This one $180 gadget completely transformed my home theater

If you really enjoy home entertainment, and you’re going to invest any sort of money into a quality smart TV, then it’s worth thinking about the entire visual and sensory experience. Especially if you’re considering mounting your TV, then there’s another aspect of your home entertainment you should consider: a TV backlight.

A TV backlight basically adds immersive lighting to your visual experience; the idea has been very popular for PC gaming, and increasingly, viewers who are gaming on their TV, or simply watching their favorite movie or show, are drawn to the experience as well. I tested out the latest TV backlight by Govee, a model that significantly improves upon a previously impressive iteration, and one that has helped transform how I enjoy TV. Here’s what you need to know.

4.5/5

Hub Required

No

Music Reactive

Yes

Color Composition

RGBWWIC

Compatibility

Alexa, Google, Matter

Responsive and accurate striplights affix to the back of your TV to mimic colors on screen for an immeresive visual experience.

Pros & Cons

• Bright, colorful lighting
• Responsive, accurate sensors
• Countless settings and creations

• Careful setup
• Expensive
• TV must be mounted

Price, availability, and specs

The Govee TV Backlight 3 Pro is basically a lengthy striplight that is affixed to the back of the TV. The strip is broken into four segments to fit the four sides of your TV, and includes adhesive in order to stick it to the unit. The strip is attached to a small box that is also affixed to the back of the TV, which connects to power as well as a camera that sits atop the unit. The camera looks down at the TV screen to log the lights and colors.

The Govee TV Backlight 3 Pro is now available for purchase from Amazon and directly from Govee. A unit that fits a 55-inch to 65-inch TV retails for $180, while a backlight for a 75-inch TV is $210.

What I liked about the Govee TV Backlight 3 Pro

Bright, vibrant colors for an immersive experience

I was impressed with Govee’s T3 Backlight, which really offered new and exciting ways to enjoy entertainment. I was surprised by how much the latest model improves upon that one. Video mode, in which the backlights automatically adjust to complement the colors on screen, the Backlight 3 Pro amazed. It is brighter, more responsive, and offers more accurate colors when mirroring the TV.

Calibration seems more precise; the previous model had one lens that looked down upon the TV screen, but this version features two that track both sides of the TV as one as one camera that looks directly down. There are also more points to track during the calibration process, and overall the striplight accuracy is much improved. The color range is greater, and lights were quick to mimic what was on the screen. It also seemed to better pick up on brief, bright color moments on screen.

I watched a variety of titles, but Kpop Demon Hunters was a great test due to its vivid and colorful scenes. In one scene, awash in red, flashes of blue and purple were captured by the backlight. At another moment, greens, yellows, blues, and purples were all around the border. The video mode offers two main settings geared towards movies or gaming, with four additional styles of lighting that toggle texture and flashing. It also boasts an HDR feature so that the lights better complement darker scenes. One of the downsides of the previous version was that if you’re watching something dark, the lights dim significantly, which can be jarring. This version better negotiate such scenes to up the visual appeal.

The main draw is, of course, the immersive quality of the backlight, but there are also myriad other color combinations and settings that you can enjoy via the Govee app. There are preset patterns inspired by moods, seasons, emotions, and occasions. That there are dozens of options in a bunch of different categories offers a lot of fun; if you have other Govee devices, you can sync them all together as well for complete immersion in your space. Like other Govee products, you can also set a static color and temperature, sync to music, or create your own patterns and sequences. The choices can be both exciting and overwhelming.

What I didn’t like about the Govee TV Backlight 3 Pro

Be mindful about your environment and installation

There isn’t a ton to dislike here, but there are some things you definitely need to know before investing. Firstly, all of this immersive coloring only really works if your TV is mounted. It casts light on the wall behind it, and it’s recommended that the wall be no more than a few inches away. It might work if the TV is on a stand positioned very close to the wall, but ideally your TV is mounted almost flush against the wall.

That can, however, make setting up a bit tedious. There are a few different ways to affix the lights; there are some adhesive clips you can hook the lights into, but the lights also have an adhesive backing that makes for the easiest setup, I think. Calibration can take some time as well. You want to make sure the camera is in the center of the TV, looking straight down at the screen below. You’ll then need to attach the included markers to the TV in order to calibrate. In the Govee app, the camera will take three pictures of the TV, and you will have to tell it where the unit ends so it knows what colors to capture and what to ignore. This process may involve some trial and error.

Lastly, there may be some concern among users about having a camera on your TV that’s connected to the internet for both aesthetic and privacy concerns. As for the former, I say the camera eventually blends into the visual experience; it doesn’t stand out as much as I thought it would. Privacy is another matter, although most TVs also log what you’re watching and playing, anyway.

Should you buy the Govee TV Backlight 3 Pro?

If you have a wall-mounted smart TV and you want to supplement your entertainment experience in a dynamic and significant way, I highly suggest investing in a backlight. This model is most impressive, with accurate, vivid colors and a fast response time. The video mode is the main draw, and rightly so, but the additional ways you can change the lighting in your home is also a boost, especially if you’re someone trying to make your TV a bit more aesthetic-pleasing.

4.5/5

Hub Required

No

Music Reactive

Yes

Color Composition

RGBWWIC

Compatibility

Alexa, Google, Matter

Responsive and accurate striplights affix to the back of your TV to mimic colors on screen for an immeresive visual experience.