Jul. 14, 2025
SMD LED strips are revolutionizing the way we approach lighting with their flexibility, energy efficiency, and diverse applications. From creating ambient lighting in residential spaces to providing bright, colorful effects for commercial signage and outdoor environments, these strips are versatile and highly customizable. In this article, we’ll explore the definition, key features, types, and top-selling models of SMD LED strips, along with specific use cases that demonstrate their practical benefits.
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SMD LED strips are flexible light strips that contain multiple surface-mounted LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) placed along the length of a flexible PCB (Printed Circuit Board). These strips are designed to emit uniform light and are available in various sizes, colors, and brightness levels. SMD technology allows for a thinner and more compact design compared to traditional LEDs.
The working principle behind SMD LED strips is based on the surface-mounted technology, where tiny LED chips are mounted directly onto the circuit board. Unlike conventional LEDs, SMD LEDs do not require leads or wires to connect, making them more compact and efficient. When electric current passes through the LED, it emits light. The uniform distribution of LEDs on the strip ensures a consistent light output with minimal gaps or hotspots.
Energy Efficiency: SMD LED strips consume less power while providing the same or greater brightness than traditional incandescent bulbs. This makes them an eco-friendly and cost-effective lighting solution.
High Brightness: SMD LEDs offer superior brightness and clarity, making them ideal for both accent and general lighting applications. They are available in various color temperatures, ranging from warm white to cool white, allowing for different lighting moods.
Flexibility and Versatility: The flexible nature of SMD LED strips makes them ideal for a variety of applications. They can easily be bent or shaped to fit curved or irregular surfaces, making them perfect for unique lighting designs, such as in coves, corners, or under cabinets.
Long Lifespan: SMD LED strips have a long lifespan of up to 50,000 hours or more, providing durable and reliable lighting with minimal maintenance.
Waterproof Options: Many SMD LED strips are available in waterproof versions, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. They are commonly used for applications in kitchens, bathrooms, and even outdoor environments.
Customization: SMD LED strips can be customized to fit specific project requirements. Whether it’s adjusting the color temperature, length, brightness, or even the type of connectors, we offer tailored solutions to meet your unique needs, ensuring a perfect match for any application.
SMD LED strips are categorized based on several factors including LED chip types, color, waterproofing, Input voltage and light emission angle.
LED Chip Types: Common SMD LED chip types include SMD , SMD , SMD , SMD (SAMSUNG), SMD , SMD , SMD . SMD is the most popular for mono color, while SMD is usually made for multicolor.
Color Temperature & Color: SMD LED strips come in various color temperatures like warm white (K-K), Natural white (K-K) and cool white (K-K), providing flexible lighting options for different environments. For colorful SMD strip light are commonly used in signage industry, like red, green, blue, yellow, etc. Additionally, RGB and addressable RGB options are available for color-changing effects.
Waterproof and Non-Waterproof: SMD LED strips can be non-waterproof with IP20, and it can be also waterproof, such us IP65 silicone coating, IP65 silicone tube, IP67 hollow extrusion, IP68 silicone filling, IP68 silicone extrusion, etc. Making them suitable for outdoor use and wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
AC and DC LED Strips: DC SMD LED strips are more common, requiring a DC power supply, while AC SMD LED strips can be directly connected to an AC source, offering easier installation in larger setups.
We offer a diverse range of SMD LED strip lights designed to meet the needs of various lighting applications. Our products feature exceptional quality, energy efficiency, and innovative designs, ensuring optimal performance for both residential and commercial uses. Below are four of our top-selling products:
This high-efficiency LED strip is designed for high-performance lighting with 170lm/W of luminous efficacy, making it one of the most energy-efficient strips available. The DC24V configuration provides stable, long-lasting performance. With 128 LEDs per meter, this strip is perfect for applications requiring high brightness, such as general lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting in both indoor and outdoor settings. Ideal for large-scale projects where energy efficiency and brightness are critical.
Our Zigzag LED strip offers a unique design tailored for signage lighting and letter lighting applications. With 60 LEDs per meter and DC12V power, this strip is perfect for illuminating lightboxes, channel letters, and signs. The flexible design allows easy installation in complex shapes, providing bright and uniform light distribution that enhances the visibility of signs. Ideal for advertisement and commercial display purposes.
The RQT074C Tunable White LED strip allows you to adjust the color temperature from warm white to cool white, providing the flexibility to create the perfect lighting for any mood or task. With 120 LEDs per meter and a DC24V configuration, it is perfect for applications like office lighting, home lighting, and ambient lighting in spaces that require adaptable lighting conditions. Its tunable white feature is especially useful in settings where the lighting needs to change throughout the day.
Our RGBW LED strip offers color-changing capabilities with RGB colors plus white light, giving you the flexibility to create a wide range of color combinations for various applications. With 60 LEDs per meter, this DC12V strip is ideal for decorative lighting, mood lighting, and theatrical lighting. Its versatility makes it perfect for events, weddings, retail displays, and any environment where color customization is needed. The RGBW capability ensures that you can combine vibrant colors with a pure white light for balanced, dynamic effects.
You can check more model in table below:
Philips LEDFlex
For some specific projects, our customers will specify branded light strips. We will recommend Philips’ CertaFlux LEDflex series or Fortimo LEDFlex series, some of these strips can reach to lm/m, such as or . We have cooperative agents who can offer us very good price, if you are happen to look for Philips LED strip, you can ask us for price.
SMD LED strips are highly versatile and widely used in various lighting applications due to their flexibility, energy efficiency, and customizable options. Whether for residential or commercial projects, these strips can enhance the ambiance and functionality of any space. From mirror lighting for bright and even illumination, to backlit signage that stands out with vibrant, durable light, SMD LED strips are perfect for under-cabinet lighting in kitchens or workspaces. They also create inviting atmospheres with cove lighting, adding warmth or dynamic color to rooms. Lastly, for nightscape lighting, SMD strips bring landscapes and outdoor features to life with stunning, colorful effects. These diverse applications make SMD LED strips an essential solution for modern lighting needs.
Mirror Lighting
For mirror lighting, the RQT074A Tunable White LED Strip offers adjustable color temperature, perfect for bathroom mirrors or vanity mirrors. Whether you need warm white for a cozy atmosphere or cool white for grooming tasks, this strip provides even, shadow-free illumination.
Backlit Signage
Illuminate your lightbox or channel letters with the SQN052C 5mm width IP65 Zigzag LED Strip. This waterproof option is ideal for creating vibrant, durable backlit signage in both indoor and outdoor settings, ensuring that your signs stand out in all weather conditions.
Under-Cabinet Lighting
The RQN062A LED Strip is perfect for under-cabinet lighting. Offering excellent brightness and color consistency, it provides optimal visibility for tasks such as cooking or reading, while its slim profile ensures easy installation in tight spaces.
Cove Lighting
For cove lighting, the RQM064A LED Strip creates a cozy and inviting ambiance in living rooms or hallways, enhancing comfort and mood. For more vibrant effects, consider the RAQU082A RGBW LED Strip, offering color-changing options, or the EQW064G 220V LED Strip for an easy, direct connection without the need for a power supply.
Facade Lighting
For stunning facade lighting, the RAQ072L RGB LED Strip (DC12V, 60 LEDs/m) adds dynamic, color-changing effects that highlight architectural details or landscape features. Perfect for creating striking visual effects in gardens, patios, or outdoor areas, this strip brings your outdoor lighting to life with vibrant colors.
At Signlite, we take pride in our quality assurance processes, which are a result of over 13 years of experience in the LED lighting industry. As a dedicated LED strip light manufacturer, we ensure every product meets the highest standards of performance and reliability. Our team includes skilled engineers with years of hands-on experience in developing and improving LED lighting solutions. Their expertise, combined with stable and trained workers, ensures the consistent production of top-quality products.
We implement a robust internal ERP management system to streamline our operations and maintain product quality. This system allows us to track production, inventory, and quality control processes in real-time, ensuring efficiency and consistency. Furthermore, we use advanced testing equipment such as the integrating sphere and IES testing devices to rigorously evaluate the brightness, color accuracy, and performance of each product. Every product undergoes 100% testing and aging before it leaves our facility, ensuring that only the best-quality LED strips reach our customers.
In terms of customer support, we are committed to providing exceptional service to all our clients. Our sales team is highly knowledgeable, approachable, and always ready to assist with any questions or concerns. We promise to respond to emails within 24 hours, ensuring quick resolution of any issues. Whether you’re seeking customized solutions or technical support, our team is equipped to handle all inquiries professionally and efficiently.
Our commitment to excellent customer service means that we don’t just sell products; we build long-lasting relationships with our clients. We offer customized LED strip solutions to meet your unique requirements, whether it’s for special colors, lengths, or technical specifications. Our strong communication skills and willingness to collaborate with you ensure that you get exactly what you need, on time and within budget.
By choosing us, you’re not just purchasing high-quality SMD LED strips; you’re also getting the assurance of reliable, ongoing support from a company that values both quality and customer satisfaction.
With the continuous development of the LBD display industry, LED displays have developed from DIP LED displays to SMD LED displays, and then from SMD LED displays to COB LED displays and IMD LED displays.
DIP, SMD, COB, IMD. What are the differences between them, and what are their advantages and disadvantages?
Today, LEGIDATECH engineers will introduce their stories respectively.
Since LED was invented in the s, until about , it was mainly in-line packaging.
A plug-in LED is a piece of electroluminescent semiconductor material.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Smd Led Design. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
In-line packaging places the electroluminescent semiconductor material on a leaded shelf and seals it with epoxy resin glue. This can protect the internal core wires.
The actual picture of the direct plug-in LED
Direct plug-in LED module physical picture
In the plug-in package, the light emitted from the PN junction area is non-directional, that is, the light is emitted in all directions at the same time.
Due to factors such as the light transmittance and structural structure of the in-line LED material, not all the light emitted by the PN junction can be released.
This mainly depends on the quality of the semiconductor material, the PN junction structure, the internal structure of the package and the packaging material.
In the direct plug-in package, the commonly used epoxy resin shell for the top package is generally made into a circle to improve the light emission efficiency of the PN junction and increase the viewing angle.
According to the diameter of the circular shell, plug-in LEDs can be divided into ¢2mm, ¢3mm, ¢5mm, ¢7mm and other types.
In addition, the PN junction luminescence wavelength changes with temperature (0.2~0.3) nm/°C. 90% of the heat of a direct plug-in LED is dissipated into the PCB through the negative metal pin, and 10% of the heat is dissipated into the air.
These technical features of DIP LED displays make the direct plug-in LBD simple in structure, low in manufacturing cost, high in brightness and high in product reliability, which promoted the early commercial application of LED displays.
Currently, in-line LEDs are still widely used in outdoor LED displays above P10mm.
However, shortcomings such as large size, low contrast, small lighting angle, and inconvenient assembly of in-line LEDs have always restricted their development in the LED display industry.
Surface mount packaging is also called SMD (Surface Mounted Devices) packaging.
Surface mount packaging uses automatic patch equipment to directly weld chip-like and miniaturized LEDs to specific locations on the surface of wiring substrates such as PCBs.
Surface-mounted LEDs are made by filling a light-emitting power chip into a metal bracket, then filling it with glue and drying it. Its shape is mainly cubic. The actual picture of surface-mounted LED is shown in Figure 1-3.
SMD LED module physical picture:
Actual production case of SMD LED display: SMD LED. The display can produce LED displays of different shapes.
1. The light-emitting surface of surface-mounted LEDs is a single front. Its manufacturing process determines that the surface of surface-mounted LEDs is flatter and smoother than the surface of direct-plug LEDs, so its lighting screen display effect will be better.
2. Surface-mounted LEDs use lighter packaging circuit boards and reflective layer materials, reducing size and weight, and are suitable for indoor and some outdoor LED displays.
3. For surface-mounted LEDs, the solder pad is an important way to dissipate heat. Manufacturers can design the size of the reflow soldering pad according to the size of the LED pins.
4. Surface-mounted LBD developed rapidly around due to its own advantages. Surface mount packaging is mainly used in P1.0mm~P10mm LED display products.
Compared with plug-in LEDs, surface-mounted LEDs perform better in terms of volume, quality, reliability, consistency, viewing angle, appearance, etc.
At present, surface-mounted LEDs are widely used in the LED display industry.
However, surface-mounted LEDs have evolved from small-pitch products to products, and their area has been reduced by 16% of the original.
Regardless of packaging difficulty, device reliability, or terminal placement accuracy, surface-mount packaging is no longer suitable for p1.0 mm products.
Integrated packaging includes two types: COB (Chip On Board, chip on board) packaging and IMD (Integrated Matrix Devices, integrated matrix devices) packaging.
COB packaging is a structure that directly connects multiple LED chips to the PCB to achieve heat conduction.
It eliminates the need for a single LBD package and then the patching process, and solves some of the problems faced by surface-mounted LEDs.
The schematic diagram of COB packaging is shown in Figure 1-4.
COB LED module physical picture:
COB LED display screens have the advantages of high resolution and high contrast.
The following are actual COB LED display production cases:
At present, the four-in-one-IMD package used more frequently in the industry is as shown in the figure:
1. COB packaging is the integration of upstream chip technology, midstream packaging technology and downstream display technology.
It can not only reduce bracket costs and simplify the manufacturing process, but also reduce chip thermal resistance and achieve high-precision packaging.
2. Compared with SMD packaging, COB packaging eliminates the need to mix lights, so the consistency seems to be particularly poor.
This is why each LED display using COB packaging needs to be calibrated before leaving the factory.
3. Although COB packaging has great advantages in terms of dot pitch, picture display quality, anti-collision ability, and overall reliability.
4. COB LED DISPLAY still has technical difficulties in terms of production efficiency, yield, and product uniformity. These factors also restrict the promotion and application of current COB packaging technology.
IMD packaging adopts multi-pixel integrated packaging, which combines the advantages of SMD packaging and COB packaging.
It is superior to SMD packaging in terms of dimensional accuracy, and superior to COB packaging in terms of ink color consistency and yield.
In addition, the IMD packaging industry chain is mature and can achieve rapid industrialization.
We fully understand the shortcomings and advantages of various LED displays such as DIP, SMD, COB, which points out the direction for the production of LED display factories, and also enables engineers to better select appropriate models of LED displays. .Thanks
For more information, please visit Smd Led.
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