Are you confused about RGB Vs. RGBW Vs. RGBWW LED Strip? What is the difference? Why are there so many? See below.
Table of Contents
The word LED stands for light emitting diode. RGB LEDs can be painted to your liking. The color of these diodes is indicated by the first letter of the color name. Therefore, the letters on an LED strip define the color of the light emitted and can completely change the color and quality of the light output.
What Does the Letter Mean on LED Strip?
What is the difference between RGB Vs. RGBW Vs. RGBWW LED strips? So, let’s first understand the abbreviations below.
RGB: A single three-channel LED chip with red, green, and blue diodes.
RGBW: A four-channel LED chip with Red, Green, Blue, and White diodes.
RGBWW: A five-channel chip with Red, Green, Blue, White and Warm White.
What Is RGB LED Strip
RGB light strips use three-channel (red, green, blue) LED chips. The range of RGB is 0-255. This means that RGB color mixing can create 16,777,216 colors (255*255*255).
For example, by setting the red and blue channels to zero (0) and the green channel to maximum (255), an RGB LED strip light displays green. Therefore, you can mix and create new colors by adjusting the red, green, and blue values in the LEDs.
The white color of the RGB strip is simulated by running all channels at 255 but is not pure enough.
What Is RGBW LED Strip
RGBW (RGB+white light) LED light strip uses red, green, blue, and white four-in-one LED chips. RGBW strip lights add extra white chips to the color mix. So, in addition to the million hues produced by RGB, RGBW adds even more combinations with additional white chips.
RGB LED Strip can also produce white, why choose to add the white chip to RGBW? The answer is this. White in RGB is a mixture of red, green and blue in proportion. This white is not really pure white. But with RGBW, you can get pure white, a pure white.
Therefore, RGBW LED strips are more expensive than RGB because they contain white chips and provide a purer white color.
What Is RGBWW LED Strip
RGBWW (RGB+white+warm white) LED strip uses red, green, blue, white and warm white five-in-one LED chips for color mixing. It can also be combined with a three-in-one RGB chip and two independent white and warm white LED chips.
The only difference between RGBW and RGBWW is the intensity of white. RGBWW lamps have an extra warm white color, producing color temperatures of 5,000 Kelvin and lower, creating a softer yellow-white color. Great for indoor lighting.
What’s the Difference: RGB Vs. RGBW Vs. RGBWW LED Strip Lights
Through several functional features, let us distinguish between RGB, RGBW, and RGBWW LED Strips.
| Products | RGB | RGBW | RGBWW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colors | Red, Green, Blue | Red, Green, Blue, White | Red, Green, Blue, White, Warm white |
| Chips | 3 in 1 | 4 in 1 | 5 in 1 |
| Color Channels | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Color Output | 16M(2653) | 4.3B(2654) | 4.3B(2654) |
| Color Shifting | Single | Single | Single |
| Brightness | Bright | Ultra-Bright | Ultra-Bright |
| Adjustable | – | ✔ | ✔ |
| Price | Normal | Medium | Expensive |
| Advantages | Lowest Cost | Brighter | Brighter & Warmer |
RGB vs. RGBW vs. RGBWW Differences Table
You can still visually see the difference between RGB Vs. RGBW Vs. RGBWW LEDs from the picture below.
RGB Vs. RGBW
There is a comparison table: Differences Between RGB and RGBW.
| RGB | RGBW | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | 3-in-1 chip red, green, and blue | 4-in-1 chip red, green, blue and white |
| Color | R,G,B | R,G,B,W |
| Cost | Lower price | Higher price |
| White Light Quality | Not pure white | Accurate pure white |
| Purchase requirements | Affordability is a priority | Accurate white lighting |
You can make your own decisions based on your specific lighting needs and budget considerations by considering these variations.
RGB LED Strip Video Display
RGBWW Vs. RGBW
There is a comparison table: Differences Between RGBWW and RGBW.
| RGBWW | RGBW | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | 5-in-1 chip red, green, blue, white and warm white | 4-in-1 chip red, green, blue and white |
| White Diode | Two | One |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
RGBW LED Strip Video Display
Which is Better? RGB, RGBW or RGBWW LED Strip？
How should you choose before buying? It depends on your actual needs and applications.
If you only need basic RGB colors and don’t need pure white, basic RGB LED strips are fine and relatively cheap.
If you need white and RGB colors and a mix of the two, RGB+W is a better choice.
But if you want to get white with different brightness, choose RGB+warm white+white. Dedicated white LEDs provide a purer white hue and allow you to choose additional warm white or cool white chips.
How to Connect LED Strip Light: RGB Vs. RGBW Vs. RGBWW
Here are a few things you must keep in mind when connecting your LED strip.
- Step 1: Confirm whether yours is a 12V or 24V light strip.
- Step 2: Select the appropriate power supply. Make sure the power of the LED power supply is greater than the total power of the light strip and accessories.
- Step 3: Choose the correct LED strip cable. 3PIN, 4PIN, 5PIN or other.
- Step 4: Then connect the positive and negative terminals of the LED strip to the power supply.
- Step 5: Connect the other end of the power adapter to the power plug.
If you still don’t know how to do it, please watch the video below.
How to Connect LED Strip to A Power Supplier
Are The Controllers Different: RGB Vs. RGBW Vs. RGBWW?
The color change and dimming of RGB, RGBW and RGBWW LED strips are controlled by LED strip controllers. There are many kinds of LED strip controllers for RGB, RGBW and RGBWW LED strips.
If you don’t know how to choose? Please contact our professional team of LED engineers. We will help you choose the best product for your project.
RF LED controller
RF stands for radio frequency. This type of LED controller is relatively cheap. If you consider the cost budget, the affordable RF LED controller will be popular.
IR LED controller
Since IR LED controller uses infrared light to control the range of 1-15 feet, you must control the distance if you choose an IR LED controller.
Tunable white LED controller
This type of controller can change the white brightness by adjusting the color temperature. For example, if you want to get warm white or cool white, you only need to adjust the color temperature. For tunable white light, please choose a tunable white LED controller.
Programmable LED controller
Programmable LED controller provides DIY color adjustment options for custom colors. You can mix red, green, and blue in any proportion until you get the custom color you like best.
DMX 512 Controller
If it is a large LED lighting project, a DMX 512 controller would be better. DMX512 controller can adjust the color of LEDs with the rhythm of music. Suitable for large lighting project sites such as concerts and light shows. DMX 512 LED controller can also be synchronized with TV/monitor.
0-10V LED Controller
0-10V LED controller simulates light control by changing the voltage of LED strip. When the voltage is adjusted to 0 volts, the lowest brightness is obtained, while 10V will produce the brightest output.
Wi-Fi LED Controller
Wi-Fi LED controller is the most convenient to use. Connect the Wi-Fi connector to the LED strip (RGB/RGBW/RGBWW/RGBIC/RGBCCT). Control the lights by connecting to a smartphone.
Bluetooth LED Controller
First, determine if the LED strip is compatible with Bluetooth LED controller? Connect the Bluetooth controller to the light strip, and you can easily control the lights via the mobile phone Bluetooth.
So, before choosing an LED controller, you need to be clear about the effect you want to achieve. If you are still confused and don’t know which LED controller to choose, please feel free to contact us to help you.
How to Choose Between RGB, RGBW, and RGBWW LED Strip Lights?
RGB LED strips, RGBW LED strips and RGBWW LED strips are all widely used. Especially for customers who are new to these strips, sometimes they don’t know which one to choose. We recommend considering the following aspects.
Cost:
RGBW and RGBWW LED strips are more expensive than RGB LED strips. If you don’t care about the purity of white, choose RGB.
Dimmable White:
RGBW LED strips can produce pure white. The “W” can stand for warm white or cool white. RGBWW LED strips can choose different white color temperatures, which also means more color effects.
Adjustable:
If white and colored lighting is required, consider RGB-CCT LED strips. They offer adjustable white as well as red, green and blue. These LED strips offer 16 million RGB color variations and three RGBW options (RGBW, RGBWW and RGBCW) in a single strip. They are slightly more expensive but provide the most comprehensive colors.
Features:
If your project focuses on colored lighting and does not require high-quality white light, then RGB LED strips are a suitable choice. In addition to meeting your project requirements, you can also save money.
FAQ
1. Can RGBW use an RGB LED controller?
– In some circumstances, no. RGBW controllers and light strips are the ideal combination.
2. Can you cut RGBW LED strips?
-True, just like the RGB LED strip. To get the exact length you want, cut freely along the cutting line.
3. Can RGBW be customized to warm white or true white?
– You can select one of them, yes. Depending on your demands, warm white or white is available.
4. Do RGB or RGBW lights cause eye strain?
-No, RGB lights won’t hurt your eyes directly but try not to stare at them for extended periods.
5. In LED lighting, what does WW mean??
-Warm White (WW) ~ 2700 to 3000K.
Natural White (NW) ~ 4000 to 4500K.
Cool White (CW) ~ 5000 to 6000K.