What is Neopixel and Neopixel Lightsaber?

Whether your neopixel lightsaber is for display only or you are ready to take on Darth Vader. It all comes down to the force your lightsaber yields.

Not to mention your combat skills and peace among the planets are at stake. With a good neopixel lightsaber, you can cut through practically anything!

Thus, with an increase in the Star Wars fanbase, it is getting more and more challenging to satisfy the Jedi admirers with standard lightsaber options. Good for us, advanced neopixel lightsaber technology has taken it on itself to spark the imagination of Star Wars fans with endless options.

From customization of the blade LEDs to sound options, there are all kinds of duel effects you can enjoy.

Why stop at one?

Starting with Neopixel

Still don’t get it?

If you are new to the terms don’t worry I am here to break them down for you.

Firstly what is a neopixel Chip and how is it different?

Neopixel Chip

Starting from the beginning you must have noticed neopixel is a common word in the saber community. This name comes from the company, Adafruit, which first introduced these LED strips. Later many other companies manufactured similar and even better neopixel chips and named them differently.

Neopixel also goes by the name ‘Pixel’ or ‘Plector Pixel’. In simplest words, neopixel are advanced LEDs that function as a chip.

Better yet, neopixel LEDs chips/strips have better radiance and light control than any standard chip. Excitingly it captures the exact replica of what captivated you in the movies!

Working of Neopixel Chip

How is it that all the chips are controlled through one input yet give different colors?

Firstly, we know that the neopixel or pixel chips are attached to each other in the form of a strip. More like they are interconnected as a chain. So when you give input from the power button the data is transferred from one smart chip to another through an integrated circuit (IC).

That is how unlike ordinary chips you only need one switch to control all the lights in the blade through a microcontroller. Meaning you can program the chip with a microcontroller giving you the unfathomable option of enjoying several blade effects.

That includes many colors and color effects among other customization options.

How?

IC processes the data you have requested and converts it into information that controls the intensity and the color of light in the chip. Each LED or chip has an individual IC. So when the signal is generated for a specific color or light intensity the data in the form of bytes pass through all the chips. The first chip will receive the data and read it.

It then regenerates the data to the next chip. Now the next chip reads and processes the transferred information from the previous chip. This continues along all the chips in the strip. Each chip will receive the byte and reset code for the next neopixel chip. The best part is that when the data is reconstructed in between the LEDs it is done so there is no distortion or breakage in the strip signal.

Each chip has 3 bytes, 1 for each color e.g. Red, Blue, Green. Hence, in the nutshell, you can enjoy multiple effects.

Moreover, each RGB micro led or neopixel can have up to 256 levels because one byte (or 8 bits) can store values from 0 to 255. In order to represent more than 16 million potential colors, we can blend the three RGB colors. That’s how you get a plethora of colors in your lightsaber blade!!

Wait. We only talked about the chips. How does it connect to the lightsaber blade?

Well, read on.

Neopixel Chip in Neopixel lightsaber?

As discussed above, a neopixel is a bendable strip.

It is actually adjusted in a blade of the lightsaber where the LED/Pixel chips are interconnected through a wire to form a strip. Firstly, remember that the strip in the blade may be bendable but is more formable. Excessive bending can still break the strip. This is also why it is the best option to be instilled in the blade. Interestingly, an individual chip can also be adjusted in the hilt of the neopixel lightsaber!

The chips or LEDs light up when they get a signal from the hilt. More specifically the hilt houses a soundboard which is the actual gem!

Several soundboards let you enjoy several effects. From the LEDs in the blade to the sound effects you hear, the luxury is mostly due to the soundboards. Thus, the difference among the soundboards will determine the quality and diversity of your lightsaber.

Read on to find out more about the neopixel soundboards and their specifications.

Components of Neopixel Lightsaber

Among all the components of a neopixel lightsaber, the blade has an integral part to play in Star Wars cosplayer and animation fans' imagination.

You don’t think so? Fight me on that!

To go all Luke Skywalker, Battle of the heroes, you need a strong and sturdy blade. Now the blade is not the only component. A complete lightsaber only comes into shape when the blade as well the hilt are placed together.

Furthermore, as the blade houses the neopixel chips the hilt also houses primary parts. The main of which are the soundboards, batteries, and electronic chips. These are added to enhance your lightsaber experience.

As you can see, when combined, the complete lightsaber can be customized in ways that match your taste and give you an opportunity to imitate your favorite characters from the Star Wars series.

You must be excited to dive deeper into the famous effects neopixel lightsaber has to offer.

But first, you must know about the different neopixel lightsabers available in the market and what distinguishes them from one another.

The easiest way to target that is by tackling the soundboard types.

Soundboard

The soundboards give you exciting effects that make sure you are making good of the money. That you have invested in making your neopixel lightsaber.

Ready?

Remember that the hilt houses a soundboard and several kinds of soundboards are available.

How does a soundboard control the neopixel chips in the blade?

A quick change in the hilt where you can add an alternative neopixel/pixel soundboard can get you unique and custom lightsaber results. The soundboards are connected to the chips in the blade through the kit. The kit is designed in a way that acts as a connection between the boards and several parts of the lightsaber including the chips through a wire or a ‘blade plug’. Thus when they come together a connection is built.

Blade Plug?

When the blade is taken out of a neopixel lightsaber, a small, cylindrical object called a "pixel blade plug" or "neopixel blade plug" may be attached to the hilt. The cylinder of a neopixel blade plug houses pixel LEDs. Similar to a neopixel blade, the device has RGB color change and certain effects that help light the blade.

If you think that the soundboard is only responsible for the colors in the blade then think gain. The board holds more power than you give it credit for. The vibrations, swinging effects, ignition modes, and the blade are all determined by the kind of soundboard. Also by the design of the hilt in which the soundboard is housed.

Soundboard Types

However, what are the different kinds of soundboards I keep talking about?

To start with you may think that the board is referred to as a neopixel but that’s not the case. While neopixel is the blade lighting. Boards like xenopixel, CFX, GHV3, ECOpixel, and upgraded Proffie 2.2 in the hilt offer compatible and amazing effects for neopixel lightsaber. All of these boards come with slight differences in their features that you can simply not get enough of!

Nevertheless, the patent neopixel remains unbeatable to this day with excellent light, sound, and customization. The catch is that it comes with a hefty price tag!

Parameters	Eco Neopixel	Proffie Neopixel	Xeno Neopixel	CFX Neopixel	GHV3 Neopixel
LED	12 presets	12 presets	8-12 presets	8-10 preset	9 LED (5+4)
Battery	3.7-4.2V	3.7-4.2V	3.7-4.2V	3.7-7.4V	3.7-4.2V
Charging	5V, 1A micro USB	5V, 1A micro USB	5V, 1A micro USB	3200 mAh	5V, 1.5A micro USB
LED Power	2.1-3.0A, 9-12 W	2.1-3.0A, 9-12 W	2.1-3.0A, 9-12 W	2-3W, ½ cell compatibility	9A (20A each)
Super bright LED	20 Presets	20 Presets	-	-	5 LED
Super bright LED power	50W	50W	-	-	20A each
Speaker	2-3W, 8 Ω	2-3W, 8 Ω	2-3W, 8 Ω	3.2W, 22.050 kHz	1-6W, 4-32 Ω

Coming back to the different soundboard effects. You will find the details below.

Colors

If you are at the receiving end of a mighty red Darth Vader blade you need something like a neopixel to save the star. From the aesthetics to color strength neopixel is a winner!

Neopixel lightsaber offers a variety of 12 color and color patterns at most. The illuminations are also brighter courtesy of the LED strip in the blade.

That is why you will notice a uniform and even distribution of color on the neopixel blade. Not to mention, the colored flickering light effects in the neopixel blade are in tune with the smooth swing motion. Letting you experience the real Star Wars Clone Sci Fi world. You may use these effects for the lightsaber clash!

Better yet, choose other effects that you prefer like the unstable blaster bolt lightsaber imitating Kylo Ren, Darksaber, Fallen order, ESB Graflex, Ben Solo, and even the rainbow effect.

Moreover, among the soundboards proffie neopixel and only profile offer unlimited colors with the option of a high storage SD card. The SD card is removable and further software updates let you enjoy several different effects within the SD storage room. Next, xenopixel is less customizable with no option of changing light patterns.

Lastly, ECOpixel is almost similar to xenopixel. You are stuck with what you have. Meaning what you bought is your only option. You cannot make any further changes in the blade styles because it’s a cheaper soundboard.

Parameters	Eco Neopixel	Proffie Neopixel	Xeno Neopixel	CFX Neopixel	GHV3 Neopixel
Light Adjustment	Solid, Slow flickering and Fast flickering	Solid, Slow flickering and Fast flickering (can customize more with SD card)	Solid, Slow flickering and Fast flickering	50 blade styles, Solid, Slow flickering and Fast flickering (can customize more with SD card)	Solid, Slow flickering and Fast flickering (can customize more with SD card)
Color Changing	Infinite Color Changing	Infinite Color Changing (can customize more with SD card)	Fixed Colors available	Infinite Color Changing (can customize more almost 30 with SD card)	Infinite Color Changing (can customize more almost 12 with SD card)
Smooth Swing Effect	8 smooth swing sound fonts	9 smooth swing sound fonts (SD customizable)	8 smooth swing sound fonts	14 smooth swing sound fonts (SD customizable)	22 smooth swing sound fonts (SD customizable)
Power-On Style	One switch support switch LED	One switch support switch LED	One switch support switch LED	One switch support switch LED (7 power on styles)	One switch support switch LED

Sounds

Ah alas! We talk about sound fonts. They unlock a sense that is the final gateway to what it feels like to be a part of the Star Wars community.

There is no questioning that sound increases the experience and your will to fight. Neopixel lightsabers offer no less than the galaxy’s favorite sound effects for hyperdrive battle effects.

On counting, Neopixel offers almost 5 sound fonts of different characters as well as 10 background music. Adding on, a smooth swing lightsaber offers 5 background music, ECO neopixel offers 5 background music. Take your pick!

Not to mention you can add more in proffie neopixel lightsaber that already offers 10 effects. The volume is adjustable and almost all neopixel lightsabers offer sound effects like stark ignition, photon emission, phase emission, standard blade, ghost blade, broken ignition, and more!

Sound fonts can be customized easily in top tier soundboard like proffie while not so much with ECO neonpixel or xeno neopixel. To enjoy various music, volume adjustment, and sound fonts of several characters you have to get your hands on a really good soundboard.

Parameters	Eco Neopixel	Proffie Neopixel	Xeno Neopixel	CFX Neopixel	GHV3 Neopixel
Music	5 Background Music	Over 10 Background Music preset (can customize more with SD card)	5 Background Music	Over 10 Background Music preset (can customize more with SD card)	Over 10 Background Music preset (can customize more with SD card)
Sound fonts	KyloRen, Darksaber, Fallen order, ESB Graflex, Ben Solo and The Flex	Kylo Ren, Mandolorian Dark Saber, General Grievous, Darth Vader, Leia, Count Dooku, Cal Kestis, Darth Sidious and Rey Skywalker (can customize more with SD card)	KyloRen, Darksaber, Fallen order, ESB Graflex, Ben Solo and The Flex	Kylo Ren, Mandolorian Dark Saber, General Grievous, Darth Vader, Leia, Count Dooku, Cal Kestis, Darth Sidious and Rey Skywalker (can customize more with SD card)	Kylo Ren, Mandolorian Dark Saber, General Grievous, Darth Vader, Leia, Count Dooku, Cal Kestis, Darth Sidious and Rey Skywalker (can customize more with SD card)
Upgrade Function	Force Function	Smooth Swing, Force Function and Color wheel	Force Function	Smooth Swing, Force Function and Color wheel (Already present as well)	Smooth Swing, Force Function and Color wheel (Already present as well)
Sound Sensitivity	No sound/ Soft Sound/ Loud Sound	No sound/ Soft Sound/ Loud Sound (can customize more with SD card)	No sound/ Soft Sound/ Loud Sound	No sound/ Soft Sound/ Loud Sound (can customize more with SD card)	No sound/ Soft Sound/ Loud Sound (can customize more with SD card)
SD Card	-	SD card can be installed to customize color, sound and other functions	-	SD card can be installed to customize color, sound and other functions	SD card can be installed to customize color, sound and other functions

Coming back to the components!

Moving on.

Did you know that the soundboard and hilt design can influence the blade construction as well?

Related Articles:

Are Neopixel Lightsabers Good for Dueling?

How to Make a Neopixel Blade?

Neopixel Blade

Other than the material, the display and aesthetics of the blade matter a lot if you are into cosplay.

Not to mention while dueling your greatest weapon will be your blade as it will be in direct contact with the opponent’s lightsaber. It has to be as realistic as it can get in terms of light effect and durability.

Not just any material is used in the construction but neopixel blades require mid to high grade glass that gives a special plasma effect. Polycarbonate is preferred for blade construction. This high density blade is almost 2mm thick, and 90cm long.

Furthermore, midgrade blades are better left for cosplay and color displaying whereas high grade glass is best for dueling. Another thing to note is that the kind of neopixel blade will determine the type of charging port.

In the end, the neopixel blade offers you diverse configurations for animations including scrolling effects, blaster bolt deflects, blade modes, and whatnot. Further, you can enjoy several blade modes like a rainbow blade, candy blade, fire blade, ghost blade, stable, and pulse.

While we are at it let's not forget the ignition modes consisting of stack ignition, broken ignition, etc. Not to mention Vader’s ignition mode in Rogue One is my personal favorite. I can go on forever. But you must have grasped the concept from the above-mentioned details by now! 

Parameters	Eco Neopixel	Proffie Neopixel	Xeno Neopixel	CFX Neopixel	GHV3 Neopixel
Blade Size	90-92 cm	92 cm (Varies)	90-92 cm	92 cm (Varies)	92 cm (Varies)
Blade Thickness	1in.OD, 2mm	1in.OD, 2mm	1in.OD, 2mm	1in.OD, 1.3mm	1in.OD, 2mm
Blade Material	Polycarbonate	Polycarbonate	Polycarbonate	Polycarbonate	Polycarbonate

Neopixel Hilt

Now that we have covered the blade in detail. There is something you should know!

Even though the blade yields the real force power you can say that the hilt has more control over blade features.

Both the parts come together holding enough power to cut through bolt doors and your enemies.

The hilt houses the pommel cap, body, emitter, battery, soundboard, tightening screw, and coupler. You can add or remove the parts to form the most amazing collection of sound and color customized lightsabers for yourself through the soundboard as discussed previously.

A reliving thing is that, there are neopixel blade plug adapters that may be used to change a variety of common blade plug designs (such as those for a standard LED saber) into neopixel blade plug designs.

Parameters	Eco Neopixel	Proffie Neopixel	Xeno Neopixel	CFX Neopixel	GHV3 Neopixel
Hilt Size	32 cm	32 cm (Varies)	32 cm	32 cm (Varies)	32 cm (Varies)
Hilt Material	Aluminum Alloy	Aluminum Alloy	Aluminum Alloy	Aluminum Alloy	Aluminum Alloy

Neopixel Lightsaber vs. RGB Lightsaber

All those details above and I am sure you must have grasped what neopixel lightsabers are by now. However, how neopixels are different from the average RGB lightsaber is yet to be determined.

Get in line as I have also sorted that out for you!

It is obvious from all that is mentioned above that the neopixel lightsaber is a breakthrough in the saber world. Not only has it given numerous options to lightsaber collectors but also far advanced ones. If you already have an RGB lightsaber then find out why your friends are so hyped about neopixel light sabers.

Neopixel lightsaber is obviously different from RGB in a number of ways. However, what are those?

The first thing that catches your eye is the difference in their blades. Neopixel lightsaber as discussed before has a strip of LED lights that has dominance yet limitations over the standard RGB lightsaber.

While combating if the blade is hit too hard the chips in some places can blow in neopixel lightsaber and dark spots appear. In this case, it is preferable using a standard RGB lightsaber because the LEDs are present in the hilt.

The Neopixel blade has LEDs and that is why it consumes more battery than an RGB lightsaber. There has been an improvement over the years yet neopixel remains comparatively more power hungry. Not all is lost. RGB lightsabers consume less battery because they are lightened by a single LED in the hilt and that is why they last longer.

Moreover, the neopixel lightsaber has uniform color distribution because of the LED strip in the blade. Compared to that a standard RGB blade has uneven distribution as the light dims while reaching the end of the blade from the hilt.

However, both neopixel and RGB lightsaber can be customized to your taste. RGB lightsaber also offers KyloRen, Darksaber, Fallen order, ESB Graflex, Ben Solo and The Flex and can be upgraded to blaster block. Furthermore, the RGB lightsaber also offers infinite color change.

Again lucky for you, neopixel offers more variety than RGB Lightsaber in many other aspects. Yet, both blades are controlled by the hilt.

Lastly, the traditional RGB lightsaber just shuts off like regular tube light. The neopixel lightsaber has a number of extra unique features, such as the scrolling effect while turning your lightsaber ON/OFF.

Neopixel Lightsaber	RGB Lightsaber
Offers Customization & Special Effects	Special Effects Not Possible
Costs More	Costs Less
Premium Look	Premium Yet Simpler Look
Bright Illumination	Uneven Illumination
Uniform Color Spread	Light Fades Away From Hilt
Consumer More Power	Consumes Less Power
Battery Lasts For Short Time	Battery Lasts Comparatively Longer
Cooler Ignition modes due to uniform color display	Modes present but not so cool due to uneven color display
Expensive Blades	Affordable Blades
Offers more animations	Limited animations available
Better aesthetics and hilt designs	Limited hilt designs and less appealing aesthetics
Blade less sturdy	Blade more sturdy

Pros & Cons of Neopixel Lightsaber

Pros	Cons
Better sound and light effects	Expensive
Clear sound	Short Battery Life
Strong metal hilt	Limited blade option than regular RGB
Best for cosplaying	Repair cost high
Proffie offers numerous customizable options	Hilt houses numerous parts
High grade blade	Not preferred for heavy dueling
Special effects

Video Representation to seal the deal.

Ready to be charmed by the effects? Watch the video and see how it all comes down to you and your star wars passion.

Our Overview

Feed your lightsaber hunger and do not wait for another sith to arrive. Gather your neopixel lightsabers and get ready to be amazed by the neopixel lightsaber flickering, and swing effects that can deflect incoming blaster bolts.

Ending on a good note, there are a variety of neopixel lightsabers available along with blade options from affordable to expensive prices. Better yet you can upgrade your neopixel lightsabers yourself and change the effects according to your heart’s desire—all at the same price. But be mindful of the soundboard you choose. Only then get ready for a little match with your friends.

May the 4th be with you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do Neopixel lightsabers break?

If you are thinking of going all Ahsoka Tano, like in the Clone Wars then think twice. Neopixel blade can be damaged easily compared to standard RGB blade. From dark spots to cracks, anything is possible in full clash dueling.

Are Neopixel blades duel worthy?

Neopixel blades may be damaged in heavy dueling but they are also manufactured to not give into the battle easily. It is the force of Jedi hence most brands use heavy grade polycarbonate with walls at least 2mm thick. More than that the neopixel strips are foam insulated in the blade for double protection.

How much does a NeoPixel lightsaber cost?

Neopixel light sabers are expensive and can go as far as $2000 and start from as low as $250.

What are the best lightsabers for dueling?

Heavy grade and ultra heavy grade lightsabers are best for light dueling. The secret lies in the kind of blade you use in all your favorite customized neopixel lightsabers.

How bright are neopixels?

The chainable neoPixel LEDs are not only incredible but also brilliant, using a combined 3W of power as opposed to the 0.2W of a "normal" neoPixel.

What is the weakest lightsaber color?

Jedi offer softer colors compared to the Sith lightsabers. Yet red is the weakest color concluded by a study by the University of Leicester regarding lightsaber colors.

How many LEDs are in a NeoPixel lightsaber?

A neopixel strip can have at most 144 mini LED chips interconnected by one controller.

What color lightsaber is strongest?

It was rare to spot a purple color lightsaber in the movies because purple represents both dark and light sides. It is the strongest color and a force a Jedi can yield on his side.