Govee Bluetooth Meat Thermometer Review
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Govee produces seven different Bluetooth Meat Thermometers ranging from single probe thermometers up to four probe models. This review will focus on the four-probe Govee Bluetooth Meat Thermometer, model H5184, to be exact.
Govee makes seven Bluetooth meat thermometers and one WiFi meat thermometer model.
Also referred to by Govee as a Smart Meat Thermometer, the four-probe, H5184 Govee Bluetooth Meat Thermometer has a reported Bluetooth signal range of 230 feet.
Many companies make claims about the wireless signal distance capabilities of their thermometers, most are nowhere near the estimated distance.
After testing the Bluetooth range of this thermometer I can affirm that it is as advertised, achieving the reported distance even with a wall in between.
That is a great feature, however, this thermometer has no waterproof rating if you decide to place it 230 feet from the cozy confines of your house.
This could be a deal-breaker for those of you that live in rainy climates.
Also, at the time of this review (January 2022) there is no way to set low-temperature alarms in the app. This is a must if you are smoking meat over several hours and need to maintain temperature.
What about everything else?
In this review of the Govee H5184 Bluetooth Meat Thermometer, I’ll examine its features, usability, accuracy, durability, and price to determine if it’s a thermometer worth your time and money.
Govee Bluetooth Meat Thermometer
The Govee H5184 Bluetooth Meat Thermometer is referred to as a “Smart” meat thermometer on the box.
What makes this a “smart” meat thermometer? The broad definition of smart technology refers to any electronic device that can connect to other devices wirelessly and operate interactively and autonomously.
For some people, smart technology can mean some form of artificial intelligence or machine learning. This isn’t the case with this thermometer.
You can set temperature alerts in the Govee Home app that pairs with this thermometer using a variety of pre-set temperatures as well as your own customer temperatures.
The evolution of cupcake doneness, goodbye toothpick, hello smart thermometer.
The Govee Smart Meat Thermometer will alert you after you set your temperature alerts. Govee calls these smart alerts and the justification for this device’s title on the box.
Just to be clear, there is no algorithm estimating the time left in your cook, there’s only the alert temperature you input.
There is an early warning temperature alert option that you can set to notify you in advance of your final temperature.
This thermometer utilizes the same Govee Home mobile app as the other thermometers in its lineup, including the Govee WiFi Meat Thermometer.
See the review of the Govee WiFi Meat Thermometer.
Looking at the lineup of Govee meat thermometers in this review’s opening paragraph, you might be wondering what the difference is between the lone Bluetooth model (H5055) and the other “Smart” meat thermometers.
The only difference is the title. They are all Bluetooth Meat Thermometers and for some reason, only that model is titled as such.
Setting semantics aside, what are the other features of this thermometer?
Pressing the power button on the side will display your preset temperatures.
Features of the Govee H5184 Bluetooth Meat Thermometer
Here is everything that comes in the box:
- One Bluetooth Meat Thermometer
The device body comes with a little pull-out stand that doesn’t really elevate the screen to be visible. It does have a magnetic back to attach to the side of your grill.
- Four Stainless-Steel Temperature Probes
The temperature probes are 5.25-inches long with 39-inch long cables.
- One Grate Clip
- Two AAA Batteries
This thermometer, like all of Govee’s other Bluetooth or Smart meat thermometers, is battery-powered. The Govee WiFi meat thermometer is the only USB-powered device in their lineup.
- One User’s Manual
The user’s manual is pretty sparse with basic instructions on how to download the Govee Home app. The mobile app is self-explanatory and easy to use.
Specifications
Here are the reported specifications of this thermometer.
- Bluetooth Signal Distance of 70 meters, or 230 feet.
- Probe Accuracy: +- 1.8°F (+-1.0°C) between 32°F and 302°F.
- Probe Measuring Range: 32°F to 572°F (o°C to 300°C)
- Backlit Display will stay illuminated for 10 seconds after pressing the button on the side.
The stand doesn’t elevate the screen enough to be visible.
Usability
This thermometer is easy to use with all of the control functions located in the Govee Home app available for both Apple and Android.
Downloading the app and setting up the initial connection is painless and easier than most Bluetooth thermometers.
The standout feature of this thermometer is its ability to connect and maintain a Bluetooth connection.
The signal is strong and capable of going through a few walls between your phone and the device.
After walking around the neighborhood a few times I can verify the reported Bluetooth signal range of 230 feet between my kitchen and somewhere down the street.
The mobile app delivers the same amount of functionality that you’ll find on most Bluetooth meat thermometers, with one glaring exception, you can’t set low-temperature alerts.
This is odd considering that you can set both high and low-temperature alerts with the Govee WiFi thermometer, which is accessed in the same Govee Home app.
My Govee Bluetooth thermometer and WiFi thermometer are in the “My Devices” screen of the Govee Home app.
The temperature edit screen of the Govee WiFi thermometer in the Govee Home app.
The same screen for the Bluetooth thermometer, where did you go low temp?
Let’s hope that Govee fixes this omission in the near future because low-temperature alerts can be found in even the cheapest thermometers.
Accuracy
Govee states in the user manual that this thermometer is accurate to within +-1.8°F.
I found this to be true in my accuracy tests.
I tested the accuracy of the Govee H5184 meat thermometer alongside the ThermoPro TP25 Bluetooth Meat Thermometer and the FireBoard SPARK Instant-Read Meat thermometer in a sous vide water bath.
Using the extremely accurate SPARK thermometer (rated accurate to within +-0.7°F) as my temperature guide, I observed the responsiveness of the Govee and ThermoPro thermometers to the ever-increasing water temperature.
The Govee thermometer lagged behind both the SPARK and the ThermoPro TP25 in responding to the increasing water temperature, however, it was within the stated parameters of +- 1.8°F once a final temperature was reached around 131°F.
I would give the Govee an average accuracy rating.
Durability
This thermometer has no waterproof rating. If you do any kind of smoking or grilling outside it is helpful to have a bbq thermometer that is at least somewhat protected from rain.
This isn’t a huge deal if your smoker or grill is located on a covered patio or underneath a canopy.
You can also protect your thermometer by placing a ziplock bag over it or putting it in some Tupperware.
If you do a lot of smoking and grilling outside you might be better off with a thermometer with better waterproofing such as the WiFi and Bluetooth-enabled Thermoworks Signals or the FireBoard 2 WiFi meat thermometer.
Although those two thermometers carry hefty price tags, they are vastly superior in every category, including waterproofing.
This Govee thermometer also comes with a 30 day money-back guarantee as well as a limited one-year warranty.
Price
The retail price of this thermometer at the time of this review is around $40. This is a decent price for a four-probe Bluetooth thermometer.
This price tag puts it at the lower end for Bluetooth meat thermometers with four or more probes.
I consider the ThermoPro TP25 Bluetooth Thermometer to be the best Bluetooth meat thermometer in terms of features and value for the price.
Govee needs to fix the low-temperature alert issue and offer some type of USB charging for this Bluetooth thermometer to compete with the other models on the market.
For now, I can’t recommend it over any of the Bluetooth thermometers in the table below.
| Image | Title | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 | ThermoPro TP25 500ft Wireless Bluetooth Meat Thermometer with 4 Temperature Probes Smart Digital Cooking BBQ Thermometer for Grilling Oven Food Smoker Thermometer, Rechargeable | View on Amazon | |
 | ThermoPro Wireless Meat Thermometer of 500FT, Bluetooth Meat Thermometer for Smoker Oven, Grill Thermometer with Dual Probes, Smart Rechargeable BBQ Thermometer for Cooking Turkey Fish Beef | View on Amazon | |
 | Inkbird Bluetooth Grill BBQ Meat Thermometer with 4 Probes Digital Wireless Grill Thermometer, Timer, Alarm,150 ft Barbecue Cooking Kitchen Food Meat Thermometer for Smoker, Oven, Drum | View on Amazon | |
 | Inkbird Waterproof 150 FT Bluetooth Meat Thermometer IBT-4XC with Magnet, Timer, Alarm and 4 Probes, BBQ Grill Digital Wireless Meat Thermometer for Cooking, Smoker, Kitchen, Oven | View on Amazon |
Final Thoughts
The wireless Bluetooth range is the standout feature of the Govee H5184 Bluetooth Meat Thermometer. Unfortunately, its features, accuracy, and durability are just average.
I would like to see better waterproofing and a mobile app that lets you set low-temperature alerts, as well as USB charging capabilities.
Until then, there are better Bluetooth meat thermometers for your money.
- Fast and Precise: Our bluetooth meat thermometer records food temperatures accurately within 1.8°F/1°C in 1 second with a total working range of 32°F-302°F. Four 304 food grade stainless steel probes allow you to monitor multiple food temperatures.
- Effortless Monitoring: After using our digital meat thermometer, you can remotely check your meat temperature on the Govee Home app within a 230ft/70m Bluetooth range. Save yourself the effort of opening your grill/smoker to avoid excess heat.
- Smart Alerts: Get an immediate notification on your phone once the food temperatures are out of your preset range. Reduce the chances of burning your food by using the Govee bluetooth wireless grill thermometer to monitor your meat temperatures.
- Food Temperature Suggestions: Whether its beef, turkey, pork, or lamb, we have plenty of preset food temperatures at various doneness levels on the Govee Home App. This feature is suitable for everyone from beginner cooks to professional chefs.
- Detailed Temperature Charts: Each cooking thermometer probe records temperature changes for 2 hours. These changes are recorded in detailed charts that you can view on the app. That way, you can keep track of your overall temperature performance.
