Govee Gaming Light Strip G1 Review

Govee is no stranger to the RGB lighting game and with its Gaming Light Strip G1 it’s aiming to tackle the PC gaming crowd. While reactive lighting isn’t a new concept, Govee has implemented some useful features that help it stand out from the crowd. This, along with the cheap and cheerful price, should make it a compelling option. But how did it fare in my testing? Here is my Govee Gaming Light Strip G1 review.

Get set up

Setting up the G1 is fairly simple. The process is the same whether you pick the 27-34” or 24-26” size. First, users must prep the monitor by wiping down the back edges with the provided alcohol wipes. Then, the lights must be stuck along each edge with the cables kept tidy using the included clips. The lights terminate in a connector that plugs into the control switch, which in turn plugs into the AC adapter. In the unlikely event that you get stuck, there’s a handy YouTube video that I’ve embedded below.

The next step is installing the Govee Home App to your mobile device, with both iOS and Android supported. This app can be used to customize the G1 lighting and other supported Govee lighting. Users looking to unlock the full set of lighting options, including mirroring what’s happening on the PC screen, will want to install the Govee Desktop DreamView app.

Pick your presets

With both apps installed — one on the phone and one on the desktop — users can access a generous amount of lighting presets, in addition to integration with other platforms such as Razer Chroma, Google Home, and Alexa. RGB lighting has clearly been made a lot smarter.

After the lights have been stuck on and apps installed, it’s time to play around and configure the various lighting states. I ultimately opted for solid white lighting during work time, and then switched over to reactive lighting for gaming in the evenings.

It should go without saying that for standard lighting presets, the Govee G1 is just as good as the company’s other products. However, it’s the reactive lighting that I was truly interested in.

Enhance immersion

Govee’s “VibraMatch” technology is marketed as providing “vibrant colors through a combination of precise pixel reading, detailed analysis, and optimized 50FPS processing. It uses a unique ten-area screen division technology for accurate color capture, ensuring meticulous pixel point reading within each area and calculation of average RGB values.”

It sounds impressive on paper, but what is the experience actually like? Well, it’s pretty great. Provided you’ve got a wall close to the rear of the panel for optimal light bounce, the G1’s lights are quick to replicate what’s happening on-screen. Set a game or movie to fullscreen and the lighting is able to accurately mirror the action with a speedy refresh rate. This leads to an effect that sees the onscreen visuals extend beyond the edges of the monitor frame making for a more immersive experience.