LED lights have long lifespans and are more energy efficient than old-school fluorescent bulbs. On top of that, they're lower maintenance and have meant a greater range of light fittings on the market.
However, not all LED lights are alike. At it's base level, there are two kinds of LED downlights:
- Chip on board, or COB LEDs
- Surface mount diode, or SMD LEDs
Both of these downlight options give you the classic LED benefits, but they each offer their own distinct advantages and downsides.
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.
COB LED
A COB LED light features one mounted LED chip. All of the light's LEDs are concentrated in a single area and the light will appear as a single block of light.
As a result of this, more cooling capacity is needed and one thing you'll notice is a bigger heat sink (typically made of aluminium) to dispel the heat. This typically means it costs a bit more than its SMD equivalent.
SMD LED
SMDs on the other hand are a collection of individual LED chips. The appearance is a collection of lots of little lights sources, rather than one big beam. However, they may well have a frosted reflector or similar which will spread the light evenly and make the light looks like a single source.
Although a COB LED is efficient, an SMD LED has an even greater level of efficiency, because more lumens are produced per watt. In other words, you'll receive more light with less wattage.
An SMD LED produces a broader light beam, and does need as large of a heat sink.
Why Choose the COB LED?
As a general rule of thumb, COB LED lights are higher-quality light sources. They use reflectors to provide focused and controlled light and don't feature the frosted lenses that often 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 or for task lighting.
COB LED's are known as a higher-end LED which gives off more of an architectural look.
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.
SMD LEDs are usually a bit cheaper than the COB equivalent, and particularly popular for investment and rental properties.
How We Can Help
We offer a wide range of top-tier LED lights, including SMD and COB LEDs, plus all the lighting accessories and extras that you might need.
If you need help deciding between SMD and COB, get in touch with us today. With over a decade of experience and all the best local and international brands, you're in safe hands.
You can find our top downlight picks here or shop directly in our collections.