Fibre Optic vs Pre Lit Christmas Trees: What’s the Difference?
Most people agree that lighting is one of the best parts of decorating a Christmas tree. Tinsel, ornaments, garland, and baubles are all well and good, but the lights are what make a Christmas tree shine.
When it comes to lighting up your Christmas tree, there are a lot of options out there. Traditional tree lights, battery-powered LEDs, multicolour Christmas tree lights, and icicle Christmas lights are just a few of the styles you’ll be able to find.
But if you’re not excited about stringing lights around your tree every year, you might want to consider other lighting options. Artificial Christmas trees have many benefits, from lasting for years to helping you avoid picking up troublesome pine needles. One of the most significant advantages is that you can choose a tree with lighting built-in, such as a pre lit or fibre optic Christmas tree, saving you time decorating.
Our guide covers everything you need to know about fibre optic and pre lit Christmas trees, making it easy for you to choose the perfect tree for your home.
Artificial Christmas trees and lights
If you’ve been shopping around and browsing artificial Christmas trees, you’ll likely see many options. You may have come across artificial trees described as pre-lit Christmas trees or fibre-optic Christmas trees. However, it might be challenging to know the difference between these two types of trees.
Everything you need to know about Christmas tree lights
To start, let’s take a quick look at the evolution of Christmas tree lighting. Christmas tree lights were originally a way to spotlight and illuminate the tree’s baubles and other decorations.
The original Christmas tree lights were actually candles attached to the tree using wax, pins or candleholders. Around 1900, with the invention of Thomas Edison’s electric light bulb, these illuminating candles gave way to the string lights that many of us still use today. String lights were and still are incredibly popular, which is why they’ve remained a much-loved part of festive decorations. Although, some tweaks have been made here and there to increase fire safety.
The widespread use of plastics and advancements in adapting LED lighting has taken many seasonal decorations to the next level. Artificial trees have become an enormous industry and are extremely popular because of their practicality and environmental friendliness.
Adding built-in lighting to artificial trees was the next logical step in the evolution of Christmas tree lighting. Recent years have introduced fibre optic and LED technology into the world of Christmas tree lighting. While not all fibre optic trees use LEDs, the two technologies often get intertwined for aesthetics and efficiency.
What is a pre lit Christmas tree?
Understanding the differences between pre lit and fibre optic trees makes it much easier to decide which one is perfect for your needs. Pre lit Christmas trees are an incredible option and come with either bright white, warm white or multi color LEDs delicately sprinkled throughout the branches. They are an ideal choice if you’re looking to save time decorating or if you want to add a warming glow to your living room.
Types of pre lit Christmas trees
A pre lit Christmas tree is an artificial Christmas tree that comes in the box with lights wired into the tree ready to go, so you do not need to do any additional lighting assembly. These trees come with lights already strung on the branches or embedded into the greenery, depending on your preference.
The appeal of these types of pre lit trees is obvious. Not only do you automatically get a stunning and perfectly symmetrical Christmas tree, but you don’t have to worry about lighting either. No more giant balls of tangled lighting that you have to unwind every year before you use them!
Many pre lit trees utilise LED light strands instead of traditional incandescent bulbs. LED lights have their own appeal and are much more energy-efficient than incandescent ones.
What is a fibre optic Christmas tree?
Here’s where things sometimes get confusing - a fibre optic tree can be considered a type of pre lit Christmas tree, depending on who you ask. Fibre optics may sound like a complicated technology. In simple terms, they use a thin tube to transmit light from one end of the tube to another. There’s a lot more to it than that, but that gives you a basic idea. The hair-thin tubes used in fibre optics usually consist of either glass or plastic.
Fibre optic technology gives artificial Christmas trees an almost ethereal glow. Depending on the design, light appears to emanate from the tree itself rather than from a specific source. Many people love this glowing effect and find it a cheerful addition to the magical spirit of the festive season.
In fibre optic trees, lights are built directly into the tree itself and you cannot remove them. Light sources vary depending on the design and light can come from either the artificial trunk, branches, needles, or all of the above. It’s this that creates the glowing and twinkling effect that people are so attracted to.
Perhaps because of this attractive lighting, you can often find fibre optic trees in many shades besides the traditional green. Black, pink, blue, white, and gold are examples of fun tree colours with this lighting type.
Differences between fibre optic and pre lit Christmas trees
Technically, fibre optic trees are a type of pre lit Christmas tree - as in, they come with the lights (or lighting ability) already built into the tree.
Fibre optic trees give the user a specific desired lighting effect. Because most fibre optic Christmas trees utilise LED lights, they are a much more energy-efficient type of tree.
Both fibre optic and pre lit Christmas trees range in price. Generally speaking, you might expect to pay more for either one than you would for an unlit Christmas tree. More expensive artificial trees are usually higher-quality and more durable, which is a good investment if you like to decorate your tree with a lot of Christmas tree decorations.
Both tree types can come with settings installed for different lighting features. Although the lighting method won’t change, some settings include colour changes, brightness levels, and light timers.
Pros and cons of pre lit vs fibre optic Christmas trees
Deciding which tree is better depends on your individual tastes, but other factors can weigh into your decision. Here’s a quick pros and cons breakdown of both Christmas tree types.
Pros of pre lit Christmas trees:
- Look very traditional and often imitate the appearance of a real tree
- An array of lighting types is available, including long-lasting LEDs
- Simple to set up, take down and pack away in a Christmas tree storage bag
Cons of pre lit Christmas trees:
- It can be more expensive in comparison to unlit options
- Some pre lit trees are heavy and you may need help moving them, depending on the height
Pros of fibre optic Christmas trees
- Have a unique look, almost as if the whole tree is glowing
- Creates a magical twinkling light in any room
- Fibre optic lighting is energy-efficient
Cons of fibre optic Christmas trees:
- Less traditional-looking than a realistic Christmas tree
- No specific light source - the light emanates from the tree itself
Final thoughts on Christmas tree lighting
Now we’ve walked through the pros and cons and how each type works, the rest comes down to aesthetics.
Fibre optic Christmas trees might suit you better if you’re less traditional and like experimenting with different styles. But if you want a traditional-looking Christmas tree that looks as natural as the real thing, you may want to go for a pre lit tree.
The choice is up to you and no matter what you decide on, you can be confident that either tree type will help you light up the festive season!
Browse through our complete Christmas tree shop today to find your dream artificial Christmas tree, or browse our fibre optic Christmas trees by colour:
