This magical light projector is the smart home accessory I didn't know I needed

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

ZDNET's key takeaways

• The Govee Star Light Projector, available on September 14 at $80, is just one of the five new products the company released at IFA 2024.
• This smart light projects an aurora-like display with coverage of up to 650 square feet. It has over 16 million color options and over 50 preset scenes, including music and white noise.
• Though a great projector, the Govee app is not intuitive or user-friendly, leaving you to guess how to change some settings and features. 

I have young kids who depend on bedtime rituals to fall asleep. Yes, I've created these routines, but they work for all three, and as someone who values my own sleep, I'm not about to change them. After testing the Govee Star Light projector for a few days, I've found that it makes bedtime much easier. It's more than just a night light or white noise machine -- it goes above and beyond. 

Govee recently took the stage at IFA in Berlin to unveil a lineup of new products: the Govee Strip Light 2 Pro, COB Strip Light Pro, Curtain Lights 2, Icicle Lights, Star Light Projector, and Christmas String Lights 2. These smart lights will roll out over the coming weeks, with the Christmas and Icicle Lights arriving in late September.

Also: Latest Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights are brighter than ever. Put them up this weekend

I was particularly excited to test the Star Light Projector with my kids, who all rely on a combination of projectors and smart lights at night. My toddler loves the unicorn-shaped Govee Neon Rope 2 in her room, but it's too bright as a night light since it's positioned right above her bed. To solve this, I added an affordable RGB projector that entertains her and doubles as a night light.

My three-year-old is the most challenging sleeper of all my kids, and I've definitely enabled it. Along with a night light and a separate white noise machine, my little "threenager" loves to fall asleep to lullabies. The new Govee Star Light projector has now replaced my children's entire bedtime setup, from the projector to the white noise machine to even the HomePod Mini for lullabies.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Out of the box, the Govee Star Light is easy to set up with the companion app, but you'll mainly use the on-device buttons to control it. The scenes were spectacular the first time I turned it on for my kids, who oohed and awed at the dreamy blend of lights around them, having only seen a $14 RGB projector prior. 

Also: The best smart home devices of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

The lights are stunning and highly customizable, blending to create new colors and a northern lights-like effect. The projector features a dual lamp bead design that produces a flowing light show alongside a starry sky. Beyond being a great sleep aid for both kids and adults, it's perfect for creating a relaxing ambiance or setting the mood at a party -- it's sure to be the highlight of any sleepover.

The Govee app has over 50 preset scene modes, many with music and white noise options, though you can mix and match to customize your experience. The Govee app isn't the most user-friendly software I've tested, as it's difficult to find exactly how to customize patterns and colors beyond the preset scenes. Still, some trial and error got me where my kids and I ultimately wanted.

ZDNET's buying advice

The Govee Star Light projector has changed how my toddler falls asleep and what my husband and I have to do to get her to sleep. Instead of playing lullabies on the HomePod Mini, we now play them on the Star Light's speaker and switch it to white noise after a while. 

I also don't have to manually turn on the projector for a night light anymore, which is what I had to do with the old one. This is a great option for anyone who enjoys immersive lighting for relaxation, especially if you like to fall asleep watching them while listening to the sounds of a stream in the middle of a forest. At $80, the multifunctional aspect of the Star Light projector makes it well worth it.