What is the difference between RGBW and RGBCW/WW

RGBW and RGBCW/WW have one simple difference, RGBW have a single channel of pure white with one colour temperature. RGBCW/WW have a two white channels which allows adjustment between two colour temperatures.

There are a huge amount of colour changing LED strip lights including RGB, RGBW and Colour temperature adjustable LED tape. They all have benefits and limitations for different applications. Therefore it is important to buy the right strip that is suitable for the unique installation.

RGB Strip Lights

RGB strip lights are strips with three-channel LED chips that allow for a custom color mix.

These are perfect for applications where there is no need for a pure white. White light can be achieved with a RGB strip by mixing the colours equally with equal brightness. However this can be hard to achieve and can cause discolouration. Therefore it is recommended chose a strip with a pure white channel to achieve a clean white colour.

RGBW Strip Lights

RGBW LED strips feature the colour changing ability of RGB coloured tapes with the addition of a pure white channel. It features 4 channel LED chips allowing mixing of RGB colours with white to create pastel colours. The colour temperature of the white light depends on the strip light chosen.

There are Cool White, Natural White and Warm White LED light strips available. This gives you a choice of colour temperature, enabling you to create the right atmosphere.

RGBW lights are perfect for applications where colour changing abilities with one white colour temperature is required.

They are particularly useful in commercial spaces such as clubs or arcades. The colour changing capabilities allow fun and interesting colour displays during opening hours. Then a clear white light can be selected to increase visibility for cleaning.

RGBCW/WW Light Strip

RGB +CW +WW strips are temperature adjustable LED strips. They feature 5 channel LED chips that allow any colour temperature between 2400k - 6500k to be selected.

These LED strips allow full control over lighting and colour. You can create over 16 millions colours with the ability to mix the colours with white and adjust the temperature.

This is perfect for professional lighting systems where full control is required such as stage shows. The LED lighting can be adjusted to the perfect mood and atmosphere easily.

We offer three variations of RGB + CW + WW strips. They all are high quality products that feature a long life span. The main difference is that one has a CRI rating of VRI80+ while the other two have a CRI95+ rating.

The higher rated CRI strips are recommended for professional lighting systems such as film and production. The lower CRI is suited for domestic installations.

Read about CRI ratings using our case study

The two variations of the CRI95+ is one is rated IP67, meaning that it is water proof. This is suitable for wet and damp environments like pools or outdoors. The second is IP20 rated meaning that it is not waterproof. This LED strip is only suitable for indoor applications.

Read about IP ratings using our case study