Reminder, generate this with:
tabulate -s '\t' -f 'github' ~/Downloads/LED\ _\ Controller\ _\ Protocol\ Comparison\ -\ LED\ Types.tsv | pbcopyNote: I do not take responsibility for the accuracy of this data, please let me know if you spot any errors and I can update
| LED Type | Volts | Power (W) | Pins | Data Rate (bps) | LED PWM (Hz) | PL | FL | Notes / Extra Features | Pros | Cons | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APA102 | 2 data pins; SPI | 20,000,000.00 | 20,000.00 | Y | Y | Global Brightness (useless) AKA Dotstar | https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/APA102.pdf | ||||
| APA102C | 0.250 | 2 data pins; SPI | 20,000,000.00 | 20,000.00 | Y | Y | The C is for China, lower cost | https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/APA102.pdf | |||
| APA104 | Y | ||||||||||
| APA107 | 2 data pins; SPI | 30,000,000.00 | 9,000.00 | ||||||||
| APA201 | 2 data pins; SPI | ||||||||||
| CS2803 | WS2813 clone | ||||||||||
| GS2808 | 800,000.00 | 800.00 | 12 bit colour | ||||||||
| HD107S | 2 data pins; SPI | 40,000,000.00 | 26,000.00 | ||||||||
| INK1003 | 1 pin; timing | Y | "Similar to WS2811" | ||||||||
| LPD1886 | 1 pin; timing | 12 bit color | |||||||||
| LDP8806 | 2 data pins; SPI | 20,000,000.00 | 4,000.00 | Patent-encumbered, poorly documented only 7 bit color | |||||||
| LPD6803 | 0.600 | 2 data pins; SPI | https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/LPD6803.pd | ||||||||
| MBI6020 | Y | ||||||||||
| MY9221 | Y | ||||||||||
| MY9231 | Y | ||||||||||
| P9813 | 2 data pins; SPI | 15,000,000.00 | 4,500.00 | Y | |||||||
| PL9823 | 1 pin; timing | "Similar to WS2811" | |||||||||
| SK6812 | 5 | 0.148 | 1 pin; timing | 800,000.00 | 1,200.00 | Y | WS2812B Clone White Channel | https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-files/1138/SK6812+LED+datasheet+.pdf | |||
| SK6822 | backup pin for resilience | ||||||||||
| SK9822 | 5 | 0.265 | 2 data pins; SPI | 2,000,000.00 | 4,700.00 | APA102 Clone Brightness Channel (Useless) Voltage Independent Colour | High LED PWM Freq means less colour flicker, better image quality Faster protocol, Less time spent writing data | Most Expensive | |||
| SM16703 | 1 pin; timing | 800,000.00 | 1,200.00 | http://www.greeled.net/uploadfile/03/60/6003/21141/05/09/sm16703-english-datasheet.pdf | |||||||
| SM16716 | Y | ||||||||||
| TLS3001 | 1 pin; timing | 1,000,000.00 | Y | 12 bit color | https://www.bestlightingbuy.com/pdf/TLS3001%20Datasheet.pdf | ||||||
| TM1803 | 1 pin; timing | 400,000.00 | 400.00 | Y | Y | ||||||
| TM1804 | 1 pin; timing | 800,000.00 | 400.00 | Y | Y | "Similar to WS2811" | |||||
| TM1809 | 1 pin; timing | 800,000.00 | 400.00 | Y | Y | ||||||
| TM1812 | 1 pin; timing | 800,000.00 | 400.00 | Y | |||||||
| TM1814 | |||||||||||
| TM1829 | 1 pin; timing | 1,600,000.00 | 7,000.00 | Y | |||||||
| UCS1903 | 0.240 | 1 pin; timing | 400.00 | - | Y | Y | "Similar to WS2811" | ||||
| UCS2903 | 1 pin; timing | 800.00 | - | Y | |||||||
| WS2801 | 5 | 0.300 | 2 data pins; SPI | 1,000,000.00 | 2,500.00 | Y | WS2801 is SPI but not APA102 compatible | "prone to glitching at longer lengths, higher data rates are right out." - FastLED | https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/WS2801.pdf | ||
| WS2811 | 12 | 0.184 | 1 pin; timing | 800,000.00 | 400.00 | Y | Y | Resistant to voltage drop | Control groups of 3 LEDs instead of individual LEDs High power consumption Slow Data Rate | ||
| WS2812 | 5 | 1 pin; timing | 800,000.00 | 400.00 | Y | Y | AKA NeoPixel | Power injection every 5m Slow Data Rate | https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/WS2812.pdf | ||
| WS2812B | 5 | 0.180 | 1 pin; timing | 800,000.00 | 400.00 | Y | WS2812 with reverse power connection protection | Slow Data Rate | http://www.seeedstudio.com/document/pdf/WS2812B%20Datasheet.pdf | ||
| WS2812B Eco | 5 | 0.165 | Y | Lowest Idle Power consumption, Least Expensive | |||||||
| WS2813 | 5 | 0.240 | 1 pin with backup; timing | 800,000.00 | Y | backup pin for resilience | |||||
| WS2815 | 12 | 0.120 | 800,000.00 | 800.00 | Highest power consumption | ||||||
| WS2818 | Y | ||||||||||
| WS2821A |
Sources: