LED Lighting Comparison: SMD vs. COB

There are various types of LED lights. Of these COB and SMD LEDs are hugely popular. So the question arises, SMD VS COB LED, what is the difference?

The main differences between SMD and COB LED components

SMD LED stands for Surface Mounted Device LED and is the most common type of LED on the market. LED chips are multifunctional electronic components that are permanently fused to a printed circuit board. It is used in light bulbs and string lights, as well as notification lights for mobile phones.

SMD LED chips are available in various sizes. For example, one of the SMD chips, the SMD LED 5050, is 5 mm wide, while the SMD 3528 is 3.5 mm wide. as you can see, the SMD chip is compact and almost identical to a flat square computer chip architecture.

What is LED COB? COB LED technology is the latest advancement in LED lighting and allows for a more efficient use of energy. As far as COB manufacturing is concerned, it has multiple diodes on the same surface as the SMD chip. However, the difference between them is that COB LEDs have a larger number of diodes.

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Typically, COB chips have nine or more diodes. Regardless of the number of diodes, they all have only one circuit and two contacts, thus making the COB LED lamps look like panels.

Other differences in characteristics

1. Brightness

SMD VS COB LEDs also differ in terms of brightness. The level of brightness depends to a large extent on the lumen output of the relevant chip. In general, LED lights have a higher lumen output than other light sources and are therefore able to emit brighter light. However, the lumens vary between different types of LEDs.

For example, COB LEDs have a lumen of at least 80 lumens/watt, while SMDs apply 50 to 100 lumens/watt, while the minimum measurement for COBs is 80 lumens/watt. Therefore, lamps with COB are brighter.

2. Energy efficiency

In general, the use of LED lights like COB lights ensures a high level of energy efficiency. This is why they are becoming increasingly popular and the most sought-after light source compared to incandescent bulbs.

With this in mind, you can be sure that both SMD and COB LEDs are very energy-efficient. However, please note that the energy efficiency varies depending on the lumens used. The higher the lumen measurement, the more energy efficient it is.

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3. Colour temperature

SMD's are more adaptable and offer a wider range of options in terms of colour and colour temperature. Since different primary colours can be used, it is easier to obtain different colours. It is also possible to adjust the colour temperature when you wish to do so. The chip can contain red, green or blue diodes. By changing the output level you can already make almost any colour with these three diodes.

With the COB, however, the ability to modify colour and colour temperature is limited. It is designed to emit light of only one colour and temperature. But as a result, it provides more stable illumination.

4. Quality of light

When it comes to the quality of light, SMD VS COB LEDs are also different. This is mainly due to the fact that they each use a different number of diodes, which can affect the brightness and range of the lighting.

In the case of SMD LED lights, the light produced has a glare that is ideal for use as a point light source, which is the result of connecting multiple light sources.

COB luminaires, on the other hand, emit a uniform and glare-free light. It produces a uniform and easily modifiable light beam. This is mainly because its wide-angle beam makes it a better light source. Therefore, you can DIY LED COBs as a surface light source.

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