What does Govee's new Strip Light 2 actually change for your smart home?

The previous strip relied on Bluetooth alone

The original RGBIC LED Strip Light connected through Bluetooth. That limited its reach and kept it out of Apple Home without a bridge. The Strip Light 2 adds Wi-Fi connectivity. This expands the strip's smart home capabilities significantly. More importantly for Apple users, the new model also supports Matter.

Apple Home works without a bridge now

Matter allows the Strip Light 2 to work with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. Govee's own app still handles proprietary features. Animated effects, preset scenes, and detailed configuration stay in Govee Home. Apple Home provides core controls for everyday use and automations. This split is typical for Matter-compatible lighting products.

The LEDs themselves have been upgraded

Govee now uses its LuminBlend+ colour technology and RGBWWIC 5-in-1 LEDs. The strip can produce up to 16 million colours. Segmented control allows different sections to display different colours simultaneously. This enables smoother transitions and more elaborate animated effects. Dedicated white LEDs are particularly significant. That matters. Govee claims improved white light reproduction compared with the previous model. Users can adjust from warmer white tones suitable for ambient lighting through to cooler whites for practical illumination. This makes the Strip Light 2 potentially more useful as an everyday light source rather than being limited primarily to decorative RGB lighting.

Cut the strip to fit your space

Once cut, the strip can be calibrated within the Govee Home app to account for its new length. This provides considerably more flexibility for installations around furniture and shelving. It also works well for desks and entertainment units. Govee has also added a protective coating, another improvement over its predecessor.

Scenes and AI effects stay in Govee Home

Within Govee Home, users have access to more than 100 preset lighting scenes. These cover entertainment and gaming. They also cover holidays and general ambient lighting. The Strip Light 2 also supports Govee's AI Lighting Bot, which can generate custom lighting effects using AI. This sits alongside the company's existing DIY lighting options. These advanced features remain within Govee's own app while Matter provides integration with third-party smart home platforms.

Pricing starts at US$49.99 for the shortest US length

You can purchase the Govee Light Strip 2 from amazon.com in four different lengths. The 9.8ft version costs US$49.99. The 16.4ft version costs US$59.99. The 32ft version costs US$94.99. The 65.6ft version costs US$139.99. For European customers, the strip is available in two lengths — 2m and 5m. Amazon.de, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.it, and Amazon.es all stock it. The Strip Light 2 provides a less expensive alternative to the existing Strip Light 2 Pro for those who don't require the additional features of Govee's higher-end model.