEDs than the competition. This model was one of the brightest smart light strips we tested. (The Eve Light Strip is equally bright, and the LIFX may be a little brighter, but this is a better product overall.) The brighter light is due to its having more LEDs per meter: The M1 has 60, whereas the average strip light contains about 30 LEDs per meter. This produces brighter light and better color saturation overall, though naturally you can opt to dim it as you like, too.
It has extra-special effects. The Govee has more special effects than any other model I tested. I found myself flipping between Winter, Fireworks, Easter, Sports, and Twinkle scenes—it’s actually a kick (though probably more interesting to teens and kids). The Govee has preset Scenes that let you go directly to a specific color and lighting level, and you can create and save your own but also borrow and share others, which live in the DIY tab in the app, with fellow Govee users.
There’s an intriguing Lighting Bot feature in the app that you can use to make general requests rather than trying to tweak the settings yourself. I told the Lighting Bot I wanted to relax, and it switched the M1 to calming light-blue tones. (Although, it was less relaxing when I asked for “something mellow” and was given bright whites.) Figuring out all the varieties of features and settings definitely entails a learning curve (see Flaws but not dealbreakers).
It plays well with pretty much everyone. The M1 integrates with Alexa and Google Home, and it also supports Matter which means it’ll also work with Apple Home, too. That makes it possible to integrate with other Matter devices for Automations and Routines. It’s the only one of our picks that lets you do anything beyond basic color changes when using a third-party app, and even then it’s only when using Alexa (you can choose Scenes and turn on the Music Mode).
It can be shortened or lengthened. Govee is the only one of our picks that is both cuttable and can be spliced with other strips. The strip is available in two lengths: 6.56 feet and 16.4 feet. I cut one of them to fit the test space in my office. There’s also a 3.28-foot extension kit; the 16.4-foot strip light can be spliced up to 32.8 feet, and the 6.56-foot strip light can be spliced up to 16.4 feet. Beyond that, you need to have more than one power adapter controller.
It has complete manual controls. The remote control box that’s connected to the light strip is the most advanced of any of our picks. It includes an on/off button, a button that can cycle through nine colors, and a button to enter Music Mode. It also has a microphone on the side of the remote, which may freak some people out, but allows the strip to “hear” the music and sync lights, without your having to use the app.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Unlike our Runner-up, the Govee M1 does not include a traditional timer, which can tell it to go on/off after a few seconds or a few minutes. Instead you have to create a schedule using the Automation tab or, ironically, by pushing the Timer icon in the app, which is Govee’s term for automation/scheduling.
- The Govee app offers more special effects than the apps for the other models we tested. That’s great in theory, but in practice could make the app more confusing for beginners or anyone without patience for technology.
- Although the Govee M1 works with Apple Home via Matter, it does not support Apple Home’s Adaptive Lighting feature, which automatically adjusts color temperature throughout the day. Apple Home and Google Home users may also be surprised: Neither platform offers any features beyond color changes.
Privacy and security snapshot
- Govee doesn’t offer standard two-factor authentication but will require you to confirm your identity via an emailed code if logging in from a new device.
- The M1 can be used via Bluetooth without connecting to the Internet.
- All user data is encrypted.
For more details, read Govee’s privacy statement.
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