Driver device for driving a load, in particular an LED unit comprising one or more LEDs, said driver device comprising: - power input terminals (51, 52) for receiving a periodic supply voltage from an external power supply potentially including a dimmer for dimming said periodic supply voltage, - power output terminals (53, 54) for providing a drive voltage and/or drive current for driving the load, - a power stage (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d) coupled between the power input terminals and the power output terminals for receiving an input current from said power input terminals and for providing said drive voltage and/or drive current to said power output terminals, the power stage being configured to operate in a first and in a second mode, - an energy storage unit coupled to said power stage and configured to store electrical energy provided at said power input terminals in said first mode, and to provide stored electrical energy to said load via said power output terminals in said second mode characterized in that the power stage is configured to - control the input current received from said power input terminals, such as to draw a high power from said external power supply in the first mode and to draw a low power or no power from said external power supply in the second mode, said high power being higher than the power required for driving said load and said low power being lower than the power required for driving said load, and - for a number N of subsequent half cycle periods of said supply voltage, be in the second mode for N-1 or less half cycle periods, and - provide said drive voltage and/or drive current to said power output terminals in said first mode. - power input terminals (51, 52) for receiving a periodic supply voltage from an external power supply potentially including a dimmer for dimming said periodic supply voltage, - power output terminals (53, 54) for providing a drive voltage and/or drive current for driving the load, - a power stage (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d) coupled between the power input terminals and the power output terminals for receiving an input current from said power input terminals and for providing said drive voltage and/or drive current to said power output terminals, the power stage being configured to operate in a first and in a second mode, - an energy storage unit coupled to said power stage and configured to store electrical energy provided at said power input terminals in said first mode, and to provide stored electrical energy to said load via said power output terminals in said second mode - control the input current received from said power input terminals, such as to draw a high power from said external power supply in the first mode and to draw a low power or no power from said external power supply in the second mode, said high power being higher than the power required for driving said load and said low power being lower than the power required for driving said load, and - for a number N of subsequent half cycle periods of said supply voltage, be in the second mode for N-1 or less half cycle periods, and - provide said drive voltage and/or drive current to said power output terminals in said first mode.