Key Takeaways
- The Govee Outdoor Motion Sensor is integrated with the Govee Light.
- You can adjust and customize the sensitivity level.
- Connection issues and delays may prevent proper functioning.
Not so long ago, smart home devices had limitations. Now you can set your TV to notify you when your laundry is done. No more running downstairs to check. Expanding your smart home can make your life easier, and one device that can make this easy is the motion sensor. These sensors can be used to: Light and camera .
There are a number of motion detectors on the market, but one of the newest comes from Govee. Their Outdoor Motion Sensor is designed to help automate your outdoor lighting so you don’t have to manually turn it on and off. The Outdoor Motion Sensor integrates seamlessly with other Govee products, including the Outdoor String Lights 2, which we recently reviewed. We tested this sensor to see if it’s worth adding to your lighting setup, and it didn’t come out too promising.
Needs improvement
Govee Outdoor Motion Sensor
$24 $30 Save $6
The Govee Outdoor Motion Sensor integrates with Govee products such as outdoor lighting, has adjustable sensitivity and can be controlled through the Govee app.
- Good compatibility
- Can be mounted or freestanding
- compact
- Sensitivity levels are below standard
- Delayed response
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Pricing, Specifications and Availability
The Govee Outdoor Motion Sensor retails for $30. You can purchase it from Amazon or the Govee website, where it is frequently discounted. The Govee is a battery-powered motion sensor, with each sensor including two CR123A batteries. The device also comes with a mounting tool and screwdriver for setup. It measures 3.93 x 1.96 x 3.93 inches, so it won’t take up much space wherever you place it.
The Govee weighs just 6.3 ounces. It can be mounted or placed flat on an object, but since there are lots of flat areas in our backyard, we found it easier to find a spot on a flat surface. The sensor is waterproof with an IP65 rating and can operate in temperatures from 14 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, so it will hold up well in inclement weather. The design comes with a base that allows you to rotate and position the sensor however you like.
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What I like about the Govee Outdoor Motion Sensor
Compatible with many lights
I had already reviewed the Govee Outdoor String Lights 2, so I used them to test the motion sensor. You need other Govee products to use the sensor, but it integrates with a variety of products, including the company’s Outdoor Strip Lights, Outdoor Neon Rope Lights, Smart Bulbs, and Glide LED Wall Lights. Once I had the string lights set up, I was able to add the Outdoor Motion Sensor in the Govee app. Note that you can only control the device through the Govee app. Thankfully, the software is easy to use.
The software first asks you to find a place to place the motion sensor. I tried a few different locations to find the most suitable one, and finally settled on a post near the sliding door of the house. This post would detect people entering and exiting, or walking onto the deck from the driveway. Once the motion sensor was in place, I tested it to see if it worked. It worked fine at first.
I set it up to send a push notification to my phone whenever it detected motion. I then set it up so that whenever the motion sensor was triggered, it would turn on my Outdoor String Lights 2. Creating the automation was easy, a simple if/then string. The app allowed me to choose which device to use for If and which device to use for Then. This was easier than other motion sensors I’ve tested, including the Aqara Light and Motion Sensor 2.
Control of the device is only possible through the Govee app, and thankfully, the software is easy to use.
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After leaving the sensor outside for a while, I walked in front of it to see if the automation was working well. It didn’t always pick me up, but when it did, the light came on and I got a push notification on my phone. The sensor’s sensitivity level can be adjusted in the Govee app, so I played around with it.
There are three levels and when you set it to detect motion close by, it gives you a little insight into the difference between the levels. It’s also really handy that the Govee app shows you the battery level of your outdoor motion sensor. This is a great feature so you never have to wonder when you need to replace it. It also shows you the history of your motion alerts.
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What I don’t like about the Govee Outdoor Motion Sensor
Only works occasionally
The biggest issue with the Govee Outdoor Motion Sensor is that it only works sometimes. It doesn’t always detect movement that’s happening just a few inches or feet away. And when it does, it can be too slow to react, delaying automation. Once, it took about five seconds for the string lights to turn on after the outdoor motion sensor detected movement. I adjusted the sensitivity settings, but that only slightly improved things.
Those who want to use it solely as a means of detecting motion, without that motion triggering other actions, are unfortunately out of luck.
The Bluetooth connection is also not great: to connect my smartphone to the sensor, I had to press a button on the sensor to put it into searching mode, which can get increasingly frustrating, especially if I’m not at home to troubleshoot the issue or need to know if there’s any movement near my house.
It’s also annoying that you can’t just use it to send a notification to your phone when motion is detected — you have to integrate it with another product to make it work, so anyone wanting to use it solely as a means to detect motion, without that motion triggering another action, is unfortunately out of luck.
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Should I buy the Govee outdoor motion sensor?
The Govee Outdoor Motion Sensor isn’t an expensive addition to your smart home, and if you can live with its inadequacies it will serve you well, but for those who expect it to always work properly it’s not the right choice.
Not being able to maintain a Bluetooth connection and sense every movement that passes in front of me is so frustrating that I never bothered to install it. It may improve its ability to sense movement, but I’m not convinced it’s a real differentiator for the sensor itself. Unless I’m a true Govee fan, I’m not going to spend the money on this.
Needs improvement
Govee Outdoor Motion Sensor
$24 $30 Save $6
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