Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp review

The Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp is a feature-packed smart light that combines practical lighting with vivid and eye-catching visual effects through preset scenes and custom settings.

Since its launch in June 2025, the Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp has been available to buy direct from Govee, as well as Amazon and other retailers. It has a list price of $179.99 / £179.99, which is great value for money considering how convenient and versatile it is.

Better still, at the time of writing, Govee is offering a discount of $30 / £30, taking the cost down to just $149.99 / £149.99, which is a fantastic price considering this is one of the best smart lights I’ve tested. There’s a similar deal at Amazon, lowering the cost to £149.99 in the UK, but it's just $20 off in the US, so it’s worth purchasing from Govee if you’re buying from across the pond.

The process of assembling the Uplighter was straightforward, although I suggest having someone assist with attaching the lamp section to the pole if you have limited shoulder mobility. Alternatively, if you have the floorspace, you can do what I did and prop up the pole with boxes so you can build the lamp on its side, but it’s much more of a faff than assembling it standing up.

While the Uplighter is pretty lanky at 66.9 inches / 170cm, it’s reassuringly stable thanks to its weighted base. It has a simple aesthetic when it’s not in use. The majority of its outer surfaces are plastic apart from the aluminium stand, which appears to have a powder-coated finish.

I can’t help but find the lampshade somewhat uninspiring when not lit up, but that’s simply because I’m obsessed with how pretty it is when the colors are flowing. Nonetheless, it has a nice finish, featuring a combination of clear and smoky black translucent plastics separated by a black band with a matte finish.

A little word of warning: the clear dome of the lampshade is easy to scuff. I accidentally scuffed mine when it gently knocked against the sloped section of my living room ceiling as I was testing the lamp’s stability. It’s not noticeable when the sidelamp is turned on, but I still recommend taking extra care when shifting the Uplighter about.

The Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp had me hooked in seconds with the bright and colorful effects that were projected from its ripple light. The color-shifting sidelight is a satisfying element too, especially for someone as addicted to color as I am. The downlighter proved satisfyingly practical, too, especially with its easy-to-adjust color temperature and brightness settings.

Govee states this lamp can emit up to 1000lm of brightness, and I can confirm that the downlighter makes for convenient task lighting. The uplighter’s brightness means that the ripple effects are beautifully vivid, even during the daytime, and it looks utterly fantastic when ramped up to 100 percent at night.

At the time of writing, only two of the lamp’s elements can be used simultaneously, though I’ve heard murmurings that we may be able to enable all three in the future. This limitation isn’t really an issue, and I’m sure some may consider using all three lights as overkill; however, I’d love it if I didn’t have to sacrifice one of the colorful elements when using the downlighter.

In terms of onboard controls, there are two buttons located on the front of the pole, one for power and the other for switching between scenes and color temperatures. They work just fine, but I primarily use the Govee Home app or my Echo Dot (5th Gen) to control my Uplighter.

The Govee Home app is the best app for smart lights I’ve used to date – and I’ve tested a bunch of them. After taking a few moments to sync with the Uplighter, the app gave me access to a range of device settings, including preset features, smart home assistant, and Matter syncing.

More excitingly, there’s a boatload of preset scenes to explore, from multi-colored aurora effects to floating mists from the ripple light, to themed side and downlighter combos. There’s plenty of opportunity to finetune the effects, too, with DIY and AI creation sections, along with adjustable speed settings on many of the existing scenes.

There’s also a super convenient auto-run feature, which is great to have, especially if you don’t own a smart home assistant – it allows you to assign different scenes and settings to specific times of the day.

In summary, this is a fantastic, multi-functional lamp that makes an eye-catching feature, while also providing adjustable and convenient task lighting. So, if you love the sound of the Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp, I highly recommend purchasing one to experience its mesmerizing and colorful displays for yourself.

If you enjoy getting lost in captivating visuals to help you unwind, but you’re looking for something a little smaller, then I suggest checking out the Govee Table Lamp 2, which offers a huge range of stunning preset scenes, as well as a bunch of customizable settings. Better yet, if you happen to be looking for a smart speaker as well, the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro comes with built-in JBL sound, and its larger size means there’s more space for all those calming colors to swirl about.

Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp review: Price and specs

Should I buy the Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp review: Also consider

How I tested the Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp

• I used the Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp regularly over a few weeks
• I tested the different features and customizable settings
• I observed the brightness and visibility of the scenes in light and dark environments

I used the Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp to light up my bedroom and living room ceilings with colorful loveliness for a few weeks. I also used the downlighter as a gentle source of light in the evening, as well as task lighting whenever required.

I explored all of the Uplighter’s features, trying out the different preset scenes, creating my own, and experimenting with various lamp combinations.

I used the app regularly for customization, but I mostly used voice control to power it on and off, via my Amazon Echo Dot.

I used the Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp in my living room most days, and moved it to my bedroom so that I could enjoy the calming ripple effect lighting while lying in bed. I used it on sunny days and at night, so that I could assess how visible the effects were with various levels of ambient light.

• First reviewed: November 2025
• Read more about how we test

WiZ Gradient Light Bars: two-minute review

WiZ Gradient Light Bars are a clear dupe of the Philips Hue Play Light Bars (in fact they're produced by the same parent company, Signify), and like their Philips counterparts, they’re mainly designed to be used alongside a HDMI Sync Box to extend its screen-mirroring light effects.

Alongside the light bars themselves, the kit includes two variants of bracket (standing and mounting), and a separate USB-A plug. That second inclusion won’t mean a whole lot to most people but as someone who is constantly hurting for spare outlets on my power strip, being able to connect the bars’ wire to my TV or games console is a godsend.

Both the mounts and the light bars themselves are light but hardily-constructed, delivering impressive quality considering the $60 price tag. Really, the only qualm I had with the design was the placing of the light bars’ wires: they jut out from one end of the bar and the standing mounts don’t provide a gap for the wire to go through. As a result, you have to bend the wire at quite a sharp angle and press the bar against it. This is fine for now (albeit a little unsightly) but I am a tad concerned about what impact this might have on the longevity of the wire insulation.

This is a small oversight in what is otherwise a cleverly-designed mounting system. The centre of each WiZ Gradient Light Bar is magnetized, allowing them to slot securely into the mount without worry of it falling out. Because of this magnetization, you could even mount them on the top of a TV niche for some effective downlighting. Fair warning: these lights are really versatile, so when you first unbox them, you’ll likely spend a good while experimenting with different placements to find your favorite.

A placement that works best in one layout might not work so well in another. For example, my TV unit isn’t a great deal wider than the TV itself and as a result, the WiZ Gradient Light Bars’ inclusion alongside the HDMI Sync Box Kit’s LED strip felt a tad redundant. Without sufficient spacing between the two light sources, they sort of just blended into each other in a way that made them feel lost in the layout. In that same vein, mounting them on the back of the TV didn’t make much sense either.

For my purposes, I found lying the light bars under my TV a better fit; this also had the added benefit of making up for the slight gap in light caused by the lack of LED strip on my TV’s bottom edge. That said, popping them on a bookshelf nearby produced a truly lovely effect too. Which is a nice reminder that if you don’t have the HDMI Sync Box Kit or just don’t fancy making your WiZ Gradient Light Bars part of your media setup, you really don’t have to.

Alongside the screen-mirroring effects made possible by the HDMI Sync Box, the light bars are capable of all the usual static and dynamic light effects found in the WiZ app, and can even be programmed independently of each other. In each lighting mode, the light bars output a beautifully smooth and vibrant gradient glow that looks wonderful diffused against your wall or enjoyed directly. They can also be used for WiZ’s very rudimentary Music Sync mode (you’ll have to check out my review of the WiZ Gradient floor lamp to catch up on the beef I have with that).

Another activation you (theoretically) can set up in the app is SmartSense, WiZ’s motion detection function. Given that SmartSense requires two Bluetooth-enabled WiZ lights, I assumed that the Gradient Light Bars were the perfect candidate for testing this feature. Unfortunately, as far as SmartSense is concerned, the bars count as one single entity. This is a bit of a shame given they can be placed far away enough from each other to meet the setup requirements, but they likely have a shared Wi-Fi receiver that would make SmartSense impossible and the app recognizes that.

If you’re picking up the WiZ Gradient Light Bars, I’m not sure I’d recommend buying a third light source solely for the purpose of using SmartSense. In my testing (using the Gradient Floor Lamp as my third light), I found the motion detection disappointingly unreliable. After a good deal of troubleshooting, jumping up and down like an idiot, and four recalibration attempts, I resigned myself to the fact that there were a lot of things these versatile little light bars could do — and do very well— but motion detection was not one of them.

WiZ Gradient Light Bars: specifications

WiZ Gradient Light Bars: price and availability

• Price: $59.99 / £54.99 (not sold in Australia)
• Where to buy: WiZ (US only), Amazon

The WiZ Gradient Light Bars have an MSRP of $59.99 in the US, and are available to purchase on WiZ’s site and on Amazon. However, at time of writing, the bars are sold out at WiZ and are 10% off at Amazon – that certainly makes for an easy decision on where to pick them up.

If you’re in the UK, you’ll be able to check out WiZ’s product lineup on their site but when it comes to actually ordering them, you’re better off heading to Amazon. There, you can purchase the light bars for £54.99.

Should you buy the WiZ Gradient Light Bars?

Buy them if

Don't buy them if

WiZ Gradient Light Bars: also consider

If you’re still shopping around, why not consider these alternatives: Govee Table Lamp 2 and Philips Hue Play Light Bars offer very similar functionality at differing price points.

How I tested the WiZ Gradient Light Bars

• I installed the WiZ Gradient Light Bars in my main living space
• I used the lights for two weeks, both independently and synced with my TV
• I tested various settings and customization options

I tested the WiZ Gradient Light Bars for two weeks, while paired with the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit. I used them while they were synced to content from my TV and as standalone smart lights. During periods where they were not synced to the TV, I controlled them via the WiZ app and through voice controls made to my Amazon Alexa. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review at TechRadar.

First reviewed June 2025

Nanoleaf Solar Garden Lights: two-minute review

Nanoleaf specializes in energy-efficient LED smart lights, or the home, and now the garden too. Recently launched, these solar-powered outdoor lights are available in a two-pack for $49.99 / £49.99, or a six-pack for $139.99 / £139.99.

We tested the pack of two light clusters, which come in a long box along with two solar panels that can either be stuck in the ground or screwed to a fence with the brackets and screws provided (we tried both types of installation).

Alternatively, it's possible to power the lights via a USB-C power socket on the solar panel if there isn’t enough power from the sun. I tested the Nanoleaf lights during an unusually sunny period in London, so I didn’t have to rely on an external power source – the sun’s rays were more than enough to keep the lights going all night.

Really, it’s best to think of each light as a bunch of eight flowers attached to a central stalk that sticks into the ground or a flowerpot. Two different sized tubes are provided depending on whether you want to have a long or a short stalk (we tried both).

What’s more, each of the flowers in the bunch can be adjusted to face whichever way you want, though they should be handled from the bottom closest to the stalk rather than the top of the stem next to the LED lightbulb.

Once the solar panels are installed where you want them, you can switch on the power using a button on the bottom underneath the actual panels and a green light will indicate you how much charge each of the lights has (four bars means it's fully charged).

Using the bracket and screws provided, I installed one of the solar panels relatively high up on a south facing fence, angling the panel up to the sun, while the other was placed in the ground on a north facing fence. Needless to say, since I'm in the UK, the south-facing panel charged up much quicker, although both provided more than enough power for the LED lights to come on at night.

Of course, the real magic starts once it starts to get dark and the lights actually switch on to illuminate your garden – not until nearly 10pm in the summer in the UK, but much earlier in the winter.

Unlike other Nanoleaf products, such as the Matter Smart Multicoloured Rope Lights, which connect via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, these lights are actually refreshingly old school. So instead of using a mobile phone connected to the Nanonleaf app for control, you use a conventional remote control instead.

Powered by two AAA batteries (provided), this looks similar to an Amazon Firestick remote. At the top are buttons for switching the lights on and off, while underneath there are controls for changing the color of the lights.

Pressing RGB toggles the lights to the next solid color, with options for decreasing and increasing brightness (marked with sunshine icons) on either side. In addition, you can choose warmer or colder whites. These are marked with thermometer icons with either a sun or a snowflake.-

Underneath the lighting options are timer settings (four-hour, six-hour and eight-hour timers are provided) as well as an ambient light sensor which will turn the lights on or off automatically at sunset and sunrise.

There’s also the option of toggling between 11 animated scenes with the different bulbs lighting up in an array of colours, like a sort of less noisy firework display.

It's all great fun and overall we were pleased with the lights and the way they performed. Using a standard remote rather than relying on Wi-Fi control via a mobile phone will obviously suit many, especially those who struggle to get a Wi-Fi signal outdoors. The range of the remote also seems quite good (around 33 feet / 10 meters) so it may be possible to control the lights from indoors if you have a small garden or yard.

However, there are a couple of small niggles. One of the problems we found is that experimenting with the lighting settings was a little bit tricky, especially in the dark when we weren’t able to see the remote control very well to make changes.

Ironically, given you shouldn’t need a smartphone to control the lights, we found we had to use the torch option on the phone to light up the display on the remote control. Also, it took a bit of getting used to all of the different buttons and what they each of them did. Personally, I found the brightly-colored animated scenes a little over-the-top for everyday use though quite enjoyed the solid colours and warm/cool whites the lights could offer. However, it is largely a matter of individual taste.

Nanoleaf Solar Garden Lights: price and availability

• $49.99 / £49.99 (two-pack)
• $139.99 / £139.99 (six-pack)
• Available direct from Nanoleaf

Available either in packs of two or six, the Nanoleaf Solar Garden Lights represent pretty good value for money (I had been expecting them to cost nearly twice as much). Each of the units has eight bulbs and they are quite well made (they also offer IP65 waterproofing). They are available direct from Nanoleaf in the US and the UK.

Particularly impressive are the solar panels which, rather usefully, tell you how much charge they have as well as providing back up power via USB-C charging. And while obviously the garden lights aren’t as high-tech or as sophisticated as some smarter lighting solutions, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Finally, they also offer much more bang for your bucks than many standard LED garden lights, which often don’t allow for any customization at all.

Nanoleaf Solar Garden Lights: specs

Should you buy the Nanoleaf Solar Garden Lights

How I tested the Nanoleaf Solar Garden Lights

• I used the Nanoleaf solar garden lights for a week
• I experimented with all the lighting options
• I used in various configurations with different lengths of ‘stalk’, and both wall- and ground-mounted solar panels

Testing solar garden lights isn’t the most sociable of activities. After all, you can only really make changes after dark, which means testing after around 10pm when approaching the longest day in the UK. Also, as noted earlier, it’s not easy to make changes when you can’t see the remote very well in the dark, which is why I also had to use a phone to provide light.

Will I continue to use these lights long after the review has been published? (That’s always the real test of any review.) Yes I think so although I will probably keep them on a single white light setting rather than having them cycle through various colored scenes which can be a little over the top.

As my son said when he first saw the bright colored lights coming on in the garden after a night out: ‘Why has our garden been transformed into Love Island?’