Are COB lights better than LED?

Struggling to choose between COB and LED? Let’s break it down.

COB lights offer focused intensity, while traditional LEDs bring flexibility and broader lighting.

Don’t rush—your lighting project deserves the right decision.

What is the disadvantage of COB light?

COB lights look great and shine bright—but not without trade-offs.

COB lights can overheat and are harder to repair than traditional LED lights.

Limited Heat Dissipation

COB (Chip on Board) lights bond multiple LED chips on a small area. This produces intense light from a compact source. But this also concentrates heat in a smaller zone.

When I first used COB lights¹ for a retail space, I noticed they ran hotter than expected. The integrated heat sinks² worked well, but still needed additional ventilation. In poorly ventilated fixtures, the heat buildup can shorten lifespan or cause instability.

Feature	COB Light	Traditional LED Light
Heat Generation	High (compact heat center)	Moderate (distributed heat points)
Repair Difficulty	Hard to replace individual chips	Easier to replace single modules
Initial Cost	Higher	Lower or medium

Less Modularity

If one chip in a COB module fails, you may need to replace the whole unit. Traditional LEDs, by contrast, allow replacement of single diodes or segments.

This makes COB lights less service-friendly in long-term projects where field maintenance is frequent.

Which light is better—COB or LED?

Both COB and traditional LEDs shine—just in different ways.

COB is better for focus; traditional LED is better for flexibility and cost.

Purpose Drives the Answer

I often ask clients: What kind of light do you need—concentrated or diffused? COB wins when the project needs spotlighting, downlighting, or any tight-beam illumination. Traditional LED strips win when spread, customization, or modularity matter more.

Scenario	Best Fit
Accent/Track Lighting	COB
General Room Lighting	Traditional LED
Outdoor Facades	Depends
Architectural Projects	Mix of both

Integration with Controllers

Traditional LED strips offer better compatibility with RGB/RGBW controllers and dimmers. If you need dynamic lighting (color-changing or app control), traditional LEDs provide more options. COB is catching up, but still has fewer controller-ready products on the market.

What are the benefits of COB lights?

COB lights are more than just bright—they’re efficient and elegant.

COB lights produce a uniform, high-lumen beam from a small source.

Powerful and Compact

When I install COB-based spotlights³, the visual impact is instant. There’s no visible glare point or scattered dots—just clean, even light. This makes COB lights perfect for display cases, retail environments, or architectural wall washers.

Efficiency and Aesthetic

COB lights often achieve a higher lumen-per-watt ratio⁴ compared to multi-diode traditional LED modules. The optical uniformity creates smoother lighting transitions on walls and objects.

Benefit	Explanation
Seamless Light Beam	No “dots,” pure illumination
Energy Efficiency	Lower heat loss, higher brightness
Compact Form	Small size allows sleek fixture designs

Better for High CRI Applications

In professional projects—like galleries or high-end interiors—color accuracy is critical. COB lights often come with higher CRI options⁵ (95+), which helps showcase true colors better than standard LED strips.

How long do COB lights last?

Longevity matters, especially in commercial settings.

COB lights can last over 50,000 hours—if properly managed and cooled.

Depend on Cooling and Quality

In my experience, the biggest threat to COB lifespan isn’t the chip—it’s heat and voltage instability. When using UL-certified COB modules from verified suppliers like us at Rhlite, I’ve seen installations last over 6 years of daily operation.

Factor	Impact on COB Lifespan
Heat Management	Essential; poor cooling shortens life
Voltage Regulation	Surge protectors and drivers increase lifespan
Operating Hours	COBs are designed for long duty cycles

Factory Quality Is Key

Cheap COB modules—especially unbranded imports—can promise 50,000 hours but fail in 10,000. At Rhlite, we emphasize LM80-certified chips, and our drivers are tested to run COB lights at stable current. We offer OEM versions with reinforced heatsinks for long-term projects.

How long does the COB work light last?

Work lights need durability—COB can deliver that with the right specs.

A good COB work light lasts 20,000–50,000 hours depending on usage and build.

Portable Lighting Needs

COB work lights used on construction sites or mobile tasks face a different set of challenges—shock, moisture, dust, and voltage surges. I usually recommend impact-resistant housings with IP65 ratings for these applications.

Usage Style	Expected Lifespan
Occasional Use	5+ years
Daily Worksite Use	2–3 years (realistic)

Don’t Forget Driver Protection

Battery-powered COB work lights often fail not because of the LED, but the internal driver. Look for surge protection, thermal cutoff, and overcharge safety in portable units.

Do COB lights get hot?

COB lights get hot—it’s part of their design trade-off.

COB lights generate more heat per square inch than spaced-out LEDs.

Heat Density and Fixture Design

The reason COB lights run hotter isn’t because they’re inefficient—it’s because they pack a lot of light into a tight space. For architectural fixtures, that means including aluminum housing, ventilation slots, or even active cooling if needed.

My Recommendation for Installers

When I specify COB lighting for commercial clients, I always check thermal design first. Even in LED strip formats, COB tapes need backing aluminum channels to spread heat.

Application Type	Cooling Needed
Recessed Downlight	High (enclosed space)
Wall Washer	Moderate (open space)
COB Strip Light	Yes, needs aluminum profile

If you’re sourcing COB lights for a long-term architectural project, invest in UL-listed models with certified thermal management specs. It’ll save your project in the long run.

Conclusion

COB excels in focused, aesthetic lighting; traditional LEDs offer flexibility, lower cost, and easier maintenance.

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