Philips Hue Play (2-bar kit)

Our analysis

The Govee G1 also syncs light with the screen, but it is one strip stuck to the back of a monitor and it runs on its own app; the Hue Play kit is two freestanding White and Color Ambiance bars that join a Hue home, with Hue Sync for games and movies, routines and voice control. It needs a Hue Bridge for all of that, so it makes the most sense for people who already live in Hue or plan to.

What stands out

• White and Color Ambiance bars. They cover both colored light for gaming and white light for the rest of the day, from the same fixture.
• Game and movie sync through Hue Sync. The bars react to what is on screen instead of cycling a preset.
• Hue app, Alexa, Google, Apple HomeKit and Matter. Its platform list covers whichever assistant or phone you already use.
• Routines and voice control. The bars become part of the rest of your Hue home, instead of one more app just for the desk.

Where it falls short

• It needs a Hue Bridge to deliver everything it promises; if you do not own one yet, factor that purchase in.
• For someone who only wants color behind a monitor, much of the ecosystem goes unused.

Look elsewhere if

• You want color behind the desk without buying into an ecosystem: the Govee Flow Plus runs off a 12 V adapter, adds music sync and still supports Matter. If your games are on a TV and you want the wall to copy the picture, the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite uses a camera to mirror the screen.

It closes our list of the five best LED lights for a gaming setup as the premium pick, and the rest of the options sit in our lighting category.