I tried Govee Gaming Light Kit (DreamView G1 Pro).

Govee has released display lighting with the Gaming Light Kit, also known as the DreamView G1 Pro. The purpose of this set is to evoke a pleasant backlight for you while you play – approximately adjustable Ambilight / Ambiglow, if you want to compare with Philips. Unlike the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, for example, Govee takes a different approach – it has significant advantages and disadvantages.

While rival Philips producer intercepts and analyzes the video signal between them, which brings its own obstacles, Govee relies on the camera. Advantage: Don’t risk introducing extra input delay or disturbing the handshake. Nothing needs to be repeated, which also rules out HDR compatibility issues and the like. The Gaming Light Kit uses a camera for this.

Govee Gaming Light Kit scope of delivery.

You don’t have to think twice to see the drawbacks: if you’re using a webcam, you should now have a second camera that’s permanently active while gaming. Paranoid nature will probably stop reading here. However, Govee’s camera is not supposed to record you, but the screen. This is to see what colors can be seen there and adjust the backlighting based on them – with 16 million colours. If you wish, you can also direct the game via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

For the whole thing to work, you have to do some tweaks first.

Govee Gaming Light Kit Structure

If you own an expensive monitor and are one of those people who instantly removes any dirt particles and keeps their board in top condition: don’t use the Govee Gaming Light Kit in a hurry. Because setting up this group made my heartbeat race — and I’m one of those people who isn’t sensitive to my screen. For example, the camera setup process requires you to stick several blocks of orange foam directly onto the front of the board. This is necessary later to calibrate the camera.

According to Govee, they can be removed without leaving any residue. In fact, after a gentle wipe, I found no signs of lasting. But somehow I find it suboptimal that it sticks directly onto my screen sticker. But actually this is not the first step.

You can also happily stick to the back of the monitor: templates are included to attach the RGB tube, which you can also stick to to make the procedure easier. The templates are suitable for 16:9 and 21:9 screens. But you don’t have to use it if you think it will work that way. Careful work is also not important due to flexible lighting. However, you can only attach the tube once: once you have the clamps attached, you cannot remove them again. If you rip it off, you won’t be able to reconnect it to another monitor.

Once the brackets are in place, the RGB tube should be felted without pushing the clips away from the screen again. In simple language, it is preferable to wait for some time after attaching the brackets. Either way, the whole thing is really tricky and once you finally squeeze the tube into a holder on one side, it just jumps out right on the other side. Anyway, this whole affair did not bring me any joy. Especially since the brackets are now mounted to the back of my monitor – even if I decide to turn the Govee Gaming Light Kit off again. Then it will also just be junk and you will have to go straight to the garbage – it will no longer be usable for third parties due to the disposable adhesive label.

The back of my screen corresponds to the last picture below on the right, so it’s not officially recommended for the group.

note: My screen is too big for the Govee Gaming Light Kit. The manufacturer recommends using it for screens with a diagonal of 24 to 30 inches. My monitor, Eizo FlexScan EV3285-WT, 31.5 inch. However, the attachment can be done by keeping some distance to the edges. The biggest problem was that my monitor did not have a uniform and smooth surface on the back, as you can see in the pictures.

Unfortunately, I didn’t realize prior to testing that this was necessary. In the instructions, Govee at least clearly indicates this. Because of the uneven support, it was difficult to stick the mounts in a meaningful way and I doubt they will hold properly in the long run – this test worked. So make sure the back of the screen is homogeneous and smooth. Otherwise, you (like me) have to improvise.

practice test

Once you’ve glued the RGB tube, attach the camera to the top of the monitor and use the 8 foam stickers to color calibrate, you’re almost ready to go. Not only does the LED tube connect to the camera via USB-C, but two standing lights I set up on the left and right of the screen as a prop.

Calibration works via the Govee Home mobile app. Disappointingly, as is often the case, you have to create your user account there. The group is recognized via location sharing and bluetooth and can be added. Now just enter your Wi-Fi data and you can configure the lighting to your heart’s content.

In the app, you can set different effects and also set whether individual bar sections can show different colors when playing or watching videos, punches should be lit evenly and symmetrically, or whether all sections should show the same color. What’s useful: If you switch left and right with the permanent lights or something doesn’t quite fit with the RGB tube, you don’t have to flip, but you can change the settings in the app so that the left and right switch, for example.

You don’t necessarily have to use one of the RGB bling-bling effects, but you can set up slow and steady patterns or steady lighting in the colors of your choice. So it can also serve as a nice background light – especially since there is white balance. If you use music mode, for example, a light pulse occurs in time – a 3.5 mm audio cable is used for this, which is a kind of interference. You can still connect a headset.

Color accuracy is one thing: your room needs to be dark to calibrate, your monitor needs to be set properly, and a lot in everyday use will depend on your settings. For example, I use my monitor at very low brightness because I am very sensitive to light. This would make it difficult for the camera to accurately identify colors and luminosity fluctuations. However, the lighting was almost adequate most of the time. In the photo above, the edges look a bit pink, but that was because of my camera.

Content also makes a big impact: in games or faded color videos, like one of my favorite YouTube videos, “Kung Fury”The Gaming Light Kit tends to create very bright tones. Even in games, people sometimes make mistakes, for example very fast color changes, by particle I mean thunderstorms in battles in the dominant Guardians of the Galaxy. As you can see on my desk you also need enough space to set it up – it was a bit cramped for me. Side lights should have some distance, otherwise they can irritate the camera and spoil the lighting.

Annoying: According to the manufacturer, the Govee Gaming Light Kit only needs a Wi-Fi connection to calibrate, but it should always point at the monitor if it’s going to be color-adjusting. If you use a webcam, happily navigating is often the order of the day.

Conclusion

The Govee Gaming Light Kit also known as the DreamView G1 Pro is a bit tricky to set up and is actually just perfect for flat backs. The fact that the camera has to be constantly pointed at the screen and compete with your webcam for the central point is suboptimal. Backlighting also works best if your desktop isn’t mirrored, you’re using a matte panel and viewing angles and brightness are above average. You should also leave enough space around your screen, which should be no more than 30 inches.

If these requirements are met, Govee’s Gaming Light Kit is a great way to create a dynamic atmospheric backlight when gaming or watching videos, which you can modify quite freely. However, I cannot make a general recommendation without hesitation due to the very specific requirements. Also, since you can basically only attach the assembly to the screen once, after that the brackets can no longer be re-glued.

Govee Gaming Light Kit also known as DreamView G1 Pro It currently costs 149.90 €.