COB Light vs. LED: Which is Better

The direct answer is that one (LED) is an older technology, while the other (COB) is a newly developed type of LED light. Technically, the difference between the two lighting options is as follows.

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There are three LED technologies today: the new COB or Chip on Board, the earlier (and until recently the most used), and the original DIP or diode in-line package type.

• In a COB module, the light-emitting chips are tinier and make a part of the circuit board package. Underneath, they directly connect to the board, while the upper side is a phosphor layer.
• The diodes in an SMD device are larger and far-spaced, encased in a mounting bracket and phosphor, and soldered to the circuit board surface.
• DIP lighting devices are individual, single-color diodes with resin encapsulation and supplied with leads for installation on the circuit board surface.

Today, chip-on-board technology is synonymous with modern lighting. You can find it in virtually any illumination device, and it is available as lamps, panels, or the popular flexible strips.

COB LED vs. regular LED lights in construction
Resource: https://youtu.be/4rO9vWONOKM?

COB Light vs. LED

You understand the difference between LED and COB lights. Next, we compare them in design, size, light quality, beam angle, cost, energy efficiency, and typical applications, starting with the construction difference.

Design

The COB light design is more streamlined. The chips are part of the circuit board and do not have leads or mounting brackets. That means a higher chip density, about 38 times more than when using DIP diodes and nine times more when compared to an SMD array.

SMD chips are surface-connected using surface mount technology, while DIP diodes are typically through-hole mounted. Both designs result in discrete light spots but a much larger area for heat dissipation.

Size Difference

Chip-on-board lights are generally smaller than their older technology counterparts. The individual light emitters are smaller and concentrated in a small space. As a result, manufacturers can design them smaller without affecting the lumens.

SMD or DIP lighting options come in larger packages. These require more space to fit, making the lights typically more prominent on their substrate for the same amount of lumens as COB modules.

Light Quality

Chip-on-board technology produces better quality light, which explains its immense popularity today. The light is uniform, without the doting effect, with a higher color rendering index, CRI, of 70 to 80 and sometimes up to 90. The amount of glare also reduces considerably with the increased uniformity.

Traditional or SMD modules have the light emitters widely spaced. In addition to making the diodes visible on the array, this configuration increases glare, making them unsuitable for most illumination needs. It also offers a lower CRI (color rendering index).

Beam Angle

You achieve a 120 to 180-degree beam with COB technology. The COB LED light chip is part of the PCB and does not need lead or bracket support. That means an unobstructed path for the light and more coverage when used in an illumination fixture or device.

On the other hand, SMD LEDs are bracket or socket-supported, limiting the beam&#;s angle. These lighting devices suit applications requiring focused illumination, with beam angles less than 120 degrees.

Cost Effectiveness

A COB fixture is economical to both produce and run. It uses a simpler circuit and tinier diodes, plus the entire array is energy-efficient with better heat dissipation capabilities. All these properties translate to a more cost-effective option.

Conventional lighting is more costly to manufacture. Its devices consume more power and generally do not dissipate heat well, making them a more expensive alternative.

Energy Efficiency

A COB light fixture&#;s tiny light-emitting diodes consume less power and produce more light per unit weight and volume, with the conversion rate starting at 80 lumens per watt, which is a much higher energy efficiency rate.

In comparison, SMD or DIP lights are more power intensive and generally convert less energy to light. On average, an SMD rating begins at 50 lumens per watt.

Applications

The application of COB arrays cuts across virtually every sector, owing to their many advantages over traditional LED technology. You often need these if looking for fixtures to light up rooms, either as ambient illuminants or accent and decorative fixtures.

You can also use these lights outdoors, provided they are appropriately IP-rated. Standard applications involve settings where multidirectional light is necessary and include the following:

• Home ambient lighting lamps and strips
• Outdoor illumination (floodlights, bay lighting, street lights, and more)
• Photographic equipment
• Decorative or accent lighting

Traditional SMD- and DIP-based lights are still in use indoors and outdoors. Most often, these are uses that require a more focused light or those that need dot lights. They include:

• Display signs
• Some commercial lighting needs
• Older flashlights

A COB LED light fixture
Resource: https://www.elektormagazine.de

Are COB Lights Better than LED?

In most applications, they are. Chip-on-board technology is competitive over older LED lighting, with better lumen characteristics and design properties. It has a higher flux density, can be thin, and suits ambient and localized illumination.

It has a higher quality luminescence, can be super thin construction, and can offer ambient and localized illumination.

In addition, these fixtures turn more power into luminescence. They are also thermally efficient. However, SMD offers more advantages in applications requiring the array to produce multiple color effects simultaneously or where a more directional beam is necessary. These include panel displays and searchlights.

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Ultimately, the choice between SMD vs. COB LED lights depends on the application requirements. In most cases, though, chip-on-board wins, offering better performance and suiting most output, energy, or cost-saving needs, among other advantages.

Conclusion

COB LED is the epitome of modern lighting technology: higher light quality, energy efficiency, and anything else required of any illuminant. Compared to SMD or DIP, COB lighting offers more benefits and suits a more comprehensive range of uses, from home lighting to outdoor and commercial illumination.

You love your LED lights, as they have long lifespans and are more efficient than your old-school fluorescent bulbs. Plus, these bulbs are safer and feature lower maintenance costs.

However, not all LED lights are alike.

The reality is, there are two kinds of LED downlights: the chip on board, or COB, LED and the surface mount diode, or SMD, LED.

Both of these downlight options generate light that is quality. And you can expect both to last a long time and remain highly efficient. However, they also offer unique advantages.

Here's a glimpse at what makes the COB LED and SMD LED different, and which one may work best for your home or business.

Let's get started!

COB LED

A COB LED light features one mounted LED chip. Because all of the light's LEDs are concentrated in a single area, more cooling capacity is needed.

For this reason, you'll see a big heat sink in the area to dispel the heat. This heat sink is typically made from aluminium.

The large size of the heat sink may cause the COB LED to cost a little more than an SMD LED does.

SMD LED

Although a COB LED is efficient, an SMD LED has an even greater level of efficiency. That's because more lumens are produced per watt.

In other words, you'll receive more light with less wattage.

An SMD LED also produces a broader light beam, which means the light doesn't need as large of a heat sink as a COB LED does. As a result, SMD LEDs may cost less. Also, these lights feature frosted reflectors on them, which enable an even spreading of the light and hide the chip array inside the bulbs.

Why Choose the COB LED?

As a general rule of thumb, COB LED lights are higher-quality light sources. That's because they use reflectors to provide focused and controlled light. In addition, they don't feature the frosted lenses that come with SMD LED lights.

The result? You can expect cleaner and crisp light. This makes COB LED lights especially helpful in high-ceiling rooms.

COB LED's are known as a higher-end LED which gives off more of an architectural look, if you intend on living with your LED downlights long term then look to a COB, if you are installing in an investment property then SMD will do the job. 

Why Choose the SMD LED?

Meanwhile, as mentioned earlier, SMD LED lights are a great option if you're interested in having your light flood over a large area. For instance, you could use them in bathrooms, kitchens or bedrooms. However, these lights do come with greater glare compared with their COB LED counterparts.

How We Can Help

We offer a wide range of top-tier LED light options, ranging from emergency lights to spike lights and even floodlights and dimmers.

We take pride in providing lights that will help you to decrease your carbon footprint by using 80% less power. In addition, these our lights lifespans are 10 times that of their older counterparts.

Get in touch with us today learn more about our COB LED and SMD LED light options, and start experiencing their unique benefits for yourself this year.

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