Lepro ZB1 AI String Lights review — Fully customizable and waterproof lights for any outdoor setting

Lepro is back with another high-quality lighting product, the Lepro ZB1 AI String Lights. Utilizing the same great app and features present in Lepro’s lamps, the ZB1 provides versatile lighting for your outside deck or patio thanks to its 2700K warm white light capable of 50lm and millions of RGB light variations capable of 15lm.

The ZB1 comes in both a 54’ package or a 100’ package and, for the purpose of this review, I tried out the 100’ product. The 100’ foot package of ZB1 contains 30 weatherproof and shatterproof IP65 bulbs capable of withstanding anywhere from -4F up to 113F, an IP65 waterproof on/off switch with built-in mic, and an IP44 splashproof plug with an input of 100-120 V AC and an output of 12 V DC, 1.25 A. Each bulb has a base with a small hole large enough for a screw or nail, making setting up a breeze. 

Like other Lepro products, these light bulbs are RGB+IC LEDs, which allow for endless lighting possibilities as each individual bulb can be targeted to display a specific color, or you can use one of the thousands of preset patterns or create your own pattern. Whether you enjoy bright and colorful displays or warm and muted displays or anything in between, it is all just a button push away. 

If you are unsure how to create the pattern you want, you can always utilize the built-in Lepro AI LightGPM 2.0 features and simply open the app and state what you are looking for or what you are in the mood for. Light GPM is a large language model trained on color psychology and lighting design, capable of taking your state mood and providing you with tons of preset lighting patterns to compliment it. If you find a pattern you like, simply click the heart icon to save it as a favorite, making it easily accessible in the future. If you like a pattern but want to tweak it, you can do that as well, just hop into the editing functions where you can easily update any aspect of the pattern in seconds.

Once placed, you can turn the lights on and off via either the app or the included switch, but you can only dim the lights via the app. The ZB1 will remember the last lighting mode used and will automatically return to that mode when turned on, which is useful if you want to keep a specific lighting mode but don’t want to mess with the app every time you turn on the lights.

Like many other Lepro products, the ZB1 has AI voice control and Alexa or Google Assistant integration. Utilizing the AI voice control is as simple as opening the app and speaking or typing your current mood or desired lighting style, after which the app will instantly provide you with multiple lighting schemes which match that style. By using Alexa or Google Assistant, you can also integrate the ZB1 into your home ecosystem, allowing for easy control via voice commands.

The built-in mic on the on/off switch allows the ZB1 to react to music via its LightBeats algorithms, pulsing or swapping colors with the beat. You can also utilize your phone’s microphone via the app if you prefer. Both work essentially the same at close range, but the further you are from your lights, the more likely you’ll need to use your phone mic if you want to ensure the lights still hear the music.

Setup is as simple as hanging your lights, downloading the app, and turning on both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The app should instantly recognize your new lights, allowing for a near instant connection once you input your Wi-Fi info, but if for some reason the app does not see the lights, you can quickly choose your product from a visual list. After connecting you can control your lights by Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, but do not need both turned on at the same time. With Bluetooth, you are limited in range, but with Wi-Fi, you can control them from anywhere within your home.