Differences between various LED strips

Lost in the maze of abstract LED designations?
In the following section, we explain the differences between the various LED strips and what you need to look out for when buying.

Digital LED strips work with individual LED pixels, allowing for running lights and LED animations. Generally, each individual LED on the strip can be addressed and its color and brightness adjusted individually. The vast majority of digital LED strips are powered with 5 volts.

For larger installations, 12V and even 24V versions are also available. Typically, these combine 2-6 LEDs into segments, which can be controlled individually.

To explain further, we have briefly explained the most important types in the following section.

WS2812B

The WS2812B LED strip is an updated version of the WS2812. It is probably the most commonly used LED strip. The advantage of the WS2812B is that the digital IC (control unit) is tiny and, unlike in cheaper strips (for example, WS2801), is located inside the LED chip. This design allows for a significantly higher pixel density of up to 144 LEDs/m. Furthermore, the integrated control circuit allows the WS2812B LED strip to determine the light switching to the three colors red, green, and blue individually inside each LED. This makes each light independent of all others when determining the color value, allowing for exceptional color gradients and patterns.
Another feature of the WS2812B is reverse polarity protection. This protects the IC from incorrect polarity. So, if you accidentally connect the strip incorrectly, you will not immediately destroy the LED strip. This is, of course, not recommended, so be careful when connecting and check everything again.
The WS2812B is only available in a 5V version. Therefore, it requires more frequent power injection than comparable 12V strips. In tests, the WS2812B consumed half the power of the WS2811 in standby mode, which is a 12V strip.

SK6812

WS2812B and SK6812 are similar in construction: both have 3
channels, operate with a 5V input voltage, and have an integrated microcontroller in the LED housing. However, the SK6812 can control an additional channel. This is used to control a large white segment on the 5050 LED housing. Normally, RGB strips produce white by turning on the red, green, and blue channels at the same percentage.
This creates a slightly bluish-white light. Through a separate white channel on the LED, a true white light in warm white, neutral white, or cold white can be produced. So, an addressable RGBW strip.

What is the difference between SK6812 and WS2812B?

The big difference between the LED strips is the additional channel of the SK6812, which allows for the control of RGBW LEDs.
Another difference between the SK6812 and WS2812B models is that the SK6812 has a larger voltage range. Therefore, the LEDs on the strip are less affected by voltage drop.
However, this does not mean that there is no voltage drop here, but rather that the LED strip has been optimized in this regard.

WS2815

The WS2815 differs from the previous strips mainly in one point: it has two data lines. This equips it with a fail-safe, making it particularly reliable. The double data line allows it to skip a defective LED pixel, so the strip continues to work.

Another special feature is that the WS2815 operates with a 12V input voltage and yet each diode can be controlled individually. A distinguishing feature from the other 12V LED types such as the WS2811, which groups 3 LED pixels together at 12V voltage.

So you could say, this is the perfect LED strip for all safety fanatics. High voltage, double data line, and each LED pixel can be controlled individually. There is also no significant deterioration of color reproduction across the entire strip. This means the voltage drop is very low. Even at full brightness. The disadvantage is, besides the higher price, mainly the power consumption.