When buying LED strips, you may come across numbers like 2835, 3528, and 5050. These numbers refer to the size of the LED chips, indicating their dimensions in millimeters. Understanding these numbers is crucial because they impact the brightness, power consumption, and application suitability of LED strips.

Before you start, are you new to LEDs? A few resources:

What is RGB Lighting? Top 5 RGB LED Strips & Lights

How to Choose LED Strip Color Temperature?

How to Wire LED Strip Lights: A Comprehensive Guide (Diagram Included)

How to Connect LED Strip to Power Supply?

What Does “SMD” Mean?

When you see “SMD” before the numbers (like SMD 3528), it stands for Surface Mounted Device. This indicates that the LED chip is mounted directly onto the light strip without using wires. This surface mounting technology is what makes flexible and versatile LED light strips possible.

What Do the Numbers Mean?

The numbers that follow “SMD” (such as 3528, 2835, or 5050) refer to the physical size of the LED chip in millimeters:

• SMD 3528: These chips are 3.5mm wide and 2.8mm long.
• SMD 5050: These chips are 5.0mm wide and 5.0mm long.
• SMD 2835: These chips are 2.8mm wide and 3.5mm long.

It’s important to note that the size of the chip does not directly indicate its brightness or performance; other factors, like the efficiency of the chip and the technology used, play a significant role.

Different Types of SMD LED Chips

1. SMD 3528:
   • Characteristics: The most common type of LED chip used for light strips, offering moderate brightness and low power consumption.
   • Usage: Ideal for accent lighting, such as above kitchen cabinets or around crown molding. Previously used in HitLights’ Luma5 strips, but now often replaced by the more efficient 2835 chips.
   • Product Note: The Luma5 designation initially referred to strips using 3528 chips but now indicates light strips with approximately 5 lumens per chip.

2. SMD 5050:
   • Characteristics: Larger chips (5.0mm x 5.0mm), typically about three times as bright as the 3528 chips. These chips can also come in color-changing versions, allowing users to select various colors with a remote or controller.
   • Usage: Commonly used for task lighting, such as under kitchen cabinets where extra brightness is needed.
   • Product Note: Previously featured in HitLights’ Luma10 strips, available in both single-color and multicolor versions. “Luma10” generally means strips with around 10 lumens per chip.
   • The SMD 5050 chips are well-suited for RGB (Red, Green, Blue) lighting. Thanks to their three-in-one chip design, SMD 5050 LEDs can produce millions of different colors by combining the three basic colors in varying intensities. This makes them perfect for creating vibrant and dynamic lighting effects.
   • In addition to RGB applications, SMD 5050 chips are ideal for general lighting purposes. Their high brightness and versatile color options make them a great replacement for traditional fluorescent lighting in homes, bars, restaurants, hotels, and other settings where both functional and decorative lighting is needed.
3. SMD 2835:
   • Characteristics: Newer technology that offers higher efficiency and brightness than the 3528 chips, despite being smaller (2.8mm x 3.5mm). These chips provide superior task lighting and work lighting capabilities.
   • Usage: Used in high-output applications, such as in the brightest and most efficient Luma20 strips sold by HitLights.
   • Product Note: “Luma20” designates strips with approximately 20 lumens per chip, regardless of the specific chip type used.
   •  SM2835 LED strips are available in 60LEDs, 120LEDs,  and 240LEDs per meter. Besides, we have customization options also! 

Why Are LED Numbers Important?

1. Brightness: Larger LED chips typically produce more light. For example, an SMD5050 LED chip is brighter than an SMD2835 chip because it is larger.
2. Power Consumption: The size and technology of the LED chip also determine power consumption. Larger chips like SMD5050 may consume more power than smaller ones, but they provide more illumination.
3. Application Suitability: Different LED sizes are suited for different purposes. For example, SMD2835 chips are popular for general lighting, while SMD5050 chips are ideal for areas that need brighter or RGB lighting.
4. LED Density: The number of LEDs per meter of a strip affects the uniformity and intensity of the light. Smaller LEDs like SMD3528 can be packed more densely, whereas larger chips like SMD5050 might be spaced farther apart.

Key LED Chip Types and Their Properties

1. SMD2835:
   • Size: 2.8mm x 3.5mm
   • Type: Single-chip
   • Brightness: High
   • Heat Dissipation: Less heat than larger chips
   • Application: Energy-efficient, high-output lighting for longer strips
2. SMD3528:
   • Size: 3.5mm x 2.8mm
   • Type: Single-chip
   • Brightness: Medium
   • Heat Dissipation: More than SMD2835
   • Application: Cost-effective, good for accent lighting
3. SMD5050:
   • Size: 5.0mm x 5.0mm
   • Type: Tri-chip (three diodes per chip)
   • Brightness: Highest
   • Application: Suitable for RGB lighting, bright task lighting

Comparison of LED Chip Types

Factor	SMD2835	SMD3528	SMD5050	Description
Size	2.8mm x 3.5mm	3.5mm x 2.8mm	5.0mm x 5.0mm	Physical dimensions of the LED chip.
Type of Chip	Single-chip	Single-chip	Tri-chip	SMD5050 has three LEDs in a single package.
Brightness	High	Medium	Highest	SMD5050 offers the brightest light output.
Heat Dispersion	Less	More	More	SMD3528 and SMD5050 generate more heat due to their larger size.
Power Consumption	Low	Moderate	High	SMD5050 consumes the most power.
LED Density	High	Medium	Low	SMD2835 has the highest LED density.
Color Options	Limited	Wider range	Wider range	SMD5050 offers more color options, including RGB.
Cost	Affordable	Mid-range	Premium	SMD2835 is generally the most cost-effective.
Applications	Accent lighting, general lighting, small-scale projects	General lighting, larger spaces	Accent lighting, large-scale projects, RGB effects

SMD2835 vs. SMD3528 – Which One Is Better?

Both SMD2835 and SMD3528 are popular sizes of LED chips, but they have distinct differences that can impact your lighting choices. Here’s a comparison to help you understand which one might be better for your needs:

Comparison Chart

Criteria	SMD2835	SMD3528
LED Size	2.8mm x 3.5mm	3.5mm x 2.8mm
Technology	Latest	Older
Brightness	Higher	Lower
Light Emitting Surface	Rectangular with round edges	Circular
Heat Dispersion	Better	Regular
Price	More expensive	More affordable

Reasons Why SMD2835 Is Better Than SMD3528

1. Latest Technology:
   • SMD2835 utilizes the latest LED technology, which addresses some of the limitations found in earlier chip designs like SMD3528. For example, the advanced design of SMD2835 reduces the “point light source” phenomenon often seen in SMD3528, providing more uniform lighting.
2. Light-Emitting Surface:
   • SMD2835 features a rectangular light-emitting surface with rounded corners, while SMD3528 has a circular light-emitting surface. The rectangular shape of SMD2835 offers a 2.1 times larger light-emitting area than SMD3528, resulting in more consistent and brighter lighting.
3. Heat Dispersion:
   • The SMD2835 excels in heat dispersion. Due to its thinner dimension and larger cooling area, it dissipates heat more efficiently than SMD3528, ensuring better performance and longevity.
4. Energy Efficiency:
   • SMD2835 is more efficient than SMD3528, delivering equivalent brightness while consuming less power. This means it offers better illumination with lower energy usage.
5. Brightness:
   • SMD2835 LEDs are inherently brighter than SMD3528 LEDs due to their larger light-emitting surface and advanced design.

Conclusion: Which One Is Better?

• SMD2835 is the superior choice for most applications, thanks to its advanced technology, higher brightness, better heat dispersion, and greater energy efficiency. It’s an ideal option if you need more uniform and powerful lighting, even though it is slightly more expensive.
• SMD3528, while more affordable, is an older technology with less brightness and efficiency. It might still be suitable for basic applications where cost is a primary concern, and extreme brightness isn’t necessary.

The Difference Between LED 3528 vs. 5050

When shopping for LED strip lighting, you’ll likely come across numbers like 3528, 5050, and others. These numbers refer to the size of the LED chips on the strip, with the older styles being more familiar, like 3528 and 5050. However, newer and more efficient LED chips, such as 2835, 3014, 5630, and 3020, are also available, each with unique benefits for different applications. There isn’t a single LED chip type that’s best for every situation.

SMD 5050 LED Flex Strip Light

The SMD 5050 chips measure 5.0mm x 5.0mm and contain three LED diodes in one housing (often called tri-chips). This design makes them significantly brighter than the single-diode 3528 LED chips. SMD 5050 LEDs are particularly useful for projects requiring more illumination or RGB color-changing capabilities.

Key Features:

• RGB Lighting: The SMD 5050 chips can create millions of color variations by combining three different diodes within a single chip. This makes them ideal for RGB color-changing lights.
• Brightness: The 5050 LEDs can provide a light output three times greater than 3528 LEDs, making them suitable for environments with higher levels of ambient light.
• Heat Management: Although 5050 LEDs produce more heat than smaller chips, it is still much lower than other traditional lighting options. They typically require a thicker PCB to effectively dissipate this heat.
• Applications: Great for general illumination, replacing bright fluorescent lights, and RGB lighting for homes, bars, restaurants, hotels, and more.

SMD 3528 LED Strip Light

The SMD 3528 chips measure 3.5mm x 2.8mm. Each chip contains a single LED diode, making them less bright than 5050 chips when compared individually. However, in higher quantities, 3528 chips can achieve brightness levels comparable to 5050 strips.

Key Features:

• Cost-Effective: SMD 3528 LEDs are often more cost-effective for applications that don’t require extremely high brightness.
• Versatility: Ideal for accent lighting, TV backlighting, under-cabinet lighting, and decorative applications like crown molding and picture lighting.
• Higher Quantity: Strips with a higher density of 3528 chips (like those with 600 LEDs per reel) can sometimes be brighter than strips using larger chips such as 5050s.
• Applications: Perfect for subtle accent lighting, color-splashing walls, and highlighting smaller areas or features.

Other LED Chip Sizes: 3020, 3014, and 2216

The LED market continues to evolve, with new chips like 3020, 3014, and others offering higher brightness and efficiency in smaller sizes.

3020 LED Chips:

• Found in high CRI (Color Rendering Index) UltraBright Series LED strips.
• Smaller and more efficient, allowing for a higher number of chips per strip for increased brightness.

3014 LED Chips:

• The dimension of the LED is 3.0mm * 1.4mm. Used in architectural and design series ultra-bright LED strips.
• Smaller size means more chips per strip, creating very bright LED strips suitable for industrial applications.

2216 LED Chip:

• SMD2216: They have a dimension of 2.2mm * 1.6 mm. Due to the smaller lamp size, these SMD2216 LED strips can be narrower, and the LED density can be denser.

Choosing the Right LED for Your Needs

• Brightness Requirements: If you need high brightness, choose larger chips like SMD5050.
• Color Options: For RGB lighting, SMD5050 is ideal due to its multi-diode configuration.
• Efficiency: SMD2835 offers a balance between brightness and power consumption, making it suitable for most general lighting needs.
• Cost Considerations: SMD3528 is the most cost-effective for applications where moderate brightness is sufficient.

Conclusion

Understanding the numbers on LED strips helps you select the right type for your needs. Whether you need energy-efficient, cost-effective, or high-brightness lighting, knowing the differences between chips like SMD2835, SMD3528, and SMD5050 will guide you in making an informed decision.

Now you should know the difference between the different types of LED chips on our strips.

Chip type is just one small factor in choosing the right LED light strip for your project – contact us to get support on lighting any project: