Headlight Bulbs Comparison: HID vs LED vs Halogen
Modern automotive market offers several headlight bulb options. The most popular three are halogen, HID (a.k.a. xenon) and LED. Each of these three has got its own pros and cons, and every car owner has to decide, which of these is a perfect solution for his or her vehicle.
Knowing the headlight basics, it is not that difficult to pick the proper lighting solution to meet their needs. We have compared these three popular bulb types for you to know, what to expect.
HID vs LED vs Halogen
| BULB TYPE | ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
|---|---|---|
| HALOGEN | + emits bright, yellowish light; + has a long lifespan; + low replacement cost; + popular type of headlights | - generates excess heat; - wastes energy; - cautious handling needed when replacing a bulb; - reactive to other substances. |
| XENON | + provides good illumination; + more efficient compared to halogen; + uses less power; + longer lifespan than halogen bulbs. | - expensive; - may potentially cause harsh glare to other drivers because of its brightness. |
| LED | + needs little power to work; + low and efficient energy consumption; + small size; + may be designed differently because of its size. | - expensive; - generates heat and needs more cooling to run than halogen and HID bulbs. |
LED Headlight Bulbs: Questions & Answers
Normally, headlights use a Phillips screwdriver pattern. So, to adjust headlights, pop the hood, locate the opening at the backside of the headlight assemblies. Next. use a screwdriver, put it in the hole to engage with the teeth of the gear. Push down to get the lights lined up. Going one way is vertical up alignment, and going the other way is vertical down alignment.
There are many quality LED bulb brands. But here are the ones many reputable car magazines and body shops really consider the best: OPT7, Hikari, Akarui, Philips, Osram (Sylvania), AUXbeam, Cougar, BeamTech, SeaLight. Note, that there are many other brands that offer quality LED bulbs. You may conduct your own research to get a better understanding of the best LED headlight bulbs on the market.
There are many factors, that prove, that LED headlight bulbs are better than the traditional incandescent bulbs. LEDs consume less power and are brighter than regular bulbs. Besides, LEDs last way longer since they do not contain any fragile glass elements and tungsten. Plus, LED headlight bulbs are resistant to vibration, temperature changes, and humidity, so they last longer.
If you pick the right bulb size of the LEDs, the installation is just plug-and-play. You just remove the duct cover, uninstall the OE bulb, install the LED bulb and make sure it fits along with the cooling unit. Next, you need to install the duct cover and have your new LED bulbs properly aligned.
More: halo-headlights.com
