In this blog we review some of our best downlights and go in to detail about why you should and shouldn't buy them.
We will be looking at some of our best value led downlights, comparing their specs, price, the brand and overall quality.
We will also touch on some of the best premium downights(if you're after supreme performance and design, these ones are for you). But first, we need to talk about some of the things you shoud be looking out for before purchasing.
When purchasing LED downlights people underestimate how they can change their space to create such mood and ambience. Cheaper lights can do the job, however, the amount of glare that is produced can strain your eyes and even flood the room with light, creating in result, no mood.
Only Buy From Quality Brands Backed with Warranty
This is possibly the most important thing to take note of. There are 1000's of different downlights on the market today, with many being cheap imports. It's important to only buy from leading brands that back their products with warranty. That way, in the unfortunate event your downlight fails, you know you are covered with the manufacturers warranty.
💡 Note:
Some downlights on our list come with a 5 year warranty with most of the others coming with a 3 year warranty. If you decide to buy downlights from this list, you can be positive that you are buying from a quality manufacturer that has the confidence in their products to back them with up to a 5 year warranty.
Choose Something That's Low Glare
We highly recommend our customers choose a low glare downlight with the light source recessed in the fitting. This will produce an anti-glare light output. Some downlights have the light source so far back into the fitting that it can be hard to see the light, even when standing right underneath of it. This design will output an impressive pool of light around the area. Having small pools of light will create a greater mood than having an area flooded with light.
2 downlights side by side displaying the negative affects of glare.
Consider A High CRI
The next big selling point is to have lighting with a high CRI. This will allow all objects lit to expose their true colours and not dull colours. Most of ours will have a CRI of 75, whilst higher quality lights will be 85+. Below is a diagram illustrating how CRI works.
An example of how low and high CRI exposes colours in objects.
💡 Continue Reading:
If you need more information on downlight spacing, beam angle and energy efficiency etc. You can read our in-depth guide on how to choose the right downlight.
The Lighting Outlets Best 10 LED Downlights
Our list of best led downlights is in no particular order, ranking downlights through 1 to 10 is impossible as some may not be suitable for certain applications. We've been selling downlights for years and we've seen many downlight brands come and go. The below list reviews not only some of the best downlights we've seen but also some of the best downlight manufacturers that have built their reputations from years in the industry.
This LED downlight is from Australia's leading lighting wholesaler Havit Lighting, they have met the crazy low margin downlight market but with a difference, Havit has not compromised on the quality.
Havit Lighting has one of the best brand reputations in the industry with the highest quality lighting, with the best before and after-sale service. Every supplier nowadays will save on the cost by using cheap materials like plastic or using low quality LED chips and drivers.
Full Aluminium Body
This downlight has a full aluminium body instead of plastic, this increases the heat dissipation and runs the downlight at a much lower temperature which means the LED's will not burn out and last much longer.
90+ CRI
This downlight has a CRI 90+. Most downlights these days will have a CRI of 80 or under. A high CRI will portray the colours to their truest form and not dull. Typically downlights with this high CRI will be at least $40 each.
The HV5527T model has a 120 degree beam angle. Having a larger beam angle generally means you can light a larger area with fewer downlights.
IC4 Rated
When a downlight is IC4 rated it means insulation can be installed straight over the top of the downlight due to it's low heat.
Tri-Colour Technology
This Havit downlight has the ability to have 3 different colour temperatures all from a flick of switch on the back. (Warm White 3000K, Cool White 4000K or Daylight 5500K).
It's safe to say, this downlight is probably the best value downlight on the market today. You won't find a downlight backed by a 5 year warranty, 90+ CRI and a full aluminium body - this one comes in at $20.99. You can view more on the product below.
The Mercator Optica Trio is a great downlight from Mercator, it's next level in price, performance and quality. Mercator has even backed this downlight with a 3 year commercial warranty.
Full Aluminium Body
Most of the downlights in this price range are made up of plastic but with the optica, it’s a full body aluminium.
>85 CRI (Colour Rendering Index)
Although it’s not the highest CRI rating on our list of best led downlights, a CRI of 85 is still high for a downlight at this price.
Colour Temperature Changing Switch (3000k, 4000k and 5000k)
The Optica also comes with the switch on the back to flick through warm, cool and daylight all in one. Again a great feature for a change in mind or perhaps a want to change the mood later on in your home.
Design / Style
The Optica not only performs well but looks neat in its design and style. It is available in white, polished silver and matt black with a slightly recessed face. Having a recessed face lowers the glare level, I strongly urge customers to get this rather than the flush face.
IC4 Rated
The optica is also IC4 rated which means insulation can be installed straight over the top of the downlight due to its low heat.
Warranty
The optica trio includes a 3 year commercial warranty, this means you can have it run continuously 24/7 and it will still last the distance. Plastic downlights will simply burn out under this test.
Additional
When it comes to lighting products, if a manufacturer is going to back their product with a 5 year warranty you can be generally confident that you are purchasing something quality.
These have been very good to The Lighting Outlet for a while now, due to its perfect balance of value and looks. When buying LED downlights, we recommend buying high quality brands and Domus is certainly that.
Colour Temperature Changing Switch (3000k, 4000k and 5000k)
A great feature with this downlight is the colour changing LED switch on the back of the fitting, allowing you to change from warm white 3000k, cool white 4000k and daylight at 5500k.
CRI > 83
Again, it’s not the highest CRI rating on our top downlights list, but coming in at a CRI of 83 is still decent and some people won't even know the difference.
Efficient with Good Lumen Output
The bliss and boost downlight are very efficient at only 10w, all while outputting a great 800 lumens, which is around double the old 20w halogen downlights.
High IP rating
IP rating is how resistant the light is against dust and water. The bliss and boost has an IP rating of 54 which is at the higher end for downlights at this price with most coming in at 44 or below.
Warranty
They are fully dimmable and are backed with a 3 year warranty, with an average lifespan of 50,000 hours.
Design & Style
This downlight comes in a flush face(The Bliss) and a recessed face(The Boost). We recommend choosing the boost model to our customers because they give off less glare and yet still throw a wide angle of 90 degrees.
Additional
These downlights are one our most requested by electricians, further highlighting their efficiency. Electricians will not choose a light they estimate will need to be replaced in a year or so. Their name and company is on the line, and with their full support of the Bliss & Boost, you know you cannot go wrong.
It is very hard to choose which LED downlight to buy these days with such an extensive range on the market. However, The Lighting Outlet can confidently say Blitz and Titan are one of our best to date, as they have the highest lumen output for this price range.
Colour Temperature Changing Switch (3000k, 4000k and 5000k)
Some other great features include their colour changing temperature switch (located on the back), great for entertaining or matching newly painted lounge room walls.
>80 CRI (Colour Rendering Index)
A CRI of around 80 is generally considered pretty standard for downlights these days. This won’t matter for some people, although, if CRI matters to you than there are better options for the price.
High Lumen Output
Whilst the majority of companies compromise, offering less wattage for the same price, the Blitz and Titan offer value for brightness.
Aluminium Fascia with Polycarbonate Body
These downlights also have a polycarbonate body, meaning you don’t have to worry about rust or corrosion.
Warranty
Martec back the Blitz and Titan with a 3 year replacement warranty, although it’s not the longest warranty offered on our list, It’s still a high warranty for the lighting industry.
Design & Style
Similar to the previous downlight, this model also comes in a flush face(The Blitz) and a recessed face(The Titan). We recommend choosing the Titan model to our customers because they give off less glare and yet still throw a wide angle of 100 degrees.
Additional
Finally, these downlights life expectancy is over 50,000, equivalent to over 10 years, while also being able to fully dim down to 10%. Overall, a great, bright LED downlight unit with a very low failure rate.
The RESILED Gimble LED Downlight by Trend Lighting.
Trend lighting is going to be heavily featured in this list because when it comes to high quality, premium downlights, they are purely in a league of their own. This downlight is engineered for value. The price of this downlight is well priced for what you get out of it.
Full Aluminium Body
This downlight is made in full of aluminium which helps the heat dissipation considerably as to plastic competitors.
High 90+ CRI (Colour Rendering Index)
The colour rendering index of this downlight is great with a CRI 90+ which will portray all your homes textures and colours to their truest form. This is a very underrated feature that you will see more people look to and understand over the next couple of years.
Warranty
This downlight ticks all the boxes with great value, style, material, brand and backed with a 5 year warranty. This is why this downlight has been one of our most popular for over 5 years.
Additional
This downlight has a 90mm cut out and is a similar style which most people are familiar with the gimbal adjustable face. The driver is separate which is always better for longer lasting downlight with a flex and plug for DIY install if plug bases have been installed.
The only downside to this downlight is that you will have to choose what colour temperature you want at time of purchase as these do not have a CCT switch.
The XDK10 Trimless LED Downlight by Trend Lighting.
Our customers simply love their investment on trend downlights. This downlight in particular is well and truly the best looking downlight that I have sold, I have even used this downlight in my own home and am ecstatic with the finish and performance. Lighting is so underrated, treat yourself to a high quality light like this and you will sit there and admire them constantly like I do.
Full aluminium body
With an aluminium body this downlight can withstand higher temperatures. The LEDs won't burn out as quickly because they're running at lower temps, meaning that you'll have a longer life span for your investment!
High Lumen Output
As for the performance, this trend downlight blows everything out of the park, a Japanese COB LED chip is used for the light output and produces around 1400 lumens at only 10 watts. For reference, a typical 13 watt downlight only puts out around 1000 lumens, this makes around 40% more efficient to rival competitors.
High 90+ CRI (Colour Rendering Index)
The CRI on this downlight is also extremely high at 90 with the option to choose the "Vivid" option which gives off just under 100 CRI. I highly recommend selecting the 2700k as this will create the highest ambience a downlight can possibly achieve. One last great selling point to the XDK10 by trend is the cut out which is 76-92mm this means it fits most existing cut out or they can easily be cut to suit.
Warranty
Another high quality LED Downlight backed by Trend Lightings 5 year warranty.
Design & Style
When installed the architectural & trimless design makes it look like you don't even have downlights installed unless you are standing directly under it.
Additional
Trend’s products are not just unbelievable but they are also unmatched with their before and after sales service, if there’s any issue at all with their lights they will rectify immediately.
The XDK10 Trimless LED Downlight by Trend Lighting.
This downlight is seriously impressive for the quality numbers it puts out compared to its incredibly affordable price.
Full aluminium body
Another full aluminium body downlight from Trend Lighting. The aluminum body helps transfer heat away from your lights so they never burn out before their time.
High Lumen Output
The lumen output is around 1400 at only 10w, making it one of the most efficient we have seen to date.
High 90+ CRI (Colour Rendering Index)
The CRI colour rendering is at an outstanding 90, which further highlights its quality, as the average downlight is around the 75 mark.
💡 Note
This downlight also has an option to choose the Vivid model which has almost a CRI>100. There is nothing in Australia that offers this rating, the colours and textures in your home will pop and come to life.
High IP Rating
This ceiling downlight has an IP65, which is the highest on the list, allowing you to use it all throughout your home including wet areas and outdoors.
Warranty
Trend are backing this downlight with a respectable 3 year warranty and a lifespan of 50,000. This is due to its large heat sink, created to handle the high output and lifespan. It has not failed to impress every customer we sell this to is glad they invested in such a good downlight.
Design & Style
With 3 colour options to choose from (white, black and silver) this downlight would look great in just about any application.
The AT9029 series by Atom has been a proven seller now for years, this is down to its simplicity and flexibility to use the same light output but different frame shapes to suit every application.
Narrow Beam Angle
Having a narrow beam angle can be good or bad, it all depends on your application and requirements. This LED downlight has a narrower beam of 60 degrees as opposed to most downlights these days of around 100 degrees. Having a narrow beam creates extra ambience by creating pools of lights instead of flooding an area which can sometimes cause glare.
💡 Note:
A narrower beam angle will generally mean you will need to purchase more downlights to light an area compared to something with a 100 degree beam angle.
Lower Lumen Output
This downlight produces 12w at around 850 lumens which is not that efficient compared to other downlights on this list.
High 90+ CRI (Colour Rendering Index)
The CRI 90+ makes it a high quality light output to show off textures such as timber or marble perfectly as in daylight or lighting up your favorite artwork with the colours popping.
Warranty
This downlight is backed with 3 years warranty and its built to create mood and and suit all applications including commercial.
Design & Style
One great feature the AT9029 series is it's flexibility in design. With multiple different frame shapes to choose this downlight can suit many different applications.
Additional
This downlight is fully dimmable and from a high quality brand, Atom Lighting, these guys have been in the downlight game for over 20 years and is by far not a cheap import.
The 20716/05 RGBW WIFI LED Downlight by Brilliant Lighting .
Brilliant Lighting have done so well with their smart range, they have over 100 products which you can use all throughout your home and having them all controlled in one place just makes it so easy to use and maintain.
Smart Phone Control
This LED downlight is not your typical fixture but it allows so much flexibility with the colour output as you have over 16 million colours at your disposal all from your phone when using the Brilliant Lighting App.
The integration is very simple to set up and you can set times of the day to switch them on by themselves which makes it great for when you’re away from extended periods.
Alexa hubs or Google Home Enabled
Control from anywhere via app or voice control using Alexa hubs or Google Home devices.
Advanced Colour Changing Control (16 million colour options)
Not only do you have access to all 16 million colours and the RGB colour spectrum but you have your traditional colours such as warm white, cool white and daylight. You can select the perfect kelvin for your mood at anytime, if you are having people over put a bright white light to get that party started or if you are looking to unwind and relax put down to soothing 2100k extra warm candle like light.
Multiple Dimming Options
This light is fully dimmable either on the wall or through the app and runs at 800 lumens.
5 Year Warranty
Brilliant Lighting has backed this smart downlight with a 5 year warranty. Having such a large warranty gives the buyer extra piece of mind.
Additional
The list of features of this LED smart downlight goes on and on click the link below and view all of this light's great features. When it comes to smart lighting, make the extra investment and buy from brands which have done it right, Brilliant Lighting are the best in Australia for smart lighting, they have done a superb job with the simple set up and easy to use app.
The Nella Surface Mounted LED Downlights by Havit Lighting.
This downlight not only offers great performance, but gives a great modern architectural look. It is guaranteed to be a feature that visitors are sure to comment on for its sleek appearance and design.
Surface Mounted
This light is very handy for concrete ceilings, as well as convenient for avoid cutting holes in your roof, which may be difficult to replace with the same size later on.
120 Degree Beam Angle
The Nellas come with a 120 degree beam angle, one of the largest beam angles on our list. Having a larger beam angle generally means you can light a larger area with fewer lights.
Tri-Colour Technology
This Havit downlight is also backed with Havit’s Tri-Colour Technology which has the ability to have 3 different colour temperatures all from a flick of switch on the back.
>80 CRI (Colour Rendering Index)
Definitely not the highest CRI on our list of top 10 downlights. The CRI on the Nellas come in at around 80 but this is generally considered standard for downlights these days.
Warranty
Although not the best on our list, this downlight is backed with 2 years warranty which is actually pretty decent for a surface mounted downlight.
Design & Style
These downlights also can be purchased with an extension so that you can double the height and give more of a statement. It comes in black and white, as well as 3 different sizes (8w, 12w & 18w) so you can have the perfect size throughout each room of your home including outdoors.
Additional
The Nella downlights light source is recessed at the back of the fitting with a frosted face, allowing very little glare to produce from the light output. They are also dimmable, so you don't have to worry about being too bright as with a dimmer you can choose the perfect brightness and mood.
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