We continue to review the ever-growing list of the best star projectors that are entering the market, and we get especially excited when brands we rate release new models.
In September, Govee released two new models to its star projector portfolio, joining the now year-old Govee Star Light Projector (Nebula), which we reviewed earlier this year.
Specifications
Size: 9.37 x 6.41 x 5.82 inches
Weight: 4.4 pounds (2.01 kilograms)
Laser: Yes, Class 1
Control: On-body, app, voice
Rotation: Yes
Sleep timer: Yes
Speaker: Yes
Projection surface: 90° wide projection covering 301 sqft
The first, Govee Star Light Projector (Ocean Wave), is only slightly different from the aforementioned model, offering dynamic water-inspired patterns as opposed to Nebula-inspired ones.
The other, which we are reviewing, is the model H609D, a disk-based projector. It projects an 8K ultra-high-definition image from the supplied disks. It still includes a built-in speaker, white noise effects and laser ‘stars’. But does it stand up against the stiff competition in the disk-based star-projector world? Let’s find out.
Govee Star Light Projector review
Govee Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro: Design
★★★★
- Nicely designed packaging
- Fairly large footprint
- Quality-looking unit
As with the Govee Star Light Projector (Nebula), the packaging of the Govee is nicely designed and stylish. It is a large rectangular box made from high-quality materials and the unit is packed securely inside with polyethylene foam. It would be wonderful to give or receive as a gift.
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Unlike some units we’ve reviewed, the spelling and grammar are correct (we often find them as a result of poor translations), which can instantly reduce the perceived integrity of the product.
This relatively large projector comes with a separate rubberized stand. The purpose is not entirely clear, except to give the user the freedom to adjust the projection angle from ceiling to wall, although other models have incorporated this functionality into their main stands. It is not a drawback, just an observation.
The unit adopts a modern capsule-style design, moving away from the American football shape seen in previous Govee models. Its interface is straightforward, with the projector lens and lasers positioned on one side and a disk tray with four control buttons on the top. It is a sleek, unobtrusive device that would blend comfortably into most interiors.
The eight supplied disks are packaged in a compact booklet, which we prefer to the individual plastic cases often used for single disks. The book format is far more practical for storing small, thin slides.
Govee Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro: Performance
★★★★
- Fast smart home connection using “Matter”
- Bright enough for use in dark rooms and on dark walls
- Noisy motor
As with the previous version of the Govee projector, “Matter” connectivity means we were up and running in seconds, unlocking all functionality in the Govee app and linking it to our Google Home account. You can also integrate it with Alexa, which we expect is just as easy a process.
As this is a disk-based projector, there is limited customization in terms of colors and patterns, as it does not offer this functionality. The stars either ‘diffuse’ or ‘gather’, head from the outside edge in, or the inside edge out. That said, there are still several ‘scene’ modes displayed on the app, that tweak things like the rotation speed, the arrangement and movement style of the lasers and add ‘white noise’.
The Class 1 lasers are very bright, even in a brightly lit room; however, the disk-based projection requires a dark room, even when it’s at full brightness.
The lasers are the most dynamic we have seen. They don’t simply rotate in a circle; the different scene selections activate some lasers, turn others off, make some bright and some dull, and some move quickly, while others move slowly. You get the idea. They are more like dancing fireflies than predictable laser dots. This was our favorite thing about the device.
The disk-based projections are attractive, but there is no indication of what each disk is meant to depict. Unless you are already familiar with nebulae or space imagery, you are essentially looking at something pretty without knowing what it represents. Disks from previous models are not compatible with this unit; the new disks use a square format, and we have not yet found anywhere to purchase additional ones.
We also noticed that most of the detail in each projection sits around the outer edge of the disk. A more even distribution would have avoided the effect of a colorful ring with a largely empty centre. Naturally, the further the projector is from the wall or ceiling, the larger that circle becomes. It is also worth mentioning that a few Amazon reviewers report that the disk images fade quickly. We have not used the unit long enough to confirm this ourselves, but it is concerning, given that we still do not know where replacement disks can be sourced.
We were hopeful that the motor noise present in the Govee Nebula we reviewed earlier this year would be addressed. The unit is pleasantly quiet at first, at least until the cooling fan activates. The fan is obviously necessary to prevent overheating, but it is fairly loud and typically switches on after 20–30 minutes of use. On several occasions, we used the projector to fall asleep, only to be woken by the fan’s whirr. It is something to keep in mind if you plan to use it as a sleep aid without white noise or music to mask the sound. If you are using the projector while watching a film, gaming or hosting a party, the noise is unlikely to be an issue.
Govee Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro: Functionality
★★★★
- Smart integration is great
- Requires mains power
- Good Bluetooth Speaker
Although you can use the on-body buttons for basic controls, the Govee app unlocks all of the star projector’s advanced features.
Setup through the dedicated Govee app is seamless — no error messages, no frustrating reboots or restarts. It just works.
20 scene modes adjust the speed, brightness, white noise track (if enabled) and laser direction. The variations between modes are subtle, but distinct enough to have standouts — our favorites being Cosmic Waves and Interstellar Travel.
Within the app, you can control the sleep timer and the wake-up timer. The unit is set to turn off automatically after 120 minutes. This is apparently designed to help increase the disks’ lifespans. We’d have preferred it to be a little longer, to account for watching alongside long movies or an evening gaming stint, but it’s easy enough to turn the unit off and on again to restart the timer.
As well as being able to pair the star projector with another Bluetooth device (like your phone) to play music, it also comes with 50 ‘white noise’ sounds — though ‘ambient noise’ would be a better description. There is themed music and sound effects, but funnily enough, no actual ‘white noise’.
The speaker is good enough for a pleasant listening experience. Lacking large amounts of bass, like most Bluetooth speakers do, but good enough for background music, podcasts, audiobooks and spa music.
This is a mains-powered unit and, unfortunately, isn’t rechargeable. In reality, you’re likely to find a good spot for your projector and leave it there rather than moving it around too often, so this isn’t a deal breaker for us.
Should I buy the Govee Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro?
Buy it if:
✅ You are looking for a disk-based projector that you don’t need to move too often: This is a mains-powered unit, best for keeping in situ.
✅ You like buying from reputable manufacturers: Govee is a trusted manufacturer of ambient lighting solutions, not a distributor of mass-produced ‘cheap’ units.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want something with a small footprint: If space is limited, you’ll want something that occupies less of it.
❌ You don’t want a disk-based projector: For that, try the previous model, the Govee Star Light Projector, which allows you to customize a plethora of lights and patterns to your liking.
This isn’t a budget-friendly star projector; in fact, it sits at the pricier end of the spectrum (unless we’re talking about the truly expensive ones). At the time of writing, it’s currently retailing for $149.99, which we do think is pretty steep, especially when much cheaper models are available and probably do just as good a job. For example, the Orzorz Galaxy Lite disk-based projector is one of the best models we have reviewed for image vividness and brightness; however, it lacks a built-in speaker.
For a good ‘lights and patterns’ style projector, the Cadrim, which we reviewed earlier this year, is a very affordable option that operates quietly and only takes up a tiny amount of space. It is controlled by a supplied remote control rather than an app, so it’s great for keeping children off their screens, too. The Cadrim would be a good option to give as a gift, whereas this Govee model would be better as an indulgent ‘me to me’ holiday purchase.
If a disk-based projector without a speaker is definitely what you are after, the Sega Toys Homestar Matataki is our top choice for a plug-in device, and the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector is the best rechargeable option. For a disk-based option with a speaker, this is the best we’ve come across to date.
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