The Festavia lights are a type of holiday string lighting that feature individually addressable LEDs, a range of colors, and various preset scenes. They have an IP54 rating, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, allowing for decorating functions on porches, walkways, Christmas trees, or stair rails.
In terms of connectivity, these lights can function via Bluetooth, but users can enhance their experience with a Hue Bridge or the newer Bridge Pro. This setup allows for automations and synchronization with music, alongside compatibility with other Philips Hue products such as light strips and bulbs. Users have the ability to schedule the lights through a mobile app, which offers a user-friendly interface. The lights support the Matter protocol, enabling integration with popular smart home systems like Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home.
For those seeking budget-friendly alternatives, Govee offers a variety of Christmas light strands. A 66-foot strand is available for $63.99, while a 99-foot option is offered for an additional $11. Larger strands are also on sale, including a 164-foot set priced at $129.99 and a 328-foot option at $249.99. These prices mark some of the lowest seen in recent sales.
Similar to the Festavia lights, Govee’s Lights 2 are also rated for indoor and outdoor use with an IP65 designation. However, the power adapter provided is rated IP44. Notably, Govee’s LEDs feature drop-style heads, which may not have the same visual impact on a Christmas tree as the bullet heads used by Festavia. Additionally, some users may find Govee’s app less intuitive compared to the Philips Hue app, and the preset scene selection of the Festavia lights is reported to be more extensive.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/826881/philips-hue-festavia-govee-christmas-lights-black-friday-deal-2025