Reply #13: The LEDs are connected in series.

[formercia]

so when one burns out, the whole string goes. The strings are cheap because the quality controls are cut to reduce cost. I think they also use less lamps to increase the current and resulting brightness. This puts a lot of thermal stress on the LEDs. It also makes the string cheaper to manufacture.

LED light bulbs cost around $36. and are designed to last. The concept is still the same as the cheap strings, just a different layout and better quality control.

Some day the cost will come down.

I can remember when, in 1969, a single red LED was $50. That's over $200 in today's money.