A close look at Ikea's low-cost LEDs (pictures)

Ikea's Ledare LEDs are a low-cost option for lighting up your home. Click through to see what they're capable of.

The Ledare LEDs sell for less than $5 each in the US. They're a little more expensive in Australia and the UK, where they sell for AU$10 and £7, respectively.

The Ledare LEDs come in two equally priced varieties, both with the same specifications. One has a frosted globe, the other is clear.

Both versions use 10 watts of power to put out 600 lumens at a color temperature of 2,700 K.

The clear bulb variety reveals a bowl-like fixture inside, which reflects the light from the diodes in 360 degrees.

600 lumens isn't terrible, but it isn't great either. A 60W incandescent should aim for at least 800 lumens.

Here's that same shot (bottom right) compared to a 60W incandescent, as well as the 60 and 40W replacement varieties of the Cree LED. Despite calling itself a 60W replacement, the Ledare LED falls closer to the light output of a 40W replacement.

Ikea makes up for this lack of brightness with an extra emphasis on color quality. Unlike most LEDs, which boast color rendering scores around 80 or 81, the Ledare LED scores an 87.

Take a look at this closeup of those M&Ms. Notice the vivid mix of colors, the clear white of the bowl, and the natural-looking tone of the wood.

Here's a closer look at the frosted Ledare LED's CRI score, color by color. The red score of 44.4 (columm number 9) is particularly impressive -- most LEDs will struggle to rise above single digits.

Here's the same chart for the clear version of the Ledare. A few minor differences, but nothing drastic.

The Ledare sells for $4.49 in the US, AU$10 in Australia, and £7 in the UK. You can find them in Ikea's megastores, or on Ikea's website.