Govee Outdoor Projector Light review

As the name suggests, the Govee Outdoor Projector Light is an outdoor-suitable projector, with smart capabilities allowing it to be controlled via the Govee Home app. It has a list price of $129.99 / £159.99 at Amazon, and is also available on the Govee UK website for a list price of £159.99, although at the time of writing Govee is offering Christmas deals, lowering the cost to £109.99. Presently, the Govee Outdoor Projector does not appear to be available on the US Govee website.

The Govee Outdoor Projector Light is a sizable 6.7 x 7.9 x 11.8 inches / 300 x 170 x 200 mm and weighs 4.4lb / 2kg. The majority of the projector is made from black plastic, which looks and feels a little on the cheap side, but it seems sturdy enough. The adjustment bolt worked well, allowing me to adjust the angle of the projection with ease, and the weight of the metal stand proved heavy enough that I could place it on the floor without it toppling.

Does the face of this projector look kind of like Wall-E going through his cyber-goth phase to anyone else? No? Just me, then. Moving swiftly on: the Govee Outdoor Projector Light is suitable for outdoor use thanks to the IP65-rated control box and IP44-rated adapter. There is the option to fix it to a metal base plate or a plastic ground stake to suit different requirements, and it can project up to 749 sq ft / 255 sq meters depending on the distance between the projector and the surface it’s projecting onto.

The Govee Outdoor Projector Light syncs up to the Govee Home app, which, if you’ve already read my review of the Govee Table Lamp 2, you’ll know I’m a big fan of. The app has a user-friendly and attractive interface, with easy-to-locate settings making it easy for me to customize effects. Within the app, there are a range of useful features including a timer and Matter, Alexa, and Google connectivity, so you won’t need to venture out into the cold to switch things up.

I spent a lot of time checking out the various settings to see how well they performed. First, I experimented by changing the colors of the Aurora, a projection of colorful waves, and the modes, with options like breathe and gradient available. The results were mixed, as I found that even if I only had pinks and purples in my color selection, there was always blue and green in the projection. I didn’t mind these colors, but I found it odd that these remained present, even when they weren’t in my chosen color palette. It was a shame that the AI bot insisted on adding the laser dots to anything it generated and, while there was the option to edit the result, this was limited to the colors of the aurora, so the bright green laser pattern remained.

Many of the preset scenes have the option of different speeds; on the fastest setting, the themed patterns appear and disappear quicker, and the colorful wave-like scenes move and change color at a faster pace. I couldn’t find a way to remove or alter the backgrounds of the themed patterns at first; I’d have liked to have the option to project the snowflake icons on their own. I explored the DIY and AI scene creators but sadly they don’t use these shapes; they only work with the colored lighting and the laser dots. I found the laser dots, which the Govee app refers to as stars, to be a little harsh on the eyes, but I was able to amend the brightness and color combination in the operations section, which made them a bit less of an eyesore.

Eventually, I found a way to project the themed patterns alone, although color choices were limited. Hidden within the operations tab, it was possible to change the projection of the default red, green, and blue laser dots. I assigned each color to show a snowflake and turned off the aurora set to play in the background, and voila, simple snowflakes. I did wish there was the option to select white or other colors though, as there is a somewhat cheap aesthetic about the colors when they appear together, although the remaining blue snowflakes after turning the red and green off looked nice enough. I also discovered I could turn off or adjust the orbit speed, so the icons would remain static or move slower, and I could also adjust the breathing speed to customize how long the projection stayed up before fading out during each cycle.

Overall, my experience of the Govee Outdoor Projector Light was underwhelming and frustrating at times. It can generate some nice, colorful lighting, so if you’re just looking for a smart light that’ll add a little pizazz to your outside space it’s fine, but if you’re looking for something that you can customize with ease and can project attractive patterns onto your home’s exterior, this likely isn’t the outdoor projector for you. We love testing smart lights here at TechRadar, so if you do too, I’d recommend checking out our pick of the best smart lights to see if anything takes your fancy.

Govee Outdoor Projector Light review: Price and specs

Should I buy the Govee Outdoor Projector Light?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Govee Outdoor Projector Light review: Also consider

How I tested the Govee Outdoor Projector Light

• I tested the Govee Outdoor Projector Light for one week
• I evaluated how easy it was to set up and sync with the Govee Home app
• I tested the different features and customizable settings

I used the Govee Outdoor Projector Light to add some brightness and color to a white-washed cinderblock wall and in a darkened room.

I assessed the quality of the materials and how easy it was to put together.

I explored the various presets within the app, fine-tuning the projections by changing the settings of the presets and creating my own via various features in the app.

• First reviewed January 2025
• Read more about how we test

Govee Table Lamp 2 review

The Govee Table Lamp 2 is listed at $69.99 / £69.99, although, at the time of writing, there’s a sale on the Govee website lowering the price to $55.99 / £58.99. This may seem a little steep for a small light-up lamp but, if like me, you’re a fan of anything bright and colorful, appreciate extensive customization options, and enjoy the convenience of a smart lamp, then it’s definitely worth the cost.

When it’s off, the design of the Govee Table Lamp 2 looks pretty nice. It’s got a modern aesthetic, with silver-colored accents and a pearly finish on the circular control panel. The lamp's outer doesn’t have the cheap, unattractive finish that many lower-cost RGB lamps do; in fact, it looks like it could be made of glass, and the ridged titanium-colored inner makes for a nice feature.

The only slight negative I found was that the outer surface proved to be a bit of a dust and fiber magnet. I noticed a subtle texture on the side of the cylindrical lamp and realized that fibers had accumulated after only a few hours of use. This isn’t hugely noticeable, though, and our reviews office sees a lot of cardboard boxes and products daily, so the dust levels are certainly higher than average.

The controls on the device include power and two brightness adjustment buttons on the top panel, as well as color and scene cycling buttons that can be customized within the Govee Home app, meaning I was able to assign eight different colors/lighting effects to each button respectively.

Naturally, the design really came to life when the Govee Table Lamp 2 was on, and the effects were as beautiful as anything from the best smart lights. There’s a huge array of fantastic effects on offer via the Govee Home app, including several preset color collections, an RGB color wheel, plus another sectioned color wheel to choose colors. The latter had different emotions assigned to different color areas; choices included jolly, surprised, concerned, disappointed, and aggravated. I’m not sure I associate purple with “horrify” myself, but the assigned emotions amused me, anyway. There were over 60 scene presets to choose from, with collections of lighting effects arranged under themed tabs such as natural, festival, and sleeping, and I had great fun investigating them all.

My personal favorite scenes were some of the most colorful (naturally): Rainbow produced a beautiful gradient of pastel colors that slowly swirl about the outside of the lamp, and Fish Tank showed colorful shapes swirling around the center of the lamp. A great additional feature with some of these presets is that I could alter the speed, so I could set them to be as calm or as energetic as I fancied. On the few occasions I didn’t want colorful lighting effects, say when I wanted a warm light to read with, or to brighten the immediate area up, this lamp had me covered with a temperature range of 2700 – 6500K.

As if the huge array of scene and color presets weren’t enough, the AI feature was fantastic. It was like an easy-to-use online chat format, and I could ask it to create a scene via text or voice command, or take or attach a photo. I decided to take a photo of a stack of boxes in the office, and the AI bot recommended a “vibrant, dynamic lighting effect that dances and shimmers, mirroring the colorful packaging”. I accepted the recommendation, and the resulting light effect was a gorgeous pale lavender and pastel orange gradient that slowly waved from the bottom in an upwards diagonal direction – I was then able to save it to my DIY library.

The Govee Home app was delightfully easy to navigate and provides a great user experience. The different light features are laid out simply under labeled icons, and I really appreciated that the app allowed me to adjust the layout to suit my needs, allowing me to sort, hide, and show the quick access and modes right where I needed them.

Wonderfully bright and colorful even in a well-lit office, the Govee Table Lamp 2 was even more so in darker environments. Even on the bright white setting in darkness the light is diffused enough not to be harsh on the eyes, and the warmer lights targeted toward reading and night-time were soft and comforting.

One thing I noticed is that the Table Lamp 2 became warm after a little while, but not to a concerning extent. As I tested it in the winter, it actually proved to be a positive, as it was nice to feel a slight warmth when using the touch controls.

After an enjoyable period of testing and other than it collecting a little dust, there was nothing I didn’t like about the Govee Table Lamp 2. When unlit, it was unobtrusive and attractive, as much as one of these lamps can be. And when switched on it provided beautifully eye-catching and colorful light displays with what felt like endless scenes, combinations, and customizations.

As a lover of anything colorful with plenty of options to mix things up, I’m a huge fan of this smart little lamp, so if this is something you’re in the market for, you won’t feel let down by the Govee Table Lamp 2.

Govee Table Lamp 2 review: Price and specs

Should you buy the Govee Table Lamp 2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Govee Table Lamp 2 review: Also consider

How I tested the Govee Table Lamp 2

• I thoroughly enjoyed using the Govee Table Lamp 2 for one week
• 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 Table Lamp 2 as a calming and mood-lifting addition to my desk setup in the TechRadar reviews office for one week. I evaluated the usability and performance of the Govee companion app and went down the rabbit hole playing with all the different settings.

I enjoyed exploring the various presets within the app. I also made some of my own color sequences, and used the AI scene creator from photos and prompts.

I assessed the different light modes in brighter and darker conditions to see how visible they were in daylight and bright office lights, and to see just how vibrant the colors were in the dark.

• First reviewed December 2024
• Read more about how we test

Govee Floor Lamp 2: one-minute review

The Govee Floor Lamp 2 is a bit of an enigma in Govee’s lineup. It’s both smaller and cheaper than the Govee Floor Lamp Pro, warranting a cheaper price tag. However, despite the obvious dearth in some features, the Floor Lamp 2 delivers support for Matter, the latest in smart home connectivity. As such, despite being cheaper and less capable than its big brother, it’s arguably a much better choice for smart home connoisseurs, and one of the best smart lights for HomeKit users who value its integration with Apple Home.

The Govee Floor Lamp 2 is incredibly similar to the Floor Lamp Pro in terms of assembly, design, and the user experience of the app both models share. 

Out of the box, you’ll have to contend with assembling the lamp from its constituent parts. That means screwing together three metal strips to the base of the lamp using the brackets and screws provided. It’s not a complex job, but it’s definitely fiddly and requires a bit of patience.

Despite being cheaper than the Floor Lamp Pro, I was surprised to find that the overall material feels a bit more premium, save for the base which is a bit shiny and plasticky for my liking. The connector that links the flexible lighting tube to the cabling in the base is also much easier to join up, and feels more rugged and durable. Having seen Govee’s silver and black offerings, I much prefer the darker finish of this lamp compared to my Govee Floor Lamp Pro’s silver color. 

The more expensive Govee Floor Lamp Pro boasts a Bluetooth speaker. That feature is lacking in the Floor Lamp 2 and is the main significant difference between the two models. 

The Govee Floor Lamp 2 is controlled by Govee’s app, available on both iPhone and Android. Like the Floor Lamp Pro, it supports both Alexa and Google Home, but crucially also comes with Matter support. That means you can use it with pretty much any smart home ecosystem, most notably Apple Home. As I’ve mentioned in my Floor Lamp Pro review, the Govee design app is not exactly a masterpiece, but it is highly functional. As soon as you turn the lamp on and open the app, you can add the new device and connect it to your home Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz only) with ease. Govee’s Floor Lamp 2 controls let you control the light emitting from the base and the stem separately, with a slider for brightness. There are also settings and controls for color, scene, finger sketching your own patterns, and even for rhythmic light shows set to music, powered by a built-in microphone. There’s also a timer functionality so you can set your lamp to cycle on and off, perfect for use beside a nightstand. 

In theory, Matter support means you can easily add your Govee Floor Lamp 2 to Apple Home. However, I found the process wasn’t seamless and took several attempts. Govee says that you should attempt to connect your lamp using Matter within 15 minutes of powering the lamp on for the first time. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to reset the lamp and try again. It took me four or five attempts and a good 10 minutes to get the Govee Floor Lamp 2 added to my Apple Home network. I encountered a couple of different errors regarding the network, but eventually it worked.

Once connected, you can use it like any other HomeKit smart light, including through Siri where you can issue commands for powering on or off, brightness, and color. Matter support is a huge boost to the Floor Lamp 2 and a big advantage over the more expensive Floor Lamp Pro. It also gives you access to all the other joys of HomeKit, such as automation. Your Govee Floor Lamp 2 can be connected to motion sensors or anything else you can think of in the Internet of Things. 

While the Floor Lamp 2 isn’t quite as bright as the Floor Lamp Pro, it still puts out a respectable array of light. Combined with its reduced height, it’s noticeably dimmer than the Pro but still very ambient and pleasant. It would be well-suited to smaller rooms such as an office or a guest bedroom but lacks the extra power of its larger, more expensive stablemate. That being said, it puts out more than enough light to illuminate most spaces.

Thanks to the app, the combination of lighting on offer is pretty much limitless, you can choose block colors, scenes, or a simple warm light for reading. The Govee Floor Lamp 2 comprises a cylindrical base and a tall strip of light, designed for wall-washing. It’s not a directional light per se and is more suited to providing ambiance and atmosphere, decorative rather than practical. 

For quick use and convenience, the Govee Floor Lamp 2 comes with its own remote that can be used to quickly control power, block colors, brightness, and the temperature of your light without messing with your phone or trying to summon Siri without waking anyone, a most welcome addition.  

To sum up, the Govee Floor Lamp 2 is considerably cheaper than its “Pro” counterpart but offers much of the same lighting functionality. It doesn’t have a built-in speaker like the larger version, but does offer a vital connectivity advantage thanks to Matter support. While the build quality might not be the best on the market, and the fiddly assembly is a drawback, it’s a sturdy lamp with plenty of punch. 

Govee Floor Lamp 2: specs

Govee Floor Lamp 2: price & availability

• List price: $149 / £149 (about AU$220)
• Often available at a discount

The Govee Floor Lamp 2 is available from Govee’s website in the US and the UK. It’s priced at $149/£149, however, it’s routinely discounted on the official website to $119 or £109. It’s also available on Amazon in both the US and the UK with the same list price and similar discounts. That’s considerably cheaper than a Philips Hue Signe Gradient lamp, and even cheaper than Govee’s own alternative, the Govee Floor Lamp Pro. The lamp is available in black (as tested here) and silver.

Should you buy the Govee Floor Lamp 2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if... 

Govee Floor Lamp 2: also consider

Not sold on the Govee Floor Lamp 2? Here are two more options to consider.

How I tested the Govee Floor Lamp 2

• I used the Govee Floor Lamp 2 for several days
• I used it in various places in my home
• I comprehensively tested all of its features including the app

I've used the Govee Floor Lamp 2 for two weeks in multiple locations around my home. I tested all of the different lighting options and used its features including the remote control.

I used the Govee app to connect the lamp up to my home Wi-Fi network and also used the lamp through the Apple Home app to test Matter support. 

I have five years of smart home journalism experience and have extensively tested a broad range of smart home products including smart lights, plugs, speakers, and more. I have also tested other smart lamps in this specific product category field, notably the Philips Hue Signe Gradient and the Govee Floor Lamp Pro, which has helped to inform my review.

First tested September 2024

Two-minute review

I’ve been waiting a long time for a smart light brand to release a truly smart wake-up light, and it’s no surprise that Philips Hue is first with its beautiful new Twilight smart light. 

While most smart lights offer some form of wake-up or circadian functionality, and many smart home hubs also allow you to turn your regular smart lights into bona fide wake-up lights, the Philips Hue Twilight is first to thoughtfully incorporate wake-up functionality into the design and software from end-to-end, cementing it as one of the best smart lights I’ve ever tested.

Standing at 12.9-inches / 33cm tall, the Twilight lamp is an exercise in design mastery from Philips Hue. Available in either a black or white casing, the unit’s rounded stem is footed by a cork base, and tapers towards the head of the lamp, which is shaped like an upturned cup. It’s a slick and chic device that looks wonderful in either color – and while it might not be for everyone, it’s a major step up in aesthetics from Hue compared to some of its previous designs, such as the Philips Hue Go Table lamp and Hue Bloom.

On the top of the head are two programmable buttons that by default trigger automations and cycle through six different scenes, offering both “press” and “press and hold” controls. Through the Philips Hue app, you can change how the buttons and the lights behave, presenting a fantastic level of customizability. 

Behind the frosted-encased rear panel sit the LED lights. It isn’t the most attractive look, but since the rear of the light will in all likelihood be wall-facing, it isn’t a dealbreaker. The LEDs point slightly upwards, which enables them to spray a wonderful cone of light up walls – plus they also feature separate strips that can create gradient lights using Hue’s new Gradient ColorCast technology. The head also contains another set of independently controllable direct LED lights, and can be rotated 90 degrees to the left and right – a nice touch for those who enjoy reading in bed.

The part of the design I wasn’t so impressed by is the 2.4 x 1.9 x 3.1-inches / 6 x 4.8 x 8cm (h x w x d) power supply. If your plug socket is directly behind your bedside table, you’ll likely need your table to be sitting further away from the wall to account for the Twilight’s very proud plug.

However, when it comes to the light itself, I’d go as far as to say this is the best I’ve seen from Hue – and given the bar is pretty high, I’m very much impressed. Hue claims it can be dimmed to 0.5% brightness, and while I couldn’t easily measure that, what I can say is that dimming proved incredibly smooth, with a near-imperceptible transition between the light's lowest brightness and fading out completely.

According to Hue, there’s more than just some buttons and software that make Twilight well-suited for use as a wake-up light. The night-time scenes that come included as defaults for both manual and in-app control omit blue light, which suppresses melatonin, while its wake-up scenes are attuned to emulate sunrise.

In addition to its natural light settings, the Philips Hue Twilight smart light is also able to reproduce the full range of colors you’d expect from a Hue device, meaning you can also set the mood with some beautifully vibrant scenes. In addition, the rear light is fully programmable, so you can also create custom gradients to match other gradient lights such as the Hue Signe.

The Twilight integrates easily into the Hue app, with both Bluetooth and Hue Bridge connectivity on offer – but here lies one of the biggest issues I have with the product: its limited functionality when paired via Bluetooth. For some reason, the two light sources can’t be controlled in conjunction with one another in this configuration, and many of the automations aren’t available.

Price and availability

• List price: $279 / £249 

The Philips Hue Twilight smart light will set you back $279 / £249, and is available in both black and white colorways. Compared even to Philips Hue’s own alternatives, such as the Hue Go portable table lamp (list price: $159.99 / £139.99), that’s one frighteningly expensive lamp.

It’s a running issue with Philips Hue. While its smart lighting is arguably some of the best – if not the best – on the market, such a lofty price tag is tough to swallow. In Twilight’s defense, both its design and performance are top-tier – with the exception of my gripes with its plastic casing, limited Bluetooth functionality and large power supply. I have the same opinion about the Hue Go portable table lamp. Given that there are a wealth of more affordable smart lights on the market, some competitive pricing from Philips Hue feels in order.

Specs table

Score card

How I tested

• I used the Philips Hue Twilight lamp as my main wake-up light and bedroom lamp for two weeks 
• I tried all of its various presets and features 
• I used it both with and without a Hue Bridge 

I used the Philips Hue Twilight for two weeks as my main bedroom light, testing all of its wake-up and wind-down presets, morning and night, to see how effectively they helped to regulate my sleep schedule.

I paired it both via Bluetooth and also through my Philips Hue Bridge to compare its feature set and functionality in various connectivity modes. I controlled it through my smart home speakers to see how responsive it was, and tested the various color options to see how vibrant of a payoff the lights delivered.

I’ve been testing smart home technology for over two years, filling my home with abundant smart lighting and devices from the likes of not only Philips Hue, but some of the biggest competition across smart lighting. 

Twinkly Strings: two-minute review

The Twinkly Strings are smart LED string lights that you can use to decorate your Christmas tree or drape anywhere else in your home that's in need of a little festive cheer. Once you've mapped their position using the Twinkly app, you can set them to a solid color, take your pick from dozens of animations, or even use them to create a picture (either a preset from the app, or one of your own).

They come in four lengths: 26.2ft (100 LEDs), 65.6ft (250 LEDs), 105ft (400 LEDs), and 157.5ft (600 LEDs). I tested the 400 LED set, but 250 LEDs would have been ample for my 4ft tall Christmas tree. The LEDs arrive divided in two bundles as shown in the images below, so I hung one set around the tree and the other across the room.

I tested the Twinkly Strings RGB lights, but there's also an RGB+W version, which could be a good choice if you're planning to have the lights up all year round and would therefore enjoy more subtle white lighting at different color temperatures outside the festive period. The RGB lights are available with black or green cables, and if you opt for the RGB+W version, then you can also opt for clear cables that will be less obtrusive when installed more permanently.

The lights are positioned on springy, zig-zag-shaped wires, which are easy to hang and position. They don't become tangled as easily as conventional string lights; the shape of the wire makes them easy to bundle up once you're done, then secure each bundle with the Velcro tie included in the box. Although I had the black version, the wires weren't very visible when tucked among the tree branches. 

Once you've draped the Strings to your liking, open the Twinkly app on your phone (you'll need to create an account if you haven't used it before), switch on the lights and hold the button on the controller until the light turns turquoise. The app will then be able to find the lights, and you can connect them to your home Wi-Fi network. This worked perfectly during my tests, as it did with the Twinkly Line LED strip that I also tested recently.

When that's done and you've installed any necessary firmware updates as prompted, you'll be asked to use your camera to map their layout so that the software can assign the correct color to each bulb to create gradients, patterns and pictures. There are two ways to do this: Easy Mapping, which requires a simple straight-on view of your lights, works fine if they'll mostly be viewed from one angle; and Advanced Mapping, which uses images from multiple angles, and would be useful if you've positioned your Christmas tree in the center of the room or wrapped the lights around something outdoors.

Simple mapping worked just fine for my tree, which was against a wall. Interestingly, the software was able to deduce where the lights on the back were positioned well enough to project a smooth gradient onto the wall, as you can see in this review's main image.

The various preset animations work well, and you can create a playlist that will store them on the Strings' in-line controller, so you don't have to open the app each time you want to change them. Pressing the button on the controller will cycle through your saved options, and holding it will switch them off.

Some of the preset animations can be synced to music, as indicated by a musical note beside its name. This uses input from your phone, or from the Twinkly Music sound sensor dongle, which is available to buy separately. It would be nice if there was a microphone integrated into the controller, particularly since the Music dongle requires a USB power supply and the lights will already be using one of your electrical outlets.

I also experimented with using the Twinkly Strings to display a picture, but my tree was too small for this to work well. You could get the general idea, but there weren't enough lights visible at once to create a "canvas" with a sufficiently high resolution. It would be much more effective on a larger tree using the full complement of lights.

The Twinkly Strings work with all the major smart home platforms, and I had no issues at all connecting them to Google Home. The app found them immediately and added them to my living room. I was then able to use them like any other smart lights, and create automations that would turn on all the lights in the room at once with a voice command (such as "Merry Christmas"), or at a particular time.

If you only have room for a smaller tree (under 4ft) then you may find that the smallest size (26.2ft) is too long, so you might prefer to opt for the shorter Twinkly Dots.

Covering extra large areas isn't a problem, though. While you can't add extensions to the Twinkly Strings, you can group multiple Twinkly products via the app and use them all together as a massive "canvas". 

Twinkly Strings: price and availability

The Twinkly Strings are available globally direct from Twinkly, or from third-party retailers such as Amazon. The price depends on the length of the string, and whether you opt for the RGB or RGB+W lights.

These prices are around a third less than the equivalent Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Festavia string lights.

Govee (Twinkly's main rival for the best smart lights on a budget) doesn't have a product that's an exact equivalent – its Christmas String Lights are more like the Twinkly Dots, with LED beads inside a flexible tube that can be wrapped around objects.

Twinkly Strings: specs

Should you buy the Twinkly Strings?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Twinkly Strings: also consider

Still not sold on the Twinkly Strings? Here are two other options you might want to consider.

How I tested the Twinkly Strings

To test the Twinkly Strings, I wound one half of the 105ft length around a 4ft artificial Christmas tree, and strung the other half across the length of my living room. I used the Twinkly app for Android to connect them to my home Wi-Fi network. and tested both the simple and advanced mapping options to address the LEDs.

I used them together with the Twinkly Line LED strip, connecting the two devices in the Twinkly app, where I could control them as a single device. I also connected them to my Google Home setup and created custom automations to control them.

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed September 2024

Twinkly Line: two-minute review

The Twinkly Line is a self-adhesive LED strip light, which you can operate using a physical controller built into the power lead, the Twinkly mobile app, or any of the major smart home systems (including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit). I tested the Twinkly Line for several weeks in a home office setup, and connected it to Google Home to control it via voice commands. 

Inside the box, you'll find the Line itself (which can be black, shown here, or white to blend with your decor), the power lead, a set of stickers, and two small adhesive pads, in case you want to attach the controller to a wall. There's no separate Wi-Fi hub necessary.

Setup is straightforward. First, decide where you want your Twinkly Line, and stick it in place. Like all LED light strips, the Line shouldn't be bent at sharp angles; the instruction manual explains the best way to handle corners when setting it up.

The Line I tested here was 1.5m long, which fitted nicely around the front of my desk. It's relatively short for an LED light strip (most rivals are at least 2m), but there are extensions available if you need more length. Some strips from other brands can be cut at positions marked along their length, but Twinkly says that manipulating the Line this way is "strongly discouraged".

The strip was easy to apply, but sometimes the 3M adhesive stuck to the backing paper. Peeling off the paper slowly yielded the best results, so take your time and don't rush during this part of the installation process. I've had the Line installed for several weeks now, and the glue is still holding it firmly in place on the smooth laminate surface of my desk, with no sign of peeling.

Once the Line is in place, clip the power cord onto the end of the strip (the connectors slide into place), plug it into the socket, and you're ready to link it to the mobile app.

The Twinkly app is easy to use – simply create an account using your email address, grant the necessary permissions (including location tracking when using the app), and it will locate the Twinkly Line via Bluetooth so you can connect it to your home Wi-Fi network. I had no issues with this process, and the app located the device first time, before prompting me to map out the position of the lights with my phone's camera. This also worked seamlessly, even though the lights were curved around the edge of my desk.

With that done, you're ready to start playing with the lights themselves. You can choose a solid color for the Twinkly Line lights, take your pick from a selection of preset animations, or create your own design by using Twinkly's editing tool or uploading a GIF. Some of these options work best if you're using multiple strips or something like the Twinkly Curtain, which gives you a large "canvas" to work with. Nevertheless, there are also lots of scrolling effects that are suitable for a single strip. During testing, I found the Waves and Unicorn Sun presets particularly appealing.

Some of the animations can be synced to sound as well, which is a fun touch for house parties. The Line uses your phone to capture sound for this purpose, or you can buy a separate Twinkly Music Dongle if you're a frequent partier. The Line doesn't have its own microphone.

Linking the lights to Google Home is straightforward, too. Just search for "Twinkly" within the Google Home app, then log into your Twinkly account when prompted. The app will then find your Line and allow you to assign it to a room. During my tests, the Line showed as offline at first, but became available after I briefly unplugged the strip and then plugged it back in.

When that's done, you can use voice commands to control the Twinkly Line like any other smart light, including adjusting the brightness, changing the color, and setting a schedule.

The lights themselves are bright, with good color reproduction. My only real criticism is the quality of the adhesive and its tendency to stick to the backing paper; but you could apply your own mounting tape, if necessary. The strip is magnetic, too, so if you're planning to attach it to a ferromagnetic surface such as your fridge or a metal door frame, there's no need to use the adhesive at all.

Twinkly Line: price and availability

The Twinkly Line starter set, which includes the LED strip and power cable, retails at $49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$75), but can often be found at a discount from third-party retailers such as Amazon. The 1.5m extension kit, which doesn't contain the power cord, is $19.99 / £19.99 (about AU$30). You can use one extension line per starter kit.

The Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus is longer (2m), but the base kit is considerably more expensive at $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.95. It also requires a Philips Hue Hub to unlock its full functionality, which is an extra expense for those who don't already own one. A 1m extension strip costs $39.99 / £24.99 / AU$49.95, and a single Lightstrip Plus can be extended up to a maximum of 10m. 

The Govee LED Strip Light M1 is a more affordable option if you need a long strip, costing $99.99 / £119.99 (about AU$150) for a 5m starter pack. 

Twinkly Line: specs

Should you buy the Twinkly Line?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Also consider

Still not sold on the Twinkly Line? Here are two other options you might want to consider.

How I tested the Twinkly Line

To test the Twinkly Line smart light strip, I installed it on the edge of my desk where I used it for two weeks to see how it would work when turned around the edge of a piece of furniture, and attached to a smooth surface that may prove challenging for the glue.

I connected the Line to the Twinkly app, where I experimented with the various customization options, and to Google Home, where I was able to see how it integrated into a larger smart home ecosystem.

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed August 2024

One-minute review

If you’re in the market for a smart lamp with a bit of personality, look no further than the Nanoleaf x Umbra Cono Portable Smart Lamp. With interest in smart bulbs growing, many of the brands behind some of the best smart lights are moving towards different form factors, but such lamps have, thus far, been broadly uninspiring. 

The Cono Portable Smart Lamp, on the other hand, not only offers some decent specs and lots of different software applications for immersive gaming, film and audio to help you make the most out of your smart lighting, but its unique design also makes it stand out from the competition.

Still, it’s not for everyone; when I first saw the Cono at CES 2024, I wasn’t quite sure what the fuss was about. However, seeing it ‘in the flesh’ and using it around my home has completely won me over. Available in both grey and orange (listed as Sierra), the Cono features cross-shaped feet that support the cone-shaped light casing, topped off with a beautiful, curved surface through which the light shines. Above the stem of the feet are its USB-C charging port and a simple, discreet, and touch-sensitive button, which you can use to control the light if you don’t fancy using its smart controls. These touch controls are a little disappointing, sadly, with a cheap finish that belies the lofty list price of $95 / £110. 

Like other smart lights in Nanoleaf’s sprawling range, the Cono offers 16+ million colors, tunable whites, and 0-100% brightness control, and can be operated either with its physical controls, by using the Nanoleaf app or by using voice assistants in one of the best smart speakers or best smart displays. Out of the box, the device is compatible with Apple Home, Google Home, and Razer Chroma, but also plays nice with Matter, meaning it’ll work in tandem with most of the best smart home devices. It’s super easy to pair the Cono in Nanoleaf’s app, and just as easy to add it to any compatible smart home ecosystem. In the app, you can change the color with a color wheel or with one of eight customizable presets, create your own scenes, or select one from Nanoleaf’s sprawling library.

It’s not the kind of lamp that will entirely illuminate an unlit room; nor would I expect it to be at its size and price point, but it throws a decent spray of vibrant color into the room when turned on. However, the fact that you can angle it in so many directions (or even hang it off of things!) makes it excellent for setting the mood, highlighting a design accent in your room, or just for using it as an objet d’art lamp that you can control with your voice or phone. I’d like for it to be a little brighter, though, as the output lumen sits at just 130 lumens. 

My only real qualm is its battery life. Depending on the brightness and color, the lamp lasts roughly four hours when unplugged, and only comes with a cable, meaning you might have to buy a USB plug if you were planning on having the lamp on regularly. Compared to something like the Philips Hue Go portable table lamp which offers up to 48 hours of battery life, or even the Philips Hue Go 2 which offers up to 24 hours, its marketed four-hour battery is measly. Thankfully, however, I found during my testing that it regularly exceeded this by a couple of hours. Still, I’d love to see it at least hit the 10-hour mark like the Wiz Luminaire portable lamp can for the price. 

Overall, the Nanoleaf Umbra Cono Portable Smart Lamp is easily my favorite smart light in my setup right now. During my three weeks of testing, I found myself reaching for it instinctively rather than as a necessity for this review, and it’s one of my most commented-upon fixtures when I have guests. However, would I pay $95 / £110 for it? No, I would not. As much as I appreciate its design, performance, and ease of use, this is the kind of light I’d be keeping an eye out for during seasonal sales. 

Nanoleaf Umbra Cono: Price and availability

• List price: $95 / £110

As mentioned above, the Nanoleaf Umbra Cono Portable Smart Lamp will set you back $95 / £110, and is available directly from Nanoleaf as well as third-party retailers. 

That’s a lofty price point for what is broadly speaking an aesthetically pleasing albeit middling portable smart light. If you adore the design and want it for exactly its intended use (being good-looking and as an additive light), it might just be worth it. However, considering there are plenty of (admittedly blander) smart lamps out there for far less that offer more brightness and additional features, I’d wait for seasonal sales before jumping on the cone-shaped bandwagon.

Out of the box, it comes with the lamp itself and a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and there is no power supply included. Its lifetime is 25,000 hours.

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if... 

Nanoleaf Umbra Cono review: Also consider

How I tested the Nanoleaf Umbra Cono

•  I tested the Nanoleaf Umbra Cono for a month 
•  I used it as part of my smart lighting setup  
•  I paired it via Bluetooth and Alexa via. Matter

I used the Nanoleaf Umbra Cono portable smart lamp for three weeks, using it throughout my home for mood lighting, spotlighting, and general use. I tried positioning it in various locations, leveraging the full potential of its versatile design and used the full range of its brightness, color, and tunable white settings to test how well it performed in different situations.

I paired the Cono in my Nanoleaf app as well as my Alexa-based smart home (possibly thanks to the light’s Matter compatibility) and found the device worked as expected and was easy to control.

I’ve been testing smart home tech for a living for two years now, but I’ve been passionately writing about all things smart and the Internet of Things for over five years. I’ve spent hours learning the ins and outs of Alexa, throwing shade on smart lights, and reading up on new technologies that matter, all of which helps to inform my review approach and buying advice.