Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels: An Affordable Nanoleaf Alternative with Some Compromises
Introduction
Govee has established itself as a manufacturer of budget-friendly smart lighting products, often drawing inspiration from more premium brands like Nanoleaf. The Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels are the company’s take on Nanoleaf’s popular Shapes line, offering a similar modular design but at a more accessible price point. In this review, we’ll delve into the key features, performance, and limitations of the Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels to help you make an informed decision.
Design and Installation
The Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels resemble the Nanoleaf Shapes Hexagons in their hexagonal shape, but with some notable differences. The Govee panels feature a thicker border around the illuminated area and emit light from both the front and back, casting a warm glow on the wall. Each panel measures approximately 6.25 inches across, compared to Nanoleaf’s 8-inch panels.
Installation is where the Govee and Nanoleaf panels diverge significantly. Nanoleaf panels utilize snap-in links, providing a secure and seamless connection. The Govee panels, on the other hand, rely on thin, flexible metal strips with delicate connectors that slide into slots on the panel hubs. These links feel somewhat flimsy and do not hold the panels together firmly.
The installation process with the Govee panels is more cumbersome compared to Nanoleaf. You must assemble the panels in a specific order, and the orientation tool is crucial to ensure proper alignment. Additionally, the linking cables will bend and fold as you move the panels into position, which can be unintuitive and less precise.
Lighting Capabilities
The Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels can display up to 6 colors simultaneously, enabling smooth transitions from one hue to another. The panels can achieve a reasonable level of brightness but are primarily intended to create ambient illumination rather than provide full-room lighting.
Customization and Features
The Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels offer an array of customization options through the Govee app. You can choose from 30 preset animations, ranging from subtle to vibrant, or create your own using the DIY tool. The app also features a music mode that synchronizes the panels’ colors and brightness with the rhythm of music detected by the built-in microphone.
In addition to animations, you can set the panels to glow in solid colors, choose different colors for each panel, or utilize the app’s suggestions for color themes and scenes based on various styles, moods, and color matching methods.
Smart Home Integration and Controls
The Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels are compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to control them via voice commands. You can turn the lights on or off, adjust their color and brightness, create custom routines, and more. The panels can also be grouped with other Govee smart lights and scheduled for daily or weekly operation.
One notable absence is support for Apple HomeKit, a feature offered by Nanoleaf’s light panels. Additionally, the Govee panels lack touch functionality, which is a convenient way to interact with Nanoleaf lights.
Comparison with Nanoleaf Shapes
While the Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels are inspired by Nanoleaf’s Shapes line, they come with several compromises. The Nanoleaf panels offer a more streamlined installation experience, a wider range of arrangement possibilities, touch sensitivity, HomeKit support, Thread support, and the ability to share custom themes.
Conclusion
The Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels are an attractive and affordable alternative to the popular Nanoleaf Shapes panels. They provide ambient lighting, offer ample customization options, and integrate with Alexa and Google Assistant. However, they come with drawbacks, including a clunkier installation process, limited arrangement options, no touch functionality, and a lack of HomeKit and Thread support.
If you prioritize ease of installation, maximum customization, and advanced smart home integration, the Nanoleaf Shapes panels remain the superior choice. However, if you seek a budget-friendly option with a similar aesthetic and basic smart features, the Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels may suffice.
