Which is better, LED strip or COB strip?

The decision to use an LED strip or COB strip is ultimately a choice of what type of lighting you are looking for. Let's discuss.

Regular LED strips are made up of separate diodes spaced a few millimeters apart along a bendable strip. They're great for accent lighting, signage, and where the strip does not show. The one negative aspect is that they project discernible dots of light, which appear unbalanced, particularly on reflective surfaces or where the light source is visible.

Chip-on-board LED strips, however, raise the bar. Rather than individual diodes, COB technology groups dozens of tiny LED chips on a close-by basis in one substrate to create a string of light. This creates a dot-free, more even light that appears more professional and smooth. So if you require even lighting, such as on display shelves, under countertops, or in building architecture, COB strips usually are the solution.

And now, to clarify some related questions:

Is COB LED superior to normal LED?

Yes, in most applications. COB LEDs dissipate heat better, emit more light intensity per watt, and create a softer, diffused light. They're particularly well-suited to applications where the light source is visible.

What wattage COB light do I require?

That will vary depending on the room size and how much light you require. A 10-watt per meter COB LED strip emits roughly 750 lumens and will be sufficient for most LED strip installations. Always look at the lumens output, not the watts, since more efficient COBs will provide you with more light using less power.

What is COB in strip lights?

COB is Chip-on-Board. It's a technology for LEDs in which several small pieces of LED are mounted onto one board, then a layer of phosphor is applied. This generates so little light that it will mix into one uniform, even beam, instead of the dotted appearance you get from regular LED SMD strips.

Therefore, in short: if you want to have smooth, good-quality light with no dots to look for, use COB strips.