Govee’s multicolor ceiling light doubles as a low-res screen

The smart lighting company is having a busy month. After releasing its first solar-powered lights, a cordless table lamp, and an updated LED light wall over the past few weeks, Govee has announced a new multicolor ceiling light. Available starting today through the company’s online store and Amazon for $249.99, the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra is larger than previous versions and for the first time uses its array of color-changing LEDs to display images.

At 21-inches in diameter, the new Ultra version of Govee’s ceiling lights will potentially be better at illuminating larger rooms up to 30 square meters. While the cheaper 12– and 15-inch versions output 2,400 and 4,300 lumens of brightness, respectively, the 21-inch Ultra option ups that to 5,000 lumens while carrying forward a broad spectrum of color temperature adjustments from 2,700 to 6,500K.

As with the previous versions, the Ceiling Light Ultra has a backlight made up of a ring of color-changing LEDs that projects light onto a ceiling or wall, depending on where it’s installed. What sets the new Ultra version apart is a denser outward-facing array of 616 independently controlled LEDs. They can be used to display layered colors and abstract designs as part of 100 preset lighting effects available through Govee’s mobile app including dynamic reactions to music. The LED array also functions as a low resolution screen capable of displaying custom images that look less pixelated as they’re softened by the light’s diffuser.

The Ceiling Light Ultra is compatible with Matter, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings so it can be automated and integrated with existing smart home routines. It also features Govee’s new DaySync system that can automatically adjust the brightness, colors, and color temperature of the light throughout the day so it compliments circadian rhythms and mirrors your local conditions including sunrise and sunset timing.