Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 Review: Extended Gaming Immersion

Bias lighting, backlighting, or Ambilight systems can be a bit of a love-or-hate affair. They take what’s on your TV or monitor, and extend it to colored LEDs at the back. Some love the immersion it adds to gaming and movie watching; others find it distracting.

The Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 is an HDMI 2.1 hardware solution for zero-latency signal analysis up to 8K resolution. It allows you to extend the experience to all your Govee lights for a stunning room-scale experience with enhanced AI effects that react to your game state. It’s the ultimate upgrade for any gamer.

The AI Sync Box Kit 2 is available from October 14th, starting at $280.

What is the Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2, and how does it work?

The Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 is a TV or monitor bias lighting system that uses HDMI signal analysis rather than relying on software on your PC or a camera to watch the screen content, recognizing the colors and repeating them to a set of LEDs on the back of your monitor, as well as some side lighting bars. This means it works with any source, and you get an accurate zero-latency analysis of on-screen content without any performance loss from running software on your machine.

If you’ve never tried a dynamic bias lighting system before, it’s a good idea to have a go with a basic system before jumping into a full hardware option like the AI Sync Box Kit 2. Govee offers free desktop software which you can download and connect to any number of compatible Govee lighting fixtures. It’s not nearly as elegant, will lose you a few FPS for the processing, won’t have all the features, and only works with Windows… but it lets you get a feel for the experience without buying new hardware.

The AI Sync Box Kit 2 comes with LEDs suitable for different monitor and TV sizes; I’m reviewing the kit for 27 to 34-inch screens, though I’ve stretched it a bit to fit my 40-inch monitor. Govee will soon offer sizes for larger TVs up to 85 inches. The kit also includes two lighting towers for each side of your desk, the Sync Box itself, and two nicely braided HDMI cables.

Installation tips and getting started

Attaching the LEDs to the back of my monitor was tricky until I remembered a tip from assembling wargaming miniatures: use a craft knife to scratch the adhesive surface. I guess this increases the surface area. Make sure you also clean the monitor surface with the provided alcohol wipes first, and use the included clips to secure the strips—especially at the corners.

For optimal effect, place the LEDs as close to the edge of the monitor as possible. While this setup works on larger monitors, the closer the lights are to the edge, the more noticeable and accurate the effect will be.

The Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 features four HDMI inputs, so it also acts as a signal switcher, with one output for your monitor or TV. There are also a couple of USB-C ports to connect the backlight LEDs and lighting bars. Since it’s a hardware solution, it’s incredibly simple to set up—just plug in the cables and turn it on. You’ll need to add the device to the Govee Home app to access various scene modes, but a basic setup requires minimal configuration.

Aside from video analysis and backlighting, the system acts as a generic LED lighting system with multiple scene modes, color cycling, and music-reactive lighting, all controlled through the app.

There are two buttons on the side of the sync box: one for power (it will pass through the signal even without being powered on) and one for input switching. Each input is color-coded with the central LED strip on the box itself, so you can quickly cycle through the inputs. But if you only have one source activated (even if multiple ones are connected), you don’t need to switch, as it’ll default to the active input.

AI Scene Recognition

Ambilight systems aren’t new—whether they use HDMI signal analysis, a camera to watch your screen, or software—so what makes the Govee AI Sync Box 2 better than the rest? The first big differentiator is AI scene recognition.

In supported games (on any platform), the system recognizes your achievements, game status, and team wins or losses, and responds accordingly with lighting effects. For example, if your team wins, the lights might flash in celebration. If your health is low, the lights might turn red. These effects override the usual color sync from your monitor, and revert back once the state has finished.

Unfortunately, the list of supported games isn’t extensive, but if you play one of the supported titles, most of which are team-based RTSes, this is a compelling reason to buy the system.

I tested it using the Call of Duty: MW2 Warzone profile (which also works with MW3), and found effects for:

• Red flashing for safe zone shrinking or incoming mortar strike
• Orange when our vehicle was being shot at
• Blue when being revived
• A cornucopia of colored lights when I won (though sadly, I only won once and didn’t record it!)

Using the AI effects is not compulsory, of course, but it adds a bit of drama to the experience. I would struggle to say it benefited my gameplay though; I sucked just as much without it.

Extending the system with Govee DreamView

The other standout feature of the Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 is its compatibility with Govee DreamView, which allows you to sync up multiple Govee lights.

Most backlighting kits are limited to LEDs on the back of your TV; some might include additional side lighting bars, but very few go beyond that. The original Philips Amblight allowed you to create an Entertainment Zone which extended the experience to your colored Hue lighting, though the choice of additional lighting fixtures is very limited.

Govee DreamView extends the Sync Box 2 Kit capability to nearly any other Govee lights, like wall fixtures, LED strips, or floor lamps.

For example, I’ve linked my Govee Hexa Glide lights on the left wall, a Floor Lamp 2 on the right, and even a Christmas tree with String Lights 2 (yes, in mid-October—such is the life of a hardware reviewer). DreamView gives you the ultimate immersive experience by extending synced gaming lights throughout your room.

When you’re done with DreamView and turn off the sync box, the lights revert to their previous stat.

How does it compare to the original Govee AI Gaming Sync Box?

There are two major improvements over the original:

HDMI 2.1 support: The first AI Gaming Sync Box was limited to HDMI 2.0, capping it at 4K 60Hz, which disappointed many gamers. The AI Sync Box Kit 2 supports HDMI 2.1, allowing for 8K resolution, 4K at 144Hz, and other higher refresh/lower resolution modes.

Matter over Wi-Fi compatibility: Matter is a new cross-platform smart home standard that allows devices to work with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and more. The Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2 is Matter-compatible using the pairing code from the app, meaning you can control basic features like color and brightness through any Matter smart home system. For more advanced features, you’ll still need the Govee Home app.

Should you buy the Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2?

Apart from the tricky installation of the LED strips, I can’t fault the Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2. Govee addressed the biggest concern—HDMI 2.1 support—and even added Matter compatibility.

This system is brilliant fun and adds an incredible level of immersion to your gaming experience without negatively impacting performance. And if you already have other Govee lights in your gaming room, the AI Sync Box 2 becomes a control hub, extending the immersive experience to all your lights.

What do you think about Govee AI Sync Box Kit 2? Tell us your opinion in the comments below.