When buying LEDs bulbs there are usually three choices 3528, 5050, 5630. Here is a picture that shows each one lit up. This may help some decide what type to get.

 

Thanks Coleroad. I was aware of the 3528 7 5050 but not the 5630. I'm guessing that the 5630 is the latest generation of these LEDs. (5050 used to be the latest and thus the brightest on a one to one basis.)

 

You'll find "bulbs" are made up of many of those individual LEDs, so it's not so important which SMD LED type they are using vs the total Lumens output (esp. when comparing the original bulb to the replacement). Granted, not all bulbs state their lumen output making comparison harder.

IE is there much difference in output between 10x 5050's and 20x 3528's? No!

Note: The numbers refer to the sizes. 5050 is 5.0mm x 5.0mm, 3528 is 3.5mm x 2.8mm etc. Plenty of sizes available, although 5050 & 3528's are very common. Yes, a 5050 is (roughly) twice as bright as a 3528 and consumes twice the power but then they'll use half as many of them so it all equals out (roughly speaking).

 

There is a difference in how far it throws the light too. There is intensity and the there is projection. The two don't necessarily go hand in hand. It is kind of like talking about the ph of a given substance. Ph is the intensity but that doesn't give you what the capacity is. Coke and a lemon are roughly the same ph. You get coke on you or in your eye. There is a much bigger reaction than to the coke not a big deal. If you get the lemon and do the same it is very irritating, because the lemon has a much larger capacity. Take a piece of leather and a piece of aluminum the same thickness. Heat them both to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Put your hand on them for five seconds. The leather is not going to burn your hand. The aluminum will burn you. While the intensity his the same 140 degrees, the capacity is not equal.

3528 LED
3.5 mm x 2.8 mm
9.8 mm²
6-8 lumens
20-30 mA @ 2.8-3.4 Volts

5050 LED
5.0 mm x 5.0 mm
25 mm²
16-22 lumens
60 mA @ 2.8-3.4 Volts

5630 LED
5.6 mm x 3.0 mm
16.8 mm²
45-50 lumens
150 mA @ 2.8-3.4 Volts

 

Interesting, the 5630 is actually smaller than the 5050. I guess that it is about time that they started figuring out how to shrink the new generation of LEDs finally, like they've been doing with the various ICs for over 50 years now.