Summer is almost here. That means backyard BBQ and outdoor parties. This year, Govee is upping the ante on outdoor lighting with their new Outdoor Chromatic String Lights (OCSL). Instead of the usual one-bulb, one-color approach, Govee is leaning hard into customization and visual flair with an industry-first “single-light rainbow” system. Govee was kind enough to send over a set of the lights for review, and now the RGB goodness that is Living In My GameSpace is spreading across my backyard, just in time for summer.
Specifications
- Model Number: H7046
- MSRP: 32.8ft: $169.99, 64.6ft: $299.99 (Price as time of review: $144.99 / $254.99)
- Colors: RGBICW
- Lumens: 240lm per light
- LEDs: 55+ GRBIC LEDs/light, 54 White LEDs/light
- Weather Rating: IP67
- Control Methods: Govee App, Matter, Google Assistant, Alexa
- Voltage: 24V
- Wattage: 26W
Govee Outdoor Chromatic String Lights – What Is It?
Govee’s Outdoor Chromatic String Lights are positioned as a premium outdoor lighting solution, built around an industry-first “single-light rainbow” system. Each bulb uses 55 RGB LEDs with independent IC control, allowing multiple colors and smooth gradients to be displayed within a single bulb rather than being limited to a single static color. This high LED density results in more fluid animations and significantly more detailed lighting effects compared to traditional string lights.
The bulbs feature a dual-layer optical design, combining a transparent outer shell with a milky inner diffuser. This construction improves brightness, reduces harsh hotspots, and creates a more refined, evenly distributed glow. The polycarbonate housing offers high light transmission at 93 percent, helping maintain clarity and color accuracy while also giving the lights a clean, decorative look during the day.
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Durability is a major focus. The lights carry an IP67 rating for both the bulbs and control box, providing strong protection against rain, splashes, and even temporary immersion. UV-resistant materials help prevent yellowing or cracking over time, and the system is rated for up to 30,000 hours of use, translating to roughly a decade of outdoor operation.
Customization is another core feature. Each bulb can be controlled independently, allowing users to create detailed, per-light color arrangements. The system supports freehand DIY lighting design, along with more than 111 preset scenes and 12 music-reactive modes that sync lighting effects to audio in real time.
In addition to RGB effects, the lights include a dedicated white lighting system. Each bulb delivers up to 240 lumens and uses 54 white LEDs for brighter, more uniform illumination. A flexible internal circuit design helps distribute light evenly across the bulb surface.
On the smart side, the lights are Matter-compatible, enabling integration with major ecosystems like Alexa and Google Assistant. Users can control everything through the Govee Home app, including scheduling, remote access, and effect customization. An AI Lighting Bot is also included, allowing users to generate custom lighting scenes through automated suggestions.
Govee Outdoor Chromatic String Lights – Unboxing And Setup
As I’ve come to expect from Govee, the Outdoor Chromatic String Lights arrived in simple yet effective packaging. Opening the top flap on the box reveals the set of lights protected by a thick rubber foam. To prevent scratching, the power cord and anchoring hardware are stored in small boxes to the side of the lights.
The only actual assembly needed for the light strand is to attach the power cord and control box to the lights, which is done by screwing the IP67-rated connectors together. Snap-on T-connectors must also be snapped into place at the top of each bulb to reinforce and take the hanging weight off the wiring.
From there, a little bit of DIY work must be done. If you plan to hang the lights along a fence line, they can be screwed into place at the T-connector or tucked into the fence and held in place with the included zip ties. I was hanging my set along the perimeter of my patio, so I had to purchase some string light poles to hang the lights. Pro tip – don’t waste your time with a cheap set of poles from Amazon, as I did. You’ll end up replacing the flimsy things with sturdier poles the first time a strong wind comes your way. At least the lights didn’t break when the poles did.
Govee Outdoor Chromatic String Lights – Are They Worth The Price?
Here’s the deal – you can find similar-looking string lights on Amazon for a third of the price of the OCSLs. They’ll look cool, and they’ll light up your backyard parties just fine. Your friends probably won’t even notice the difference. But you will.
We are gamers. Our gaming battle stations are flooded with RGB lighting. None of it’s needed, and any time you proudly show off your rig, you get that condescending look from a person who just doesn’t get it. But we do it anyway, and we know deep down inside that the RGB makes gaming just a little bit better.
It’s sort of the same thing with the OCSLs, although your friends will notice the difference this time. Having bulbs that can display multiple colors at once will be noticed by everyone; some will appreciate it, others won’t. But as soon as the music starts pumping and the lights start dancing to the beat, they’ll notice that these aren’t the same old string lights they are used to.
Regardless of whether you have your lights in music mode, you are running one of the preset light displays, or are just lighting up your backyard with the white light setting, Govee makes controlling your lights simple. I’ve done so many Govee reviews at this point that I take the Govee app for granted. From setting timers to creating DIY scenes (something I still can’t do, but people with an ounce of creativity should have no problem), it’s all handled by the app. And just in case you already control your house’s ecosystem through Matter, Alexa, or Google Assistant, you can control the lights that way, too.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a set of outdoor string lights to hang in your backyard, Govee’s Outdoor Chromatic String Lights are an interesting, if not slightly expensive, choice. You can find a wide array of string lights on Amazon in the $50 range, including other options from Govee, but you won’t find all of the same features that you do in the OCSLs.
Sometimes, it’s worth paying the extra cost for a higher-quality item, and this is one of those times. My set has already survived punishing thunderstorms and winds that reached 60 miles per hour, even when the light poles didn’t. The multi-colored bulbs add some flair that single-colored bulbs just don’t have. You’re also getting Govee’s smartphone app, which makes controlling the lights and setting up dazzling displays quick and simple. And if you’re like me and already have other Govee lighting inside and outside of your house, being able to control all of your sets with a single app is very convenient.
My only real complaint about the Outdoor Chromatic String Lights is that one 32-foot set just isn’t enough. The patio where I set my lights up is pretty small, and the single strand barely made it around three sides of the perimeter. The set still looks nice, but if you want to create a display like the images above, you’ll need to buy one or more of the 65-foot sets. That means the display will become very expensive very quickly.
