Mid Power LEDs performance comparison test: Nichia 757 LEDs in first place

Mid Power LEDs performance comparison test: Nichia 757 LEDs in first place

As a manufacturer, we aim to use the top performing LEDs in our LED strips and modules. We are particularly focused on mid power LEDs, those that usually use less than 0.3 Watt of energy, are fairly small and require minimal or no cooling. A large share of our product portfolio is based on these LEDs.

Before choosing the best performing LED for our products we have compared more than a dozen models from the top LED manufacturers: Nichia, Osram Opto Semiconductors, Samsung, Philips Lumileds, LG Innotek, Seoul Semiconductor, Cree, Everlight.

For a meaningful comparison, we selected LEDs that function at 65 mA with a voltage between 2.75 and 3.2 V, classified in three groups:

  • Cold White (5000-6500K), CRI 80+, for linear LinearZ fluorescent replacements,  for the office or industry
  • Warm White (2700K-3900K), CRI 80+, for our LumiFlex LED strips for  linear lighting fixtures, cove lights, desk lamps, usually for residential and hospitality sectors
  • Warm White (2700K-3900K), CRI 90+, for our Multibar LED strips with applications in luxury lighting, professional linear lighting fixtures, cove lights for commercial and hospitality sectors

For each category, we compared the luminous flux and luminous efficacy a the junction temperature of 25ºC ("lab temperature") and at a more realistic 100ºC. The comparison data is that from the manufacturer's data sheet.

We also added the performance data of average 5050 and 3528 LED packages because such LEDs are still used by many lighting manufacturers today in low cost linear led modules, fluorescent tubes, lamps, panels or even luxury lighting fixtures.

Test results for Cold White (5000-6500K) CRI 80+ LEDs

Nichia 757G LEDs have the highest luminous flux and efficacy:

  • 37.5 lumens and 210 lumens / watt at 25ºC 
  • 33.75 lumens and 189 lumens / watt at 100ºC

They also have the smallest performance difference between functioning in a laboratory, at 25ºC, and real world, at 100ºC, only 10%.

Lumileds LEDs have the second-highest performance and efficacy:

  • 34.5 lumens and 187 lumens / watt at 25ºC 
  • 29.5 lumens and 163 lumens / watt at 100ºC

In third place are Seoul Semiconductor LEDs with:

  • 32.9 lumens and 181 lumens / watt at 25ºC 
  • 28.62 lumens and 157 lumens / watt at 100ºC

Samsung and LG LEDs have the same good performance as Seoul Semiconductor LEDs at 25ºC, but cannot be included comparsion, as the data for temperature and luminous flux at more than 85ºC is not available. If this temperature is a mechanical limit, it can be problematic to use the LEDs at the specified current of 65 mA.

Following Seoul Semiconductor LEDs are those from Osram, Everlight and Cree. Far behind, in the last place, are the low cost 5050 and 3528 / 2835 LEDs. This difference, between them and all the other LEDs, is most noticeable. 

Test result for Warm White (2700K-3900K) CRI 80+ LEDs

Besides the expected lower luminous flux for all warm white LEDs compared to cold white the order of performance is the same as 6500K.

The Nichia 757G LED has the highest performance, followed by Lumileds, Seoul Semiconductor the Osram, Everlight and Cree at some distance behind.

LG and Samsung could not be included at the 100ºC comparison.

5050 and 3528 LEDs are as poor performing at 2700K as they are at 6500K.

Test result for Warm White (2700K-3900K) CRI 90+ LEDs

To obtain high light quality is technologically challenging, it also impacts LEDs performance. Only some manufacturers are able to offer CRI 90+ versions of the middle power LEDs we compared.

We see differences from the CRI 80+ tests. The performance gap between Nichia and Lumileds is slightly bigger, 19% at 100ºC, and almost 35% from the third in line, Osram.

The overall results are:

At 25ºC & 100ºC

1. Nichia 757G LEDs is the performance leader across the board. 

2. Lumileds Luxeon LEDs

3. Seoul Semiconductor

4. Osram

5. Everlight

6. Cree

...last place, far behind: low cost 5050 and 3528 / 2835 LEDs

At 25ºC only:

1. Nichia 757G LEDs

2. LG LEDs

2. Lumileds Luxeon LEDs

4. Samsung LEDs

3. Seoul Semiconductor

4. Osram

5. Everlight

6. Cree

...last place, far behind: low cost 5050 and 3528 / 2835 LEDs

As you can see Nichia 757G is the performance leader across the board and that is the reason we use these LEDs in our Lumiflex Strips, Multibar modules and more. 

 

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