Color temperature
Measured in kelvin (K). Lower values look warm, higher values look cool. Bi-color lights such as the ULANZI VL-81 adjust between 3200 and 5600 K; the NEEWER RL-18 is fixed at 5600 K.
Color rendering
CRI, defined by the CIE, scores how a light renders a set of test colors against a reference, up to 100. TLCI is a related index for television. Listings rarely name a method.
What the figures do not promise
A CRI number alone does not guarantee skin tones; the light’s spectrum matters. A kelvin figure does not say how bright a light is.
Where they turn up
Almost every LED light on this site, from the ULANZI VL49 RGB at 2500-9000 K to the DUCLUS 16-inch light box at CRI 97+.
How to check before buying
Match the kelvin range to the light in your room, and look for CRI 95 or higher for accurate color.
What people ask before they commit
What does 5600 K mean?
A neutral daylight color. Around 3200 K is warm, like a tungsten bulb.
What does CRI 95+ mean?
A maker’s claim that colors render close to a reference light, on a scale to 100. The test method is rarely stated.
Why does my video look orange or blue?
Lights at different color temperatures are mixed. Match them, and set the camera’s white balance to the same value.
Last reviewed November 2, 2026