Govee’s new Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism were announced at this year’s IFA, and I’ve finally had the chance to test them properly. I installed 200 feet of them on our local community center—and the results are nothing short of stunning.
These lights aren’t cheap: they come in lengths of 100, 150, or 200 feet, priced at $540, $700, and $860, respectively. That puts them at the premium end of the market, though discounts around Prime Day and other seasonal sales are common. (At the time of writing, the 200-foot set I tested is on sale for $680 on Govee.com, while the 100-foot version is $429.99 on Amazon).
Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism
Permanent outdoor smart lighting with triple-color heads, gradient effects, and robust all-weather durability for year-round decor and security.
The Prism effect: Govee’s 3-in-1 design
The Prism’s headline feature is its 3-in-1 lamp design. Each module houses three separate LEDs, angled to produce a wider combined beam or distinct multi-directional effects when used individually.
Each section can be controlled independently for both brightness and color, so scenes that take advantage of this feature look wild; you can also make use of these for DIY scenes. The Carnival and Party scene presets in particular resemble scanning head club lights, while others replicate classic effects but with a wider, more immersive cone, and as well as smoother transitions between colors.
The Outdoor Lights Prism still have a distinct conical profile though (similar to the UpDown Wall Lights), so if you'd prefer a full-wall color wash, you’ll want to look at the Outdoor Flood Lights 2 instead.
But for chasers and dynamic effects, the Prism really shines.
Luminblend technology: smoother transitions and better color
The Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism are the first of the Permanent Outdoor line to feature Govee’s Luminblend technology. This uses a custom 16-bit LED driver chip and tunable white LEDs, resulting in more accurate colors and smoother transitions than any previous generation.
The difference is subtle in still scenes but immediately noticeable in motion—gradients appear to glide instead of step, and the whites feel more natural.
Hardware and installation
The Prism modules are significantly larger than the older permanent outdoor light versions, and they’re spaced further apart on the string, at around 1 meter or 3 feet between each module. When powered on, that spacing isn’t an issue because of the wide beam spread, but during installation, it feels quite sparse.
Each 15-foot section includes six modules, with extension leads and splice connectors in the box—something usually reserved for the Pro kits. This flexibility means you can fit almost any roofline without extra accessories.
Each module comes with a pre-applied sticky pad, though you should clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol before sticking it down.$429.99 on Amazon Spare pads are included, and there are screw holes on either side if you want extra security. You should always screw it in if you can, though that's not always practical, like when attaching to gutters as I did.
Ideally, the lights should sit 4–6 inches away from the wall for best diffusion, but consistency matters more than perfection.
You will need to find a large waterproof box for the AC adaptor, though—a simple outdoor plug won't be sufficient. The easiest would be to run it through the eaves and into your loft.
Are the Prism lights replacing the older models?
No. The Prism lights aren’t replacing anything—they’re an addition to Govee’s lineup. You can still buy the Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 or Pro versions.
Just don’t mix and match them. The module density is lower on the Prism (72 modules on a 200-foot set versus 120 on the Pro), though technically each module has three LEDs sections, so they're more granular despite fewer lighting modules.
Each module outputs 40 lumens, compared to 50 on the Pro, so if sheer brightness is your goal, stick with the Pro. Maybe one day we’ll see a Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro Prism.
Should you buy the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism?
At around $100 more than the equivalent Outdoor Lights Pro, the Prism feels like a premium experiment. They're gorgeous, but still a niche choice.
If you already own the older generation, and they’re still going strong, this isn’t a must-have upgrade. The visual improvement is noticeable but not life-changing, and mixing models on the same building won’t look right due to the wider spacing.
But if you’re new to Govee’s permanent outdoor line, the Prism is an incredible place to start. It’s vibrant, precise, and packed with creative potential—and it’ll stay unique for a while before the inevitable flood of clones appears. The 3-in-1 angled design means you can get a kind of dynamic motion that just isn't possible elsewhere. While they won't pair well with previous generations, they would go nicely with Govee's happy little tree lights.
They’re not the brightest or the cheapest, but they’re easily some of the best-looking outdoor lights Govee has made so far.
