asane

Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 Review

Online Niel November 21, 2024

From sconces and curtain lights to bright geometric shapes and things apparently named after buns or plant form factorsGovee has a huge catalog of smart lighting options (frequently discounted). There’s always something you wish any product could do better, and it’s nice when someone listens. The result of such desire is the Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2.

The Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 is the successor to its reactive RGB solution from a few years ago. It’s a flexible light strip for your monitor, two lighting towers, and a rugged hub that’s part HDMI switch and part processing unit. You also get some good quality HDMI cables.

Reactive lighting uses hardware or software to translate the colors on the screen into a dynamic light show that can respond to the image in real time. The result is a soft and immersive ambience that reacts to the scenes of your games and movies.

It’s a technology that’s been around for decades. But with Wi-Fi-enabled lights everywhere now, the Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 can technically power a home-wide solution of lamps, wall art, lights and spotlights. The use of artificial intelligence is there to offset the traditionally CPU-heavy workload required to reflect specific in-game actions without requiring collaboration between individual game developers.

Govee's AI Sync Kit 2 set up on a gaming monitor. — (Image credit: Future)

Lighting: RGBWIC
content: light strip, light towers, hub, braided HDMI cables
Power: 60W
Reactive lighting? Yes
I/O: 4x HDMI 2.1 in, 1x HDMI 2.1 out, 2x USB-C (for lights), DC in
Price: $240/£280

The setup of this kit is identical to the last Sync Box kit that I used previously. Although, while there are many similarities, there are some key differences. The strip’s LEDs now push 75 bulbs per meter. We can’t count the bulbs in the light towers, but the whole package now supports RGBWIC: bright white LEDs that extend their color temperature range.

But I never had a problem with the apparent lack of LEDs on the old model. My problem was the main hub’s lack of DisplayPort output. With the box acting as a medium between your board graphics and monitor, this popular screen locked for gaming in Nvidia G-Sync, creating a conundrum: immersive reactive lighting or smooth images.

Competitive players running high refresh rates and low resolutions were fine, with the lighting being a distracting way to make an enemy flashbang feel disturbingly real. For those looking to add some extra flair to their single-player adventures, the trade-off was not welcome.

Govee's AI Sync Kit 2 set up on a gaming monitor.

(Image credit: Future)

With no support for VRR solutions, I retired my original kit. Given the £200+ asking price, it was a demoralizing decision, akin to ditching an extra monitor to clear your space. Fortunately, all five ports on the Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 are HDMI 2.1. G-Sync, Freesync, VRR and ALLM are all fair game. Ultrawide 1440p screens can reach 240Hz with 144Hz supported at 4K. Above that, 60 Hz is the peak.

However, the 34-inch length of the LED strips means that anyone rocking a Samsung Odyssey Ark can forget it. There is a version for larger screens in some regions. You won’t get the light towers, but you will get the hub and strips. That’s because the towers are designed to sit away from a screen of equal height, extending the glare beyond the backlights.

Unlike Corsair’s LT100 light towers, the base of the tower is not illuminated. So while the lighting may stretch across your wall, you won’t have explosions extending across your desk. Without the option to choose specific parts of the screen for sampling, manually matching towers with allied and enemy resource bars is limited to what is officially supported through the phone app.

Govee's AI Sync Kit 2 set up on a gaming monitor.

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of the app, it is required for setup. Want to connect multiple devices through its Dreamview system? You need desktop software, but only after you enable phone LAN control. Problem? Despite mentioning Dreamview on the box, the app says Sync Box doesn’t support LAN.

I’ve always had issues with complicated software solutions from Govee, but this takes the cake. The poor English wording of the messy application only makes matters worse. You’ll also need to go into the app to enable profiles for supported games. They will not enter automatically. However, reactive lighting support is present when you plug everything in.

Beyond its AI capabilities that generate keyword-based ambient lighting profiles, the hub’s four HDMI 2.1 inputs and eARC output can make it an essential part of your setup. of games on the desk. You can connect modern consoles and streaming sticks, eliminating the need to change cables on monitors with limited I/O, introducing immersive reactive lighting for more than just PC titles.

Govee's AI Sync Kit 2 set up on a gaming monitor.

(Image credit: Future)

Although I can only realistically shine them against a set of brown blinds, which is understandably silly, I pulled out a pure white projector screen in the name of science.

The result? Bright and immersive reactive lighting that beautifully reflects the warm glow of Monster Hunter World’s forge (and Fatalis fire) or the chill of its snowy climes. The bursting colors of a frantic Overwatch match went just as well. Even the fluid panorama landscape of Hyrule in Echoes of Wisdom on a connected console was an added delight.

There is still a noticeable lag, and transitions can appear abrupt and staggered. But when you’re not actively looking for flaws and are properly lost in the on-screen entertainment, the effect is cheerful and easy on the eyes. Especially in a dark room.

Image 1 of 4

Buy if:

Your entire entertainment experience revolves around one space: The HDMI control switch / hub is what commands the high price here. If you can use up to 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, this is a good way to add an extremely versatile, bright and balanced reactive light to your universe.

Do not buy if:

Your installation is based on DisplayPort: The continued omission of the popular PC game port means the Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 won’t fit your setup. current. If your GPU and monitor lack HDMI 2.1 support, you’ll have to settle for some version of Freesync, which usually means lower refresh rates. It is a very expensive kit that could block another.

The Govee AI Sync Box 2 kit solves most of the major problems with the first one and most of my gripes. The lights are brighter, more colorful and more uniform. The hub also no longer locks up expensive equipment, supporting higher resolutions and frame rates, along with fancy ambient lighting that enhances immersion. There’s still no DisplayPort support, so you’ll still be sacrificing Nvidia G-Sync without an HDMI 2.1 monitor.

But there remains the question of how expensive it is. The box being the initial thorn in the side, why they won’t sell it as a standalone upgrade is irritating. If you couldn’t find fault with the original lights, at almost $300/£300, it’s a lot of money to correct a faulty one. At the very least, there’s a small chance you’ll need to throw it away if you buy another monitor.

Is it the best solution to the reactive lighting conundrum? For some, it very well could be. As long as it’s on a largely white surface, the bright LEDs help create a fascinating display with more power than before. Only the powerful HDMI switch can solve an annoying problem of the complete gaming desk.

But if your desk is just for PC gaming, Corsair’s iCUE system still feels like a more premium offering, with better build quality, additional lighting zones, cleaner software support, and a more manageable price.

Association-anemone

Association-anemone

Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 Review

Online Niel

Alarming rise in child abuse cases – FBC News

Lidl-Angebote zum Black Friday 2024: Better offers!

Kingston man convicted in 2020 murder case through DNA evidence

Declining Enrollment Force My Sonoma School Closures – A Pres Democrat editorial

Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 Review

Online Niel

You Might Also Like

Alarming rise in child abuse cases – FBC News

Lidl-Angebote zum Black Friday 2024: Better offers!

Kingston man convicted in 2020 murder case through DNA evidence

Declining Enrollment Force My Sonoma School Closures – A Pres Democrat editorial