What Is a 2835 LED? The Complete Buyer’s Guide for U.S. Wholesale Distributors

Many U.S. electronics wholesalers are struggling with inconsistent LED quality, unstable supply chains, and confusing product specs—especially when dealing with 2835 LEDs.

And the worst part? Every supplier claims their LEDs are “bright,” “efficient,” and “long-life,” but almost none tell you what actually matters for real-world reliability or wholesale profitability.

This guide breaks down exactly what a 2835 LED is, how it compares to 5050 LEDs, and the key specs you must check before placing your next bulk order—so you can buy with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.

This article helps professional buyers understand 2835 LEDs clearly—what they are, how they perform, and how to choose the right options for large-scale purchasing.

If you’re sourcing LED components for mass production—whether for automotive lighting, consumer electronics, mobile devices, appliances, medical equipment, or outdoor illumination—the 2835 LED is one of the most in-demand SMD (Surface-Mounted Device) packages in the global market. Yet despite their popularity, many overseas buyers still receive confusing datasheets, unclear efficiency ratings, or exaggerated lifespan claims from low-tier suppliers. That’s exactly why lighting buyers in the U.S. (particularly those in New York, California, Florida, and Texas) are searching Google for terms like “what is 2835 LED,” “2835 lumens per watt,” or “2835 vs 5050 LED”—to ensure they’re getting reliable components for their product lines.

At Shenzhen Xinguanming Technology Co., Ltd. (XGM), we’ve spent 14 years manufacturing LED lamp beads for over 3,000 customers across automotive steering lighting, education, office lighting, 3C digital devices, appliances, toys, outdoor landscape lighting, medical phototherapy, and mobile lighting applications. Buyers trust our technical transparency—and this guide reflects that same philosophy.

In this article, you’ll learn:

What the 2835 LED actually is

What the numbers 2835 mean

Whether 2835 or 5050 LEDs are better for your use case

The real-world lifespan of 2835 LEDs based on LM-80 standards

How many lumens per watt a modern 2835 LED produces

Key specs wholesalers MUST check before ordering

How to avoid common supplier tricks and spec inflation

This is not a generic explanation—it’s a buyer-focused, procurement-friendly guide written for wholesale distributors who care about durability, efficiency, and supply stability.

What Exactly Is a 2835 LED?

Many wholesalers know the name “2835 LED” but don’t fully understand its structure, performance characteristics, or real advantages.

This confusion often leads to bad purchasing decisions—overpaying for brightness you don’t need, or worse, ordering low-efficiency LEDs that fail early.

Below, we break down the 2835 LED in clear, buyer-friendly language, with subheadings that address specific procurement concerns.

Subheading 1 — “2835” Refers to the LED Package Size

The term “2835 LED” describes the LED’s physical dimensions, not its brightness or application.

A 2835 LED gets its name from its size: 2.8 mm × 3.5 mm. This compact form factor was developed as an upgrade to older 3528 LEDs, offering better thermal dissipation, higher brightness, and improved optical stability. The package typically includes a single high-efficiency LED chip mounted on a thermally optimized substrate.

For American wholesale buyers, the size matters because it affects:

Heat management

Maximum operating current

Brightness output

Lifespan under continuous use

Compatibility with existing PCB designs

The 2835 package is now a standard choice for LED strips, backlights, commercial lighting, consumer electronics, and appliances. Its versatility allows manufacturers to balance cost, energy efficiency, and luminous performance in multiple product categories. Understanding the physical structure helps you determine whether the 2835 is the right package for your lighting products or device assemblies.

When analyzing the 2835 LED’s package structure, it’s important to consider thermal resistance, which directly affects longevity. Compared to older 3528s, the 2835 typically supports higher drive currents—up to 60mA, 120mA, or even 150mA, depending on chip quality and brand. This allows for improved brightness performance without excessive heat buildup.

The 2835 is widely used because it strikes the perfect balance between:

Cost efficiency

Thermal performance

Brightness per dollar

Low failure rates

Depending on the chip type (like Sanan, Epistar, or NationStar), you can achieve different color rendering index (CRI) levels and luminous efficiencies. For buyers exploring advanced technical details, we recommend reading our supplementary guide on LED package performance:2835 LED engineering insights

Subheading 2 — Why 2835 LEDs Are More Efficient Than Older Packages

Efficiency is where the 2835 package truly shines—making it the top choice for energy-conscious buyers.

The 2835 LED is one of the most energy-efficient LED packages available today, with modern versions delivering 120–200 lm/W depending on chip quality, voltage type, and driving current. This efficiency is why industries like education lighting, office illumination, and commercial displays continue switching from 3528 or 5050 LEDs to 2835-based systems.

Energy efficiency matters for U.S. buyers because it directly impacts:

Power consumption

Heat generation

Driver compatibility

Certification readiness (UL, ETL, Energy Star)

Long-term maintenance costs

Many suppliers still push outdated LEDs with inflated lumen claims. But in real production, efficiency depends heavily on chip grade, phosphor quality, and thermal channel stability. Understanding these variables lets you filter out low-quality suppliers quickly.

High-quality 2835 LEDs often use flip-chip structures or optimized optical lenses that reduce light loss and enhance thermal efficiency. This results in more stable lumen output during long-term operation. In industries like automotive lighting, stable brightness is essential for safety and regulatory compliance.

Efficiency also impacts financial ROI for wholesalers. A difference of 20–30 lm/W across thousands of units can significantly change your energy consumption claims, contract bids, or customer satisfaction levels.

For more detailed comparisons across LED packages, view:LED efficiency benchmarks

Subheading 3 — 2835 vs 5050: Which Is Better for Your Business?

Both 2835 and 5050 LEDs are popular, but they serve very different purposes.

A 5050 LED is physically larger (5.0 × 5.0 mm) and usually contains three LED chips inside a single package. This makes it more suitable for RGB applications where mixed color output is required.

The 2835 LED, on the other hand, is a single-chip package known for high efficiency, high brightness, and lower power consumption. For most white-light applications—including commercial lighting, home appliances, toys, and office lighting—the 2835 is the superior choice.

Who should choose 2835 LEDs?

White light applications

High-efficiency lighting products

Bulk manufacturing with tight thermal constraints

Projects requiring long lifespan and low maintenance

Who should choose 5050 LEDs?

RGB lighting

Color-changing decorative strips

Stage lighting or entertainment products

The debate between 2835 and 5050 often comes down to performance vs. purpose. The 5050 excels in color control but loses in efficiency, heat generation, and cost per lumen. The 2835 package, meanwhile, offers higher lm/W performance and long-term reliability—backed by LM-80 test results that many U.S. buyers use for qualification.

If your business sells white LED strips, appliance backlights, small electronics, automotive indicators, or industrial lighting, the 2835 LED wins almost every category:

Longer lifespan

Lower heat output

More lumens per watt

Better cost efficiency

Higher CRI options

For deeper technical comparison charts, visit:2835 vs 5050 LED comparison

Subheading 4 — Real Lifespan of 2835 LEDs

High-quality 2835 LEDs typically last far longer than many suppliers advertise.

When properly designed and driven within recommended currents, a 2835 LED can last 35,000 to 50,000 hours—and premium models can exceed 70,000 hours based on LM-80 projections. Lifespan depends on heat, drive current, phosphor quality, and PCB design.

U.S. buyers should always request:

LM-80 test reports

TM-21 lifetime projections

Thermal pad material specifications

Recommended drive current documentation

Without these documents, claims of “50,000 hours” are meaningless. The most reliable 2835 LEDs maintain over 90% lumen retention even after extensive LM-80 testing.

The 2835 LED’s lifespan is heavily influenced by thermal pathways. A poor-quality LED may rapidly degrade under high current, resulting in color shift, dark spots, or early failure—issues you don’t want in automotive lighting, appliance illumination, or commercial installations.

At XGM, our automotive-grade 2835 LEDs use upgraded phosphor material and highly stable substrates designed for continuous operation. Our internal LM-80 data typically shows excellent lumen maintenance even in high-temperature environments.