LED Strips are a staple to home lighting and they are still one of the best ways to light up your home. LED Strips allow for a smooth gradient of light that looks amazing when used to cast light onto a surface. When you want to really accent contours of an area Rope lights, which are LED strips with a built in diffuser, are a great way to draw lines as the diffuser allows you to really see the light.
Different Models
MSRP | White LED | Lumens | Check Price | |
RGBIC Strip (Aug 2023) | $59 (32.8ft) $109 (65.6ft) $159 (98.4ft) | No | 120/m | Amazon Govee |
RGBIC Strip Pro (Jan 2024) | $89 (32.8ft) $139 (65.6ft) $189 (98.4ft) | Warm White Cold White 2700K – 6500K | 200/m | Amazon Govee |
Outdoor Neon Rope | $199 (32.8ft) | Warm White Cold White | 1130 lm | Amazon Govee |
Regular vs Pro Outdoor LED Strip
Both products are essentially identical. The primary distinction between the two lies in the dedicated Warm White and Cold White LEDs embedded on the strip, separated from the RGB LEDs. This separation ensures a superior white color output, as opposed to relying solely on the mixing of RGB LEDs to achieve white.
If you have observed the Regular Permanent Outdoor Lights, you may have noticed a green or pinkish hue emanating from the edges of the lights when attempting to create white. This phenomenon is similar to that of the Permanent Outdoor Lights. The dedicated white LEDs in these lights provide accurate white color reproduction.
If you have existing non-smart outdoor or landscaping lights that emit warm white light, using the Pro Outdoor Strip will enable you to better match their color temperature, if that is a priority for you.
LED Strip vs Neon Rope
The optimal mounting strategy for these products varies based on the desired effect.
LED Strips excel when positioned to illuminate a surface. This positioning is akin to the Permanent Outdoor Lights, which thrive near or facing a wall. However, LED Strips are sensitive to bending in corners unless they are bent toward or away from the light source.
Neon Rope Lights incorporate a diffuser in front of the LEDs, providing a surface for the lights to reflect and disperse. Consequently, their brightness is reduced, but their design allows for outward projection and a smooth gradient effect. This flexibility enables them to be shaped and mimic Neon Signs of the past.
Installation Tips
Garage Doors
For both products the 32.8ft length is a great option for standard two-car garages. Get the Neon rope if you want to have the lights face out, or get the LED Strip if you want to have them on the inside of the door frame to light up the outside edges of the garage door.
Creating Designs
The Neon Rope is fairly flexible and great for making designs.
Lining Landscapes and Paths
The Neon Rope is also more waterproof than the LED Strip, rated at IP67 vs the LED Strip’s IP65 rating. This makes it more suitable for lining your Landscapes and Paths on the ground. But mind your placement so that it does not get damaged from lawn mowing, string trimmers, etc.
Roof Eaves
The LED Strips are great for lighting under your eaves. They create a nice glow with a smooth gradient. When used in this way, they can rival the Permanent Outdoor Lights in terms of lighting effects.