Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite (camera sync)

Our analysis

The Philips Hue Play puts two light bars behind the screen and needs a Hue Bridge, with Matter and Apple HomeKit on its list; the TV Backlight 3 Lite puts a 3.6 m strip on the back of the TV and adds a small camera that watches the screen and copies its colors onto the wall. The camera is the difference: it works with whatever is on screen, PS5, Xbox or TV app, with no software on the console.

What stands out

• Camera color sync with lens correction. Because it reads the picture itself, the wall follows what a console shows, with no app running on the console.
• RGBICW strip. Multiple colors run along the strip at once, so the glow follows what happens on each edge of the screen.
• 3.6 m of length. Enough to run around the back of a living room TV.
• Govee Home app, Alexa, Google Assistant and DreamView. You can switch modes from your phone or by voice when you are not gaming.

Where it falls short

• It is built for TVs, not desk monitors, so it is the wrong kit for a PC setup.
• Its spec sheet lists Alexa and Google Assistant, but not Matter or Apple HomeKit, so check your smart home platform before buying.

Look elsewhere if

• You game on a monitor at a desk: the Govee G1 is a backlight strip sized for 27 to 34-inch monitors, with Govee Desktop and Razer Chroma sync. If you just want color behind the screen without the camera, the Govee Flow Plus gives you two bars with music sync and Matter support.

It ranks third in our five best LED lights for a gaming setup, and the full range is in our lighting category.