COB and SMD lights are different lighting technologies. Choosing one requires evaluating the application, benefits, limitations, and overall characteristics of both. This article is all about COB LED vs SMD LED lights. We will help you choose the right LED strip light for your needs.
Part 1. What Is an SMD LED?
SMD stands for Surface Mounted Device. An SMD LED is a compact LED package that is directly mounted on the surface of a PCB.
There are no leads or legs on the LED and no holes on the board. The package is directly placed over the copper pads and soldered. Each LED package works as an independent light source.
✅ Benefits of SMD LED Strip Lights:
- An SMD LED package can house three independent diodes for red, green, and blue. Which is why it offers a massive color range.
- The strip lights are cuttable and customizable. It’s possible to increase or decrease the length and customize it according to the space and application.
- The LED packages on the strip light are placed at a distance, so they are efficient when it comes to heat management.
- SMD LEDs are mass produced, so the LED strip light has a low cost per unit length.
❌ Limitations of SMD LED Strip Lights:
- You will see dotting on the strip lights if you look closely, and especially if the LED density is low.
- There is a limited number of LEDs you can pack on per unit of the PCB length, which is usually 30, 60, or 120 per meter. If you go above that, it will increase the heat and risk of thermal degradation.
- Due to separated light sources, it casts multiple distinct shadows on nearby objects.
Part 2. What Is a COB LED?
COB stands for Chip on Board. A COB LED is a packaging technology that houses multiple bare LED chips that are mounted closely together on a single substrate.
Thus, there are no individual chips with housing. The entire array of diodes is placed closely and covered by a continuous yellow phosphor resin coating. When you power the light, all LED chips work together and create a uniform lighting panel.
✅ Benefits of COB LED Strip Lights:
- The primary benefit of COB strip lights is the spot-free illumination. It looks like a continuous and uniform light.
- Produces a soft, single, and uniform light that reduces glare and eye strain.
- COB strip lights offer a 180⁰ beam angle, which covers a wider area
- They offer exceptional flexibility and durability. They can easily bend around corners, and there is minimal risk of cracking joints and components.
❌ Limitations of COB LEDs:
- As the array of LED chips is placed on a single substrate, COB lights produce more heat per unit area.
- It offers limited functionality for RGB because the arrays have only two contacts, positive and negative.
- Because of the dense multi-diode arrays, the light requires high power
- COB lights cost 20-50% more than similar SMD lights
Part 3. COB LED vs SMD LED: What are the Differences?
| Features | COB LED | SMD LED |
| Light appearance | Smooth, continuous light line | Visible LED dots unless covered by a diffuser |
| Brightness | High brightness with dense chip placement | High brightness, depends on LED quantity and type |
| Light uniformity | Excellent, no visible hotspots | Good, but may show spacing between LEDs |
| Energy efficiency | High | Depends on chip type |
| Cost | Usually more expensive | Usually more affordable |
| Best for | Premium LED strips, linear lighting, decorative lighting | General LED strips, smart lighting, commercial lighting |
COB vs SMD Brightness Comparison
If we look at the lumen density of both COB and SMD lights, COB is the clear winner. The reason is that it packs LED chips extremely close together, which produces high lumens per unit area. But when it comes to SMD lights, the brightness depends on the LED density. The higher the number of LEDs per unit area, the higher the brightness will be.
Luminous efficacy, or lumens per watt, is another factor to look at. SMD LEDs can produce more lumens per watt. It’s because of better heat dissipation. Its luminous efficacy ranges from 80-160lm/w, depending on the package quality. In the case of COB lights, the luminous efficacy is a bit lower, 80-110lm/w. The reason is closely packed chips that produce more heat.
Both COB and SMD LED strip lights serve different purposes. COB LEDs provide more uniform light, while SMD LEDs offer more configuration options.
COB vs SMD Light Uniformity Comparison
COB LED strip lights do not have light hotspots. You only see a continuous beam from one end to the other. It looks uniform at any section or point. That’s why it is suitable for exposed installation. You can install them directly without diffusers and channels, and they look great.
In SMD LEDs, you can see visible LED dots. That’s because SMD LED chips are placed at a distance. The light hotspots can be seen from a distance. However, they are usually installed behind diffusers, which reduces these hotspots and makes the strip light more uniform.
COB vs SMD Efficiency
If we compare the energy consumption of LED lights on a bare chip level, SMD LEDs are more efficient. They offer more lumens per watt, especially if the strip light is of high quality. In contrast, COB lights have a bit lower lumens per watt, which means lower efficiency.
But if we compare the real-world system efficacy, you will find COB lights better. That’s because they can be placed directly without diffusers. So, there is no light wastage. On the other hand, when you place a diffuser on SMD LEDs, 10-20% of the light output is wasted.
COB vs SMD Durability and Longevity
Both the COB and SMD have a long life because they are both LEDs. They can last up to 30,000 to 50,000 hours.
COB LEDs are extremely durable when it comes to harsh environmental conditions. The reason is that there are no exposed components. It’s more resistant to impact, dust, moisture, and corrosion. In contrast, SMD LED strip lights require a heavy-duty silicone coating to protect the chips from dust, moisture, and impact.
You can easily bend a COB light with very little risk. On the other hand, SMD LED strip lights have SMD diodes that have individual housing. Each SMD package is soldered on the board. Therefore, they can’t bear too much physical stress. It is flexible and can bend, but if you bend them at harsh corners, there is a risk of damaging individual chips.
SMD LEDs are better at heat dissipation. Therefore, they can bear thermal stress and last longer. However, COB LEDs require proper heatsinking. Without it, the lumen output decreases over time.
Part 4. COB LED vs SMD LED: Which LED Strip Is Better for Different Applications?
For Bedroom or Living Room Lighting
Product: Govee Strip Light 2 Pro
You can use either COB LED or SMD LED strip lights for bedroom or living room lighting. However, if you choose the COB light, you can enjoy a 180⁰ wider beam angle without dotting. Which creates an incredibly smooth ambient wash on the walls, ceilings, bed headboards, etc. The wash looks uniform at every place, which is not possible with an SMD LED strip. It fits perfectly for ambient lighting as there is no glare.
For Gaming Setup
Product: Govee Strip Light 2 Pro
If you want to elevate your gaming setup, there is nothing better than an RGB SMD LED strip light. The dynamic RGB colors, stunning effects, and synchronization with the screen take your experience to another level.
For Kitchen Cabinet Lighting
Product: Govee COB Strip Light Pro
COB strip light is a good option because there are no dot reflections on the granite, marble, or any polished surface. It looks seamless, and the anti-glare characteristic assists in tasks.
For Outdoor Lighting
Product: Govee RGBICWW Outdoor LED Strip Lights
You can go with an SMD light for outdoor applications without any question. It’s affordable for long distances. Plus, it has better heat dissipation capabilities and heavy-duty weatherproofing.
Explore more outdoor LED strip lights >
Part 5. High-Quality COB and SMD LED Light Recommendations
Govee offers multiple options for high-quality COB and SMD lights for different applications. Whether you want an LED strip light or bulb for indoors or outdoors, you can find a perfect option for yourself.
COB and SMD LED Strip Light
COB strip lights for indoor: Check out Govee COB Strip Light Pro. It packs 1260 LED/m for extremely smooth lighting and higher brightness. Enjoy multiple colors, preset scene modes, smart control, and independent segment personalization.
SMD strip lights for indoor: Govee Strip Light 2 Pro is equipped with RGBWWIC technology for natural colors and higher lumens. Control each segment, enjoy 100+ preset scenes, and DreamView compatibility to synchronize multiple Govee lights.
SMD strip lights for outdoor: Govee RGBICWW Outdoor LED Strip Lights are perfect for outdoors. They use RGBIC technology to show multiple colors on the strip simultaneously.
Explore all Govee SMD and COB LED Strip Lights >
COB and SMD LED Bulb
COB LED bulbs: Govee ST19 Smart Edison Light Bulb delivers aesthetics and light at the same time. They have a classic design, 64+ scene modes, high LED density (25 LEDs per inch), and 90+ CRI for accurate color rendering.
SMD LED bulbs: Govee A19 Smart LED Light Bulbs are energy-efficient and smart. You can enjoy 16 million colors, music sync, smart control, and group control of up to 50 bulbs.
Explore all Govee COB and SMD LED Bulbs >
FAQs About LED COB vs SMD
COB vs SMD LED for growing: which one is better?
For growing, SMD LED is a better option. The reasons are even light distribution, spectrum customization, and better heat management.
Do COB LEDs last longer?
Yes, COB LEDs last longer. They have a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours. They last longer than COB LEDs because there are only two main contacts (unlike hundreds of solder joints in SMDs). There is less risk of failure while bending, and they have a protective resin encapsulation to protect the chips from dust, moisture, and corrosion.
Which is better LED or SMD?
SMD LEDs are better than the conventional DIP LEDs. The reason is the compact package, wider beam, and flexibility. It’s now preferred in most applications.
Does COB LED need a driver?
Yes, COB LED lights need a driver. It’s necessary to convert the high AC voltage to low DC voltage. It’s also responsible for controlling current and voltage to prevent LEDs from overdrawing power.
Is COB brighter than SMD?
Yes, COB is brighter than SMD. Even though its lumens per watt is a bit low, it still offers higher perceived visual brightness. It does not need a diffuser, which reduces up to 20% of the lumens of SMD lights.
What is the difference between SMD 5050 and COB?
SMD 5050 is a commonly used LED package where RGB light is required. It offers millions of colors at a lower cost. However, it has visible dots of SMDs, which require a diffuser. A COB light is usually single-color, and it offers a continuous and uniform light at 180⁰ beam angle.
What is the lifespan of SMD vs COB?
SMD lights have a lifespan of 30,000 to 50,000 hours. They fail earlier because of strain on the solder joints. However, COB lights can last up to 50,000 to 60,000 hours. They have only two main contacts for the entire circuit, which means there is less risk of failure.
Conclusion
COB LED and SMD LED are two popular technologies that are widely used these days, but they have different characteristics, benefits, and limitations. We have explained the differences between the two in detail so that you can choose the right one according to the application. Govee smart lights offers a wide range of options in COB and SMD LED. Whether you need something indoors, outdoors, accent lighting, task lighting, or anything else, you can easily find the perfect fit.
