Spotlight, the most commonly used lighting fixture in commercial lighting, is often used by designers to create an atmosphere that meets specific needs or reflects the characteristics of specific products.
According to the type of light source, it can be divided into COB spotlights and SMD spotlights. Which type of light source is better? If judged according to the consumption concept of “expensive is good”, COB spotlights will definitely win. But in fact, is it like this?
In fact, COB spotlights and SMD spotlights each have their own advantages, and different spotlights present different lighting effects.
It is inevitable to align the quality of light with cost, so we have selected the above two products for comparison among products in the same price range. The Xinghuan series is a COB spotlight, with the yellow light source in the middle being the COB; The Interstellar series is an SMD spotlight, similar to a showerhead with LED light source particles arranged in the middle array.

1、 Lighting Effect: Uniform Spot VS Strong Light at the Center
It is not unreasonable that COB spotlights and SMD spotlights have not been distinguished in the designer community.
The COB spotlight has a uniform and round spot, without astigmatism, black spots, or shadows; There is a bright spot in the center of the SMD spotlight spot, with halo at the outer edge and uneven transition of the spot.
Using a spotlight to shine directly on the back of the hand, the effect of two different light sources is very obvious: COB spotlight projects clear shadow edges and uniform light and shadow; The hand shadow projected by SMD spotlights has a heavy shadow, which is more artistic in light and shadow.

2、 Packaging method: single point emission vs. multi-point emission
·COB packaging adopts high-efficiency integrated light source technology, which integrates N chips together on the inner substrate for packaging, and uses low-power chips to manufacture high-power LED beads, forming a uniform small light-emitting surface.
·COB has a cost disadvantage, with prices slightly higher than SMD.
·SMD packaging uses surface mount technology to attach multiple discrete LED beads onto a PCB board to form a light source component for LED applications, which is a form of multi-point light source.

3、 Light distribution method: Reflective cup vs. Transparent mirror
Anti glare is a very important detail in spotlight design. Choosing different light source schemes results in different light distribution methods for the product. COB spotlights use a deep anti glare reflective cup light distribution method, while SMD spotlights use an integrated lens light distribution method.
Due to the precise arrangement of multiple LED chips in a small area of COB light source, the high brightness and concentration of the light will cause a bright feeling that the human eye cannot adapt to (direct glare) at the emitting point. Therefore, COB ceiling spotlights are usually equipped with deep reflective cups to achieve the goal of “hidden anti glare”.
The LED beads of SMD ceiling spotlights are arranged in an array on the PCB board, with scattered beams that must be refocused and distributed through lenses. The surface luminescence formed after light distribution produces relatively low glare.

4、 Luminous efficiency: repeated degradation vs. one-time transmission
The light from the spotlight is emitted from the light source and undergoes multiple reflections and refractions through the reflective cup, which will inevitably result in light loss. COB spotlights use hidden reflective cups, which result in significant light loss during multiple reflections and refractions; SMD spotlights use lens light distribution, allowing the light to pass through at once with minimal light loss. Therefore, at the same power, the luminous efficiency of SMD spotlights is better than that of COB spotlights.

5、 Heat dissipation method: high polymerization heat vs. low polymerization heat
The heat dissipation performance of a product directly affects multiple aspects such as product lifespan, reliability, and light attenuation. For spotlights, poor heat dissipation may also pose safety hazards.
COB light source chips are densely arranged with high and concentrated heat generation, and the packaging material absorbs light and accumulates heat, resulting in rapid heat accumulation inside the lamp body; But it has a low thermal resistance heat dissipation method of “chip solid crystal adhesive aluminum”, which ensures heat dissipation!
SMD light sources are limited by packaging, and their heat dissipation needs to go through the steps of “chip bonding adhesive solder joint solder paste copper foil insulation layer aluminum”, resulting in slightly higher thermal resistance; However, the arrangement of the lamp beads is scattered, the heat dissipation area is large, and the heat is easily conducted. The temperature of the entire lamp is also within an acceptable range after long-term use.
Comparing the heat dissipation effects of the two: SMD spotlights with low heat concentration and large area heat dissipation have lower requirements for heat dissipation design and materials than COB spotlights with high heat concentration and small area heat dissipation. This is also one of the reasons why high-power spotlights on the market often use SMD light sources.

6、 Applicable location: Depending on the situation
The scope of application of two kinds of light source spotlights, excluding personal preferences and money willfulness, is really not your the final say in some specific places!
When objects such as antiques, calligraphy and painting, decorations, sculptures, etc. require clear visibility of the surface texture of the object being illuminated, it is recommended to choose COB spotlights to make the artwork look natural and enhance the texture of the object being illuminated.
For example, jewelry, wine cabinets, glass display cabinets, and other multi-faceted reflective objects can use the dispersed advantage of SMD spotlight light sources to refract multi-faceted light, making jewelry, wine cabinets, and other objects look more dazzling.