Smart-lighting has been an easy entry point for manufacturers of smart home gadgets that work with Apple HomeKit since the company released to platform to the masses in September of 2014. Philips jumped on board right away with the Hue line of products that offered lighting solutions ranging from a standard lamp light bulb, to larger can light bulbs and even accent lighting products including light strips and more.  At that time though, smart lighting solutions were limited in competitive options and prices for these products were very cost prohibitive ($89.00 USD for a single light strip), especially products that were more geared to novelty use cases as opposed to functional.

Koogeek has aimed to disrupt the smart home industry.  They are doing this by making products that are aesthetically pleasing, functional, but most importantly they are selling the products at reasonable prices.  This is lowering the barrier of entry for the average consumer to jump right into building there very own smart home.

The Koogeek Smart LED Light Strip is just one of many examples of these products, and after getting the product in my hand I can say that it is a very comparable product to most of the higher end products available on the market today.

Packaging

The unit comes in a very small white cardboard box with a photo of the product placed pleasingly on the box.  Once the hinged insert is opened the product itself is revealed wound around a black foam insert.

The Product

LED Strip

The product is very similar to competitor products on the market today.  The light appears very bright, crisp and produces vivid colors as well as warm to cool white temperatures.  The strip is very narrow when comparing it to some other light strips we have reviewed.  It packs in a LED light diode about ever 1.25 which is on par with my original Philips Hue light strips and is more than the Sylvania smart+ (every 2.0 inches) but interestingly enough much less than the Lifx Z strips that have a diode every .75 inches.

Power Adapter

The Koogeek Smart LED Light Strip is unique in terms of how it is powered.  Other light strips we have tested have been powered by a more traditional power connection that inserts into a power adapter that can then be plugged directly into a receptacle inside your home.   With the Koogeek product, a power adapter is not included.  The products plug is simply a standard USB.  This is a unique and smart option that Koogeek has given, as the Koogeek could be plugged directly into your computer USB port or even perhaps the back of your television or audio receiver.  Most of us have extra USB power adapters laying around if you need one. I suspect that this allows Koogeek to further keep the cost down while providing a product that most people will be able to use right out of the box by adding their own USB adaptor or finding an open port on a device that they may want to utilize the lighting solution near.

Quick Setup

With the use of Apple HomeKit or the Koogeek application set up can be completed in just a few moments. Both of the applications feel similar, just tap the + (plus) button in the top right corner of either application and follow the instructions to reveal the setup code scanner.  Once the scanner opens simply align the camera with the setup code on your Koogeek device which can be found attached to the quick start guide that came in your packaging or on the back of the attacked reset control switch. Once you have scanned your code the application will locate the device. Tap to select the device and let Apple HomeKit do all the hard work.  Once the light has been added you can create a custom name for the device, add it to a specific room inside your home, and toggle to include it in your favorites.

Installation and Modification

Installation

We recommend performing the setup on any device that will allow it prior to installing the device permanently.  This just allows you to test the functionality and save you some time if for some reason the device does not work. That being said we had no such problem with the Koogeek Smart LED Light Strip and were able to move right into the installation of the lighting solution.

You can install the Koogeek Light Strip without any tools and it takes just a few moments.  As with most other light strips, the Koogeek strip offers an adhesive backing allowing it to be affixed to most clean, dry surfaces.  We recommend using some alcohol wipes to first clean the area that you wish to attach the Koogeek product.  Most of the light strips we have tested before use a pretty standard adhesive.  The Koogeek product offers a similar product that is unbranded.  We did notice that the adhesive did not feel as tacky as some of the others.  If this does end up being a problem (especially if you do not clean the location you plan to install the device) no worries you can pick up some of this tape at a local hardware store for a relatively low price.

Modification

As with most LED light strips these days, the Koogeek product can be cut down in size.  Looking at the front of the light strip you can locate certain areas that display a perforated line and an icon resembling some sort of a cutting device.  As long as you cut the strip at that location the remaining portion of the strip still attached to the power supply should still function properly.  You will not be able to reattach the excess portion of the strip that is trimmed so be careful and make sure positively sure that you are making a cut that you wish to make.

If you want to extend the Koogeek Smart LED Light Strip you are going to be out of luck.  While most smart strip products on the market today allow for the purchase of additional sections of LED strips that can be added to add to the length, the Koogeek sadly does not offer this.  While this seems to be limiting the function of the product, it appears that by using USB plugs for the product, Koogeek is most likely targeting a different user than most.  The product really caters to computer gamers or home theater enthusiasts.  That’s not to say that you couldn’t use this product for other setups but most of these targe use cases would not need to have long sections of LED strips to satisfy what they are trying to accomplish.

Operation/Control

Adjustments

Koogeek has been a solid Apple HomeKit partner for some time now and with that comes all of the functionality that is provided by the HomeKit platform.  You can control the Koogeek Smart LED Light Strips by using your iOS device once it has been paired through the use of the native iOS Home application.  Within the Home application, the controls allow for the users to adjust brightness, color hue, saturation, and power state of the device with the same adjustments being able to be made from within the Koogeek application as well.  Users can also utilize the Home application to construct automation controls that can adjust your device in unison with other devices and sensors. Such automation can be triggered by other devices or sensors, by schedule/time, by the presence of the user or users, and more. Lastly, Apple HomeKit users can use their voice to controls the lights. Invoking Siri and making requests to change the lights color, brightness, or power state.

Additional Controls/Integrations

The Koogeek Smart LED Light Strip can also be controlled through non-iOS devices.  Users will have to download the Koogeek application via Google Play and from there should be able to make the same adjustments referenced above. Additionally, these users will be able to use Google Assistant.

Performance

Testing the Koogeek Smart LED Light Strip was a pleasing experience right out of the box.  Setup was simple, quick and non-problematic. Installation was complimentary to the setup process requiring no tools and was able to be completed in a few minutes.  The responsiveness between the lights was quick when utilizing any of the adjustment options available.  The color appears to be as accurate as most of the light strips that we have tested, and the brightness appears to fall in line with other similar products as well.

Conclusion

The Koogeek Smart LED Light Strip is unique product offering in a category where being unique is difficult to come by.  It accomplishes its unique trait by not necessarily what if offers but what it doesn’t offer and that is a plug adapter.  If you are looking for a complete smart LED light strip that is responsive, boasts a long list of features, is easy to setup and install, and can be powered by a USB on your computer, television, or audio receiver the Koogeek product offering is the right choice for you. Even if you don’t want to power it directly of a device you can find a USB power adapter nearly anywhere and most likely in your own home. At a price of only $34.99 USD which is roughly half the price of its major competitors, it is certainly worth trying out for your self.