TL;DR
CNET reviewer Adam Doud tested Govee’s $640 Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 Pro for about two weeks and rated them 9.0. He praised their dual-color effects and app options, while reporting that installation took three people across three days and that long-term durability in harsh weather remains untested.
CNET reviewer Adam Doud gave Govee’s Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 Pro a 9.0 rating after installing and using the $640 year-round lighting system for about two weeks. He praised its dual-color effects and flexible app controls, but reported that installation was a difficult, multi-person job; the review did not establish how the lights will hold up over years of severe weather.
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Doud’s installation used a continuous 200-foot strand along the eaves of his Chicago-area home. Three people worked on the project for about two and a half hours per day over three days. The process involved cleaning the mounting surface, placing lights in brackets, attaching the brackets and driving screws into the aluminum soffit. Doud said the ladder work and repeated screw installation were the hardest parts.
The kit included brackets, screws, anchors, adhesive pads, connectors and extension accessories, though Doud said his house layout did not require the splitters or extensions. He found the bracket adhesive very strong, but said the lights could slide through the brackets during placement. Consistent spacing from the wall also mattered: each light casts a downward cone, and uneven positioning made the patterns inconsistent.
Each fixture has two LEDs that can display separate colors. Through Govee’s Wi-Fi-connected app, users can choose a single color, combine colors, apply preset scenes, animate changes or assign colors to individual lights. Doud reported using a Halloween preset and later switching to solid blue. The system also carries an IP68 weather-resistance rating, according to the product information in the review.
The Trade-Off: Setup for Year-Round Use
The system replaces the recurring task of hanging and removing seasonal bulb strings with lights mounted along the eaves year-round. For homeowners who want changing displays without putting up temporary strands each holiday, that convenience may be appealing. Doud’s experience also shows the upfront trade-off: the $640 purchase price and a labor-intensive installation that may require several people, ladders and careful measuring.
The review offers an early account of appearance and usability, not evidence of long-term performance. Buyers weighing permanent lights against temporary strings should distinguish Doud’s positive impression of the installed effect from the unanswered question of how the hardware will fare after repeated exposure to weather.
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A Two-Week Test in Chicago
Doud tested the lights at a home in Chicago, where he said seasonal conditions include severe winter cold and hot summers. His home’s eaves formed a continuous route around the house, with heights ranging from 9 to 23 feet. That layout allowed the installation to use one long strand without the included splitters, Y-adapters or extension cables, so the labor and routing may differ at other homes.
The review describes the product as part of a broader move toward permanent exterior lighting, but its findings are specific to one home and a short test period. Doud rated the lights 9.0 and listed their visual effect, scheduling and color scenes among the advantages; price and installation difficulty were among the drawbacks.
“It wasn’t easy.”
— Adam Doud, CNET reviewer
Durability Beyond the Initial Test
The review covers about two weeks of use, so it does not show how the lights or mounting hardware perform over multiple seasons. The IP68 rating is reported, but the source does not provide independent long-term testing or a measured account of performance after prolonged exposure to Chicago winters and summers. It is also unclear how easily the installation can be completed on homes with different eave layouts, surfaces or heights.
Doud’s project took three people across three days, but that is one installation, not a standard time estimate. The review does not establish whether every household will need the same number of helpers or whether other configurations will require additional accessories.
Long-Term Weather Performance Ahead
The next meaningful test will come with continued use through changing seasons. Doud said he had not yet learned whether the lights would withstand Chicago’s extremes; the review does not report results beyond the initial two-week period. Buyers should check the product’s current price, installation guidance and compatibility with their home before purchasing, since the reviewed $640 price and Doud’s straightforward strand route may not reflect every setup.
Key Questions
How much do Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 Pro cost?
The CNET review listed the system at $640. Prices can change, and the article does not confirm the current retail price.
How long did the installation take?
Doud said three people worked about two and a half hours per day for three days. That is the reviewer’s experience with his home, not a guaranteed installation time.
What can users control in the app?
The app supports solid colors, paired colors, animated color changes, preset scenes and manual color selection for individual lights. The lights connect through Wi-Fi, according to the review.
Have the lights been proven to last through harsh weather?
No long-term durability result was reported. The review notes an IP68 rating, but Doud had tested the product for only about two weeks and said its performance through Chicago’s seasons remained unknown.
Source: cnet.com
