Difference Between Daylight and Soft White LED Bulbs

The modern-day energy-efficient LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs are primarily categorized into three color temperatures: Daylight, Bright White, and Soft White. Back in the good old days, bulbs were simply defined by their wattage but this has been a misnomer, since watts is actually a measure of electric power consumed, not the actual brightness of the bulb. However, today’s bulbs use Lumens and Kelvins as their unit of measurement that best describes light intensity. A 100-watt incandescent bulb, for example, emits about 1200 lumens of light. However, a 12-watt power rated LED bulb emits the same amount of light as their incandescent counterparts.

That being said, the common terminology associated with energy-efficient LED lights is Daylight, Bright White, and Soft White. These are nothing but representations of the quantitative value of Kelvins. We will only discuss the Daylight and Soft White LED light bulbs in this article. Daylight is a very bright white-blue light with a very high color temperature in the range of 5000 – 6500 K. They reflect colors naturally just like Warm White LED lights creating a near-perfect natural effect. Soft White produces a yellow hue and a lower color temperature in the range of 2700 – 3000 K. Remember, the higher the Kelvin value, the brighter the light. We present an unbiased comparison between the two LED bulb types based on their color temperatures.

What is Daylight LED Bulb?

Daylight, as the name suggests, are very bright white LED lights that produce a nice calming effect because of its wider light spectrum. Daylight LED light produces a higher color temperature in the range of 5000 – 6500 K, making it ideal for bathrooms and kitchens as well as basements. It creates a natural effect because of its greater color contrast and for the same reason, it can be conveniently used anywhere in your home or apartment. Because Daylight LED lights are exceptionally bright, they do not cause strain on your eyes. It provides an instantaneous warm glow to your interiors just like the sun’s natural light, while the full-spectrum LEDs emit light across the full spectrum of natural light.

What is Soft White LED Bulb?

Soft White produces a yellow hue and a lower color temperature in the range of 2700 – 3000 K. It replicates a yellowish white light that the regular incandescent bulbs gave off. Bulbs that are marked as soft white or warm white or Kelvins below 3000 K produce a warm white light providing a warm, cozy feel to your living room and bedroom. Unlike Daylight LED lights, soft white is more rich in yellow and red, thus producing a warm light. Soft whites are the yellowest of all LED bulbs and work well where you want soft lighting. Because of its lower color intensity, it makes light feel warm, producing a more relaxing light. This is why it’s ideal for overall illumination in areas such as living room, dining room, or bedroom.

Difference between Daylight and Soft White LED Bulbs

Color Intensity of  Daylight vs. Soft White LED Bulbs

– Intensity refers to the brightness of a color and can also be referred to as saturation. Intensity is how bright a color looks. Daylight LED light produces a higher color temperature in the range of 5000 – 6500 K, whereas Soft White produces a yellow hue and a lower color temperature in the range of 2700 – 3000 K. Daylight creates a natural effect because of its greater color contrast, whereas Soft White, because of its lower color intensity, makes light feel warm, producing a more relaxing light.

Hue

– Daylight LED provides an instantaneous warm glow to your interiors just like the sun’s natural light, while the full-spectrum LEDs emit light across the full spectrum of natural light. It creates more of a bluish-white color. Soft White, on the other hand, produces a very soft and warm yellowish hue that creates a very smooth and relaxing feel. Because of its lower color intensity, it makes light feel warm, producing a more relaxing light. Daylight LEDs, because of their bright light, create less strain on eyes.

Ideal Use of Daylight vs. Soft White LED Bulbs

– Higher lumen LED bulbs such as Daylight lights produce bright whites or mimic the natural light of the sun and its ambient color temperature makes it ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. The exceptionally bright yet natural light is suitable for reading or working on projects or for accent lighting. Soft white or warm white, on the other hand, creates a yellowish hue, close to incandescent lights, which makes it ideal for bedrooms and living rooms, and it’s perfect for overall illumination in a dining room.

Daylight vs. Soft White LED Lights: Comparison Chart

Summary of  Daylight and Soft White LED Bulbs

So, if you’re looking to mimic the natural light of the sun and if you prefer the light to have more of a bluish-white color, then LED lamps marked as Daylight with color temperature 5000 – 6500 K are your best bet. Conversely, if you wish to replicate the old yellowish white light close to incandescent lamps, then light bulbs marked as soft white with color intensity 2700 – 300 K is way to go. The ambient color temperature of the daylight LED bulbs makes it suitable for reading or accent lighting, whereas the lower color temperature of the soft white LED lights makes it perfect for bedroom and living room. Well, at the end of the day, finding the right LED light for your home is based on your personal preference.

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