I have to confess that technology customization is something I’ve never really put a lot of thought into. I’m a practical person; if it functionally works then I’m pretty satisfied. However over the past year or so the allure of customizing, everything from keycaps to office lighting, has become more and more tantalizing. So when the good folks over at Govee sent over the Glide Hexa Light Panels I was more than a little excited.
After installing and using these panel lights for a week I have to confess that I am more than a little enamored with all that the Glide Hexa Lights have to offer. With so many features, full Google Assistant support and ease of use there’s not much here not to like. The question does remain though, is this the best option for every gamer looking to upgrade their office setup? Grab that coffee, kick back and let's find out in our review of the Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels.
Specifications
- Current Price: $169.99 (Amazon)
- Color: RGBIC Segment Colours
- Material: Plastic
- Voltage: 120 Volts (AC)
- Item Weight: 5.37 lbs (total weight for all parts)
- Input: 24V/1.5A
- Controls: App(iOS, Android), Voice Control (via app), Control Box
Shining Example of Quality
Out of the box, the Glide Hexa Light Panels feel premium. Everything from the packaging to build quality is carefully thought through. The 10 included light panels are a fairly flexible plastic that still manages to feel durable. Each comes with a preinstalled adhesive strip on the back for easy mounting. Along with the panels, there are 10 strip connectors used to daisy chain the lights together as well as a controller and power supply.
Each component feels solid and easily connects to each part of the panel system. As for the lighting in each panel, you will have full access to the RGB lighting spectrum. More impressively though is the use of RGBIC lighting. RGBIC differs from standard RGB lighting in that it allows for multiple colors to be illuminated on the same strip at the same time. In practice, it creates a beautiful lighting experience for the user and really helps the Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels shine brighter than the competition.
Additionally, this IC (independent chip) control allows for a much more dynamic lighting experience. With every panel able to display multiple colors the options for customization expands dramatically. Finally, RGBIC lights are much brighter than standard RGB lights. Seriously I can easily light my whole office up with nothing but these ten panels. The whole system looks and feels well designed.
Plug and Play
As with all lighting systems, setup can make or break the experience. In the case of the Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels, setup is a breeze. The Govee app (linked above) makes the whole process of setting up easy, literally walking you through each step of the process. After creating a login on the app you’re asked to select the product you’re installing. Once selected the setup process takes over from there. You can pick a suggested design or create your own right in the app. Once selected, you’ll be guided through each step of the process down to connecting each jumper cable.
It was by far the easiest setup I’ve worked with thus far. The included alignment tool and mini level make keeping things in line and straight simple and the preinstalled adhesive strips mean no nails or tac holes in your wall. For those worried about the paint on your walls, I actually took one of the extra adhesive strips and stuck it to my wall when I first received the panels. A week later I was able to easily peel it off without damaging my wall.
Additionally, each panel light can be individually removed from the wall while still leaving the mounting bracket attached. This makes replacing a panel or jumper exceptionally easy and quick. The only part of this whole install I wish was different is the power cable for the lights. This isn’t a critique of the Glide Hexa Lights themselves as much as panel lights in general. No matter how you install it you’ll still be left with a power cable hanging from your lights. I did appreciate that the back of each light had wall contact points so that I could at least tuck the excess cable away and center it with the design. Despite this minor critique, I was impressed with the whole setup process.
Light It Up
I mention that the setup process is a breeze. This same design philosophy carries over to operating the Glide Hexa system as well. This isn’t to say that it lacks functions and features. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The Govee app is packed to the brim with features and functionality for the Hexa Light Panels to display(more on that in a moment). What is simple here is how easy it is to navigate, set up, and adjust the light panels to your needs. I’ve used a few smart lights over the past couple of years and this app is by far the easiest to work with.
Moving on to the features and functions of the Hexa Light Panels, I have to say that once again I am seriously impressed. All the standard functions like music response, color adjustments, and brightness are present and accounted for. However, even these basic functions have been given a premium treatment. In the case of music response, everything from mic sensitivity to sync options (internal mic or the music app on your phone) are present. You can select color schemes and styles of sync even down to the direction of patterns. It is a seriously robust system, and that’s just music sync.
There is also a full-function color mode that allows for the selection of individual panels, the creation of color schemes based on a few option selections, and space to save your own custom builds. There is also a Scene tab that allows you to set a color and pattern scheme based on a mood or a setting.
As this is a smart system you’ll also find full access to a timer system for turning the system on and off. There are four schedulers to work with full control over the time and day of the week. Additionally, there is a wake-up and sleeping feature that slowly brightens or dims the lights based on your configuration.
The final feature I want to highlight is the inclusion of Google Assistant and Alexa support. I was able to quickly set this up with Google Assistant and have had no problem using voice commands from my phone to control the lighting experience. It's a nice little extra that once again makes these lights feel premium.
Final Thoughts
The Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels are some of the nicest I’ve worked with. Everything from the build quality to the installation process is impressive. The RGBIC lights inside each panel help set the system apart from other hex panel lighting systems. Throw a seriously impressive list of features and functions inside a user-friendly app and you have a recipe for success.
The only concern I have in recommending this system has nothing to do with the system but rather the price tag. The 249.99 CND price tag will definitely be a barrier to entry for a lot of gamers hoping to spruce up their current setup, especially considering that there are cheaper (albeit inferior) options out there.
However, I have to say that the Hexa Light Panels really are in a class by themselves and offer some seriously unique and quality features. If you’re in the market to upgrade your setup and can handle the price tag, the Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels are a serious contender and well worth the investment.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Purchasing products through our links may earn us a small commission to help fund the site, not the author.
