LED strip lights are becoming very popular. Their usage is common at events, concerts, and architectural displays. People also use them as accent light in their spaces. However, different types of strip lights are available, each with its unique characteristics. Their differences spark debate on RGB VS RGBW VS RGBCCT LED strip lights.
Remember that RGB LED lights mainly consist of red, green, and blue colors. On the flip side, RGBW and RGBCCT offer more lighting options. The combination of different colors of light results in millions of lighting color combinations. In this article, I will discuss all the key differences between these LED strip lights. So, let’s get started!
Overview of LED Strip Lights
The LED strips are bendable small circuit boards consisting of copper lines and multiple LED chips. Each of these chips consists of tiny diodes. When powered by electricity, the diodes emit colored light based on their configuration. These strips have adhesive surfaces that perfectly attach to walls, tables, and other surfaces.
Please note that different lengths of LED strips are available. Moreover, they are different in color. For example, RGB LED strips primarily consist of three colors (red, green, and blue). These strips give millions of color combinations. Similarly, RGBW LED strips also provide an additional color, which is white.
Let’s discuss how these strips of light work. The strip consists of small LED chips on their surface. Inside the chips, small diodes remain. When connected to electricity, the current flows through the copper lines to those diodes. Upon becoming current, the electrons present in the diode become excited and move to the next energy level.
Upon de-excitation, they return to their original state. During this return, they release energy in the form of light. We see this light on the strips when it is connected to electricity. This light can be available in different colors, depending on the type of LED light used. Controllers allow you to adjust brightness levels, switch colors, and control lighting modes.
Interestingly, RGB LED strip light appears to be a single unit that should provide three color options. Right? However, in reality, the same light can provide us with millions of colors. The same is true for RGBW and RGB CCT LED strip lights. Remember, the stripstrip lights are thin and energy-efficient. They can be installed on any surface. Their adhesive side sticks to the point you want to install it.
What Does RGB RGBW RGBCCT LED Strip Lights Mean?
As I mentioned earlier, LED strip lights come in various types. RGB, RGBW, and RGBCCT are those types. Their abbreviation stands for the following:
- RGB: Red, Green, Blue
- RGBW: Red, Green, Blue, White
- RGBCCT: Red, Green, Blue Correlated Color Temperature
The RGB LED strip lights have red, green, and blue as primary colors. However, with the controller, you can mix these three primary colors to generate millions of color combinations. These lights don’t produce a white color, regardless of how much you adjust the diode power.
The RGBW LED strip light comes with four color diodes. Apart from red, green, and blue, they also have white color. The RGBCCT LED strip light is the most complex type as it consists of five color diodes. Along with RGB, it has two white colors, i.e. soft white and warm white. The color of all these lights can be adjusted with the controller.
What are the Differences Between RGB RGBW & RGBCCT LED Strip Lights?
As I said above, there are multiple LED strip lights. The most common types include RGB, RGBW, and RGBWCCT LED strip lights. RGB strip lights are generally used for decorative purposes in buildings and indoor spaces. They don’t give white-colored light. However, the RGBW and RGB CCT are less common. In the section below, we will discuss the differences between these lights.
1- Color Availability
The primary difference between RGB, RGBW, and RGBCCT is their color range and type. The RGB LED strip light consists of three diodes. The colors of those diodes are red, green, and blue. We can mix these three colors and create millions of different color combinations. You might wonder how we can combine these three colors.
The LED strip lights come with controllers. This controller sends a signal to LED strips. This signal tells LED strips how much power each diode should get. A diode that receives less power glows differently than one that receives more power. In this way, we can adjust the powers of diodes and see different color combinations.
In the RGBW LED strip light, there are four color diodes on the LED strip. Those are red, green, blue, and additional white. These LED strip lights can also produce a pure white color. The RGB strip lights cannot provide a white color. These RGBW strip lights are ideal for those who want professional lighting.
The RGB CCT LED strip lights are the most modern and advanced. They come in two additional white colors, in addition to red, green, and blue. Those two additional colors are warm white and cool white. With these LED strip lights, you can also enjoy cozy, warm white color lights. You can use a controller to mix colors and create millions of light combinations.
| Type | Colors Available | White Light Option |
| RGB | Millions of color combinations | No true white (mix of RGB only) |
| RGBW | All RGB colors | Yes – has a separate white LED |
| RGB CCT | All RGB colors | Yes – warm & cool white |
2- No. Of LED Chips & Diodes
This is another confusing aspect of LED strip lights that many people don’t understand. A single small LED strip can contain one LED chip. But each chip will have multiple diodes. For an RGB LED strip light, the chip consists of three tiny diodes. The chip will provide them power, and they will give light and glow.
On the flip side, the RGBW LED strip light will utilize the same LED chip. But that chip will consist of four small diodes. There will be one additional diode for white color in RGBW strip lights. When it comes to RGB CCT LED strip lights, the LED strip consists of five diodes. Two additional diodes are for cool and warm white light.
When switched on, these lights will display two additional colors in addition to red, blue, and green. Remember, one LED strip can have multiple tiny diodes. If the LED strip is lengthy, it can accommodate various LED strips in regular spacing. Each LED strip will have multiple diodes, depending on whether the light is RGB, RGBW, or RGB CCT.
3- White Light Quality
The LED strip lights are generally used due to their wide range of color combinations. They create light that can enhance the overall feel of space. However, when it comes to white light, the strip lights generally struggle to produce a uniform color. The RGB LED strip light doesn’t have a white color. They only give us a color combination of red, green, and blue lights.
On the other hand, RGBW offers decent white light quality. The reason is that these LED RGBW lights come with additional tiny white diodes. These strip lights provide optimal white color light. The RGB CCT (Correlated Color Temperature) LED strip lights the highest quality white light. These lights come with two additional diodes, one for warm white and one for cool white.
4- White Light Temperature
As I mentioned earlier, the RGB LED strip lights don’t contain any white diodes. So they don’t emit any true white light at all. If you adjust the power of the RGB strip light diodes, they will emit a more yellowish tint. On the other hand, the RGBW LED strip light features one white diode. So, they give us white light of fixed temperature.
You’ll get either warm or soft white lighting by adjusting the diode’s power. However, the RBW CCT LED strip lights are superior options. These strip lights allow you to change the white lights from soft to warmer levels. For example, you can get both a marvelous light of 2700K and a warm light of 6500K. Here, K represents the temperature of white light.
5- Flexibility in Use & Applications
As you are aware, LED strip lights are primarily used for decorative purposes. They glow in different vibrant colors, which uplift the overall feel of the space. However, with time, the usability has expanded beyond decoration only. The RGB LED strip lights are still used only for decoration. However, RGBW LED strip lights are used for both ambient and accent lighting.
They give excellent white color, which can illuminate the space. They are not just limited to decorative purposes. The RGB CCT LED strip lights are very versatile in their usability. How? Because they have five diodes in the LED strips. Along with red, green, and blue, they also give cool and warm light. So you can adjust the between white colors as per your needs.
In a room, you can simply use cool lighting to create a sense of calmness. These lights can also be used for decoration when needed. You’ll notice people use warmer white light on cold winter days. They adjust their RGB CCT white light temperature to 5700K. In the summer, RGCC’s light, soft mode keeps the spaces cool and welcoming. Unlike RGB strip lights, these lights play both decorative and functional roles.
6- Complexity & Cost
The cost of the RGB LED strip lights is very low. They have three diodes, each for a different color. Moreover, they don’t require high-end controllers for mixing and blending colors. Their installation and overall maintenance are also cheap and less complex. On the other hand, other brands of BW LED strip lights are slightly more expensive compared to RGB LED lights.
These lights have four diodes (one additional for white color). Moreover, they need advanced controllers for adjusting color and light intensity. The RGB CCT LED lights are premium, complex, and very expensive. They come with five diodes, and maintaining them incurs additional costs. Moreover, these lights require high-end controllers for adjusting and blending the color of the lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an RGBCCT LED strip?
This RGBCCT LED strip features five diodes, each corresponding to one of the primary colors of the visible spectrum. They also provide us with cool and warm white colors, as well as red, blue, and green colors. They can produce colors of all spectrums upon adjustment through controllers.
Which is better, RGB or RGBW LED strip light?
The RGB is the most basic strip light with basic colors. It does not give us a white color. On the other hand, RGBW provides us with one additional primary color, namely white. So, you can have four primary colors and millions of color combinations. So, I consider RGBW a superior option to RGB strip light.
What does RGB mean in LED strip lights?
The RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue. These LED strip lights utilize three primary colors and can produce millions of color combinations. However, these lights cannot make white colors.
What makes RGBW different from RGB?
The RGBW lights offer an additional white color that is not available in RGB lights. Due to this, the RGBW lights are very different and offer better usability.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that LED strip lights are a popular choice. Their usability is very versatile, and people use them to enhance the lighting of their space. Keep in mind that various types of LED strip lights are available on the market. Those include RGB, RGBW, AND RGBCCT LED strip light. Each type varies in color range, diode numbering, diode configuration, and usability. In this article, I have discussed the key differences between these lights. Understanding these differences will help you choose the right LED strip light.