RGB vs. RGB+W: What’s the Difference?

When customizing your vehicle with color-changing LED lighting, you’ll come across two main options: RGB and RGB+W. While both offer vibrant colors and impressive lighting effects, there are key differences that can affect your choice. Factors such as brightness, color accuracy, and functionality play a role in determining which option is best suited for your setup. Let’s break down the differences and help you decide which is best for your needs.

What Is RGB?

RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue—the three primary colors that combine to create a wide spectrum of colors. RGB LED lighting uses these colors to mix and produce different shades, allowing you to switch between colors using a remote or app control.

Pros of RGB Lighting:

• Offers a full range of vibrant colors
• Cost-effective compared to RGBW
• Great for accent lighting, underglow, and show vehicles

Cons of RGB Lighting:

• Lacks a true white color (creates white by mixing red, green, and blue, resulting in a bluish or purplish hue)
• Can sometimes appear less natural in certain settings

What Is RGB+W?

RGB+W stands for Red, Green, Blue, and White—with the addition of a dedicated white LED chip. This extra white LED allows for a cleaner, more natural white light compared to the mixed white of standard RGB LEDs. Not only does this improve overall brightness and clarity, but it also enhances visibility and provides a more refined look when using pure white lighting.

Pros of RGB+W Lighting:

• Produces a true, crisp white light
• More versatile for both colorful accents and functional lighting
• Enhances visibility when used for driving or work lights

Cons of RGB+W Lighting:

• Generally, more expensive than RGB lighting
• Might be a bigger product

Choosing between RGB and RGB+W depends on your specific needs and how you want your vehicle to stand out. The ORACLE ColorSHIFT RGB+W Underbody LED Rock Lights produce a 6000K true White. These pods are oversized and have vivid colors with plenty of coverage from a unique multi-directional form factor.

No matter which you choose, ORACLE Lighting has you covered with high-performance LED options for any build.