Enjoying the Govee Gaming Pixel Lights: Stimulating My Less Intellectual Gaming Spirit
The walls of my personal sanctuary, adorned sparingly with printed images yet bereft of illumination, cry out for a touch of elegance to break the monotony of my academic ambiance. The Govee Gaming Pixel Light appeared to be an appropriate solution when I encountered it at CES 2025. However, this specialized display lacks the vibrancy to showcase my beloved 8- or 16-bit artwork in its full glory, and the audio capability is limited to simple, vintage chiptunes. If the digital art and speaker for my desk did not bear gamer-themed decals and a frame that might lead visitors to assume a daily diet of Mountain Dew Game Fuel, it would have been a welcomed antidote to the drabness of my humble abode.
Govee graciously provided me with a pair of pre-release Gaming Pixel Lights long before the company made them available to the public on May 19. It sat on my desk for months, gracing me with a scaled-down version of Samus from Super Metroid. Her resolute visage offered solace during the tumultuous days. Both the $120 32x32 and $140 52x32 pixel frames require minimal effort to set up, although they lack a battery and necessitate an electrical outlet for power. Once connected through the Govee Home app, users will have access to a variety of pre-made and user-generated effects to enhance the screen. While a static image can be assigned to the screen, the true enjoyment comes from displaying animated GIFs of scenes from beloved 8-, 16-, or perhaps a few 32-bit retro games.
Govee Gaming Pixel Light
Although it performs well within its limitations, the restricted color palette hampers its potential for high-quality display.
Pros
- Adequate brightness for most settings
- Extensive selection of art through the app
- Speedy 8-bit images displayed at 30 fps
Cons
- Gaming aesthetic may not appeal to everyone
- Low-quality speaker
- Limited color range for pixel art
Depending on the complexity of the image, the pixel light may have trouble accurately displaying each pixel with the desired color. The smaller device incorporates 1,024 lights, while the 52x32 variant sports 1,664. In comparison, the competing Divoom Pixoo-64—equipped with a 64x64 pixel field—offers 4,096 lights, allowing for a more detailed display of images. Although a 32x32 pixel image of ET might appear picturesque on the smaller Pixel Light, a fan-made 8-bit portrait of Ariel from The Little Mermaid that appears crisp on my phone suffered from insufficient color definition, lacking the precision necessary to portray fine features on her nose or hair. The more pronounced the colors, the better each image or GIF will appear. The screen is bright enough on its highest settings, but users can adjust the brightness or set it to turn off on a timer for a more sleep-friendly experience.
Images appear somewhat better on the larger display due to its wider color range, yet users will still need to experiment with various images to find one that suits their tastes. It's also possible to upload custom artwork to the Govee app, although any images captured on a phone may come out grainy and incoherent on the Pixel Light. Such experiments may yield mixed results. I found it necessary to try multiple versions of Samus before I settled on a Metroid image that didn't appear hideous. The GIFs play at 30 fps, offering a smooth, 8-bit animation experience. Divoom's similar offering runs at 24 fps.
The device boasts a 3W DSP speaker designed for pairing chiptunes with its visual display. The built-in speakers are serviceable but incapable of filling a room with sound. Even without abundant bass, they deliver an authentic retro sound, as if one were listening to a classic game on an antiquated mono Game Boy speaker. The device itself features a single control button for volume adjustment and no physical mute button, forcing users to access the app to manage their sound settings. Consequently, I often opted to forego music entirely. If you plan on using your Govee Pixel Light to liven up your gaming room, you'll likely be absorbed in the audio from the game you're playing.
For those inclined towards artistic creations, the pixel light includes a sketch mode. While easier to utilize with a stylus, I lack the time, patience, or skill to produce anything resembling professional pixel art. The device offers an extensive selection of modes, ranging from a clock feature to a stock ticker, as well as a feature to display the current price of Bitcoin, should that be of interest.
The Pixel Light seems intent on catering to the specific aesthetic preferences of gamers, with its sharp, cyberpunk-inspired contours and decals emblazoned with "loading" and "game." A simple black frame would suffice, in my opinion. The artwork, however, is the primary attraction of Govee's first foray into the gaming market. And while I wouldn't dream of blaring the Magmar Caverns theme from my desktop, there's something delightful about hearing it amidst the barrage of Metroid artwork.
- The future of smart-home devices and gadgets might find a niche in enhancing domestic environments, as demonstrated by the Govee Gaming Pixel Light, which I tested before its public release in May 2025.
- Gizmodo's tech reviews will undoubtedly provide a comprehensive assessment of the Govee Gaming Pixel Light, considering its pros, such as an extensive selection of art and speedy 8-bit images, and cons, including a gaming aesthetic that may not appeal to everyone and a low-quality speaker.
- As technology advances, it is essential for devices like the Govee Gaming Pixel Light to improve their color range for pixel art, as the current limited range hinders the quality of the display, particularly when showcasing detailed images or GIFs from modern retro games.
