Govee announced its first solar-powered lights today. They include a 6W panel with an integrated 4,800mAh battery that can be recharged with a single full day of sunlight (though if the weather’s looking a little overcast, you can still charge it over USB-C). The Govee Outdoor Solar String Lights are available now through the company’s online store and Amazon for $99.99 and feature eight color-changing bulbs on a 34-foot cable.
On a full charge the bulbs will run for up to 13 hours, Govee claims, but that’s with their brightness limited to just 10 lumens. The bulbs have a maximum brightness of up to 50 lumens, but you can expect the battery life to be considerably reduced at that intensity. Both the lights and the solar panel have an IP67 waterproof rating, so you can leave them up all year long, even during heavy rains or snow.
The color-changing LEDs in each bulb can produce a warm white light or be set to one of 281 trillion different color options. If that sounds overwhelming, you can alternately use Govee’s mobile app to select from 100 preset scene modes or have the color of the lights dynamically react to music you’re playing. You can also use the app to monitor the Solar String Lights’ battery level and set up schedules to have them turn on and off at specific times and brightness levels to help maximize their battery life.
