To evaluate and choose the best LED light strips, Laukkonen looked at factors like LED density, lumens, strip length, ease of modification, controls, and connectivity. Other factors, like IP67 certification, were given heavy consideration for specific categories, like the best outdoor LED light strips and the best LED strip lights for your car. To wire that kind of LED light strip to a light switch, you need to obtain a separate transformer and wire the transformer to the light switch. In that case, you’re usually better off consulting with a professional electrician,“ says Walter. “That way you'll ensure the job is done right.” The RGBIC is a new technology to display the colors and can make a room pop! One strip can be multiple colors and blend together. Pros Meaning they can be cut in certain areas and will continue to work. However, they are also the type of lights that cannot be multiple colors at once.

Unlike many other light strips, the Sengled Smart Zigbee Multicolor Light Strip requires a base station if you want to connect it to your smart home. That does result in a mark against this light strip because it represents an extra expense, but it also comes with a hidden benefit. If you want to add LED light strips to a bedroom that’s a little far away from your wireless router, where a standard light strip wouldn’t be able to connect, you can place the base station somewhere between the two and not have to worry about how weak the Wi-Fi network is in your bedroom. Keep in mind that both have their pros and cons, but that should not spot you from purchasing either. Especially because they are inexpensive. I have personally reviewed a Govee Smart Light RGB LED Strip and have loved it. Though you cannot have access to some features included with the RGBIC. Pros When selecting a brightness, brighter is typically better. There’s clearly no reason to buy a 500+ lumens per foot strip just for mood lighting, but what if you change your mind and want something brighter in the future? If you end up with a light strip that’s too bright, you can always install a dimmer, and some even have a dim function built right in.

Both the RGB and RCBIV LED strips from Govee Smart Lights are exceptional and affordable products. However, they differ significantly, and both present their strengths.

On the other hand, the RGBIC Strips can’t be cut simply because they have an IC chip, and the lights will not work if you cut it.

Customer reviews

You cannot achieve some things with an RGBIC strip that can be done with an RGB one. And vice versa. Installing LED light strips outside isn’t that different from installing them inside, but you do need to worry about the elements. That's why we're excited about the HitLights Outdoor LED Strip Lights, which have an IP67 water-resistance rating, the second-highest rating for protection against liquids. That means these light strips are perfectly safe to use in the rain. You can even submerge them in water to a depth of up to 1 meter. Impressive, right? TJOY LED Strip Lights provide the best value if you’re working on a tight budget. When you look at the cost per foot for these strip lights, many of our top recommendations are as much as 10 times more expensive. The stripped-down TJOY lights are a little light on features, such as app control, but you can’t beat the value. The appearance of LED lighting has evolved in the past few years. What was once only available in niche specialty stores is now an affordable and easy-to-install addition to any home or office. Over the past decade, high demand for LED lights has resulted in an abundance of manufacturers producing a wide variety of LEDs to meet consumer demand.