Adafruit
Adafruit NeoPixel Ring - 16 x 5050 RGB LED
Best circular LED ring for DIY robotics and wearable lighting projects.
This Adafruit NeoPixel ring features 16 individually addressable RGB LEDs in a compact circle, perfect for adding vibrant lighting to robots or wearables. Each LED can display 16.8 million colors, controlled by a single microcontroller pin. The ring has a 1.75-inch outer diameter and can be chained with other NeoPixel products for larger displays. It operates at 5V and is compatible with Arduino and other microcontrollers using the Adafruit NeoPixel library. The ring is based on SK6812 or WS2812B LEDs, offering flexible and dynamic lighting solutions.
$22.49
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
235
/ 574
#235 in Diodes
Price vs Category Average
-68%
Below average
Who it's for
- Coders seeking simple setup with extensive library support
- Wearable tech designers needing a compact, circular form factor
- Visual artists requiring vibrant, individually addressable lighting effects
Who should skip it
- Users lacking a robust power supply for high-brightness projects
- Beginners without soldering experience or necessary equipment
- Developers using microcontrollers that lack specific timing hardware support
Performance breakdown
Color Fidelity
Full 24-bit color depth provides vibrant and highly accurate lighting effects.
Integration Ease
Single-pin control makes setup effortless for beginners and advanced makers alike.
Form Factor
Compact circular design fits perfectly into wearable and robotics projects.
Library Support
Adafruit’s robust library ecosystem ensures seamless compatibility across most microcontroller platforms.
Scalability
Daisy-chaining multiple rings allows for complex, expansive lighting arrays.
Power Efficiency
High current draw at full brightness requires careful power supply planning.
Key Specs
16 individually addressable RGB LEDs (SK6812- or WS2812B-based NeoPixels)
Circle outer diameter of 1.75″ (44.5 mm)
Circle inner diameter of 1.25″ (31.8 mm)
24-bit color control (8-bit PWM per channel); 16.8 million colors per pixel
One-wire digital control interface
Operating voltage
5 V
Each RGB LED draws approximately 50 mA at 5 V with red, green, and blue at full brightness
Maximum current draw for the ring
~800 mA
Features
- 16 individually addressable RGB LEDs
- Compact circular design
- Chains with other NeoPixel products
- Single microcontroller pin control
- Supports 16.8 million colors per LED
- Compatible with Arduino and other microcontrollers
- Easy to use with Adafruit NeoPixel library
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the Adafruit NeoPixel Ring for its exceptional build quality and vibrant light output. The compact design makes it a favorite for wearable projects and custom lighting displays. Users appreciate the seamless integration with existing libraries which simplifies the setup process. While some note the need for careful soldering, the overall reliability and brilliant color reproduction provide excellent value. This product stands out as a dependable choice for creators seeking professional results in a small form factor.
Know before you buy
Yes. Each of the 16 LEDs is individually addressable, meaning you can set a unique color and brightness for every single pixel on the ring.
The ring operates at 5V. Since the maximum current draw is approximately 800 mA when all LEDs are at full white brightness, ensure your power source can reliably provide at least 1A to avoid flickering or instability.
Absolutely. The NeoPixel ring is designed to be chained; you can connect the output pin of one ring to the input pin of another to create larger, synchronized light displays.
Yes, you should use the Adafruit NeoPixel library. It simplifies the coding process by handling the timing-specific data signals required to control the LEDs.
You only need a single digital output pin to control the entire ring, regardless of how many individual LEDs are in the chain.
The ring has an outer diameter of 1.75 inches (44.5 mm) and an inner diameter of 1.25 inches (31.8 mm), making it compact enough for most wearable or robotics projects.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.