Headlights are included with every single vehicle on the road today. They are essential for safe nighttime driving. There are several different types of technology that are used for vehicle headlights. They all serve the same purpose but achieve it using various methods. The best headlight for you will depend on your needs as they each have their own benefits and drawbacks.
Let us look a little closer at the specific details about the three most common types of technology used for vehicle headlights: halogen bulbs, high-intensity discharge xenon bulbs, and light-emitting diode bulbs.
Halogen Headlights
Halogen headlights are made of a bulb containing specific halogen gases and a tungsten filament. As an electric current is run through the filament, it creates high levels of heat, which produces light you see when these turn on. These are the most commonly available headlights in the world and are estimated to be used in over three-quarters of all cars.
Advantages
They have been around a long time, so people are very familiar with how they work. You should not have an issue finding them and they are usually affordable.
Disadvantages
They do not produce the brightest light, so it could still be difficult to see at night. They also need to be replaced more often than other bulb types.
High Intensity Discharge Xenon Headlights
High-intensity discharge xenon headlights use xenon gas to create a much brighter light from the headlight. Typically they can produce around 2 to 3 times as much light as a halogen bulb.
Advantages
They use more efficient technology and require less electricity to run. They will allow you to see more easily at night when you are driving than a halogen bulb. Because they are more efficient, their lifespan is a lot longer than that of a halogen bulb.
Disadvantages
These bulbs need to warm up before they reach full brightness. They are also expensive and can be easily broken, leading to costly replacements. Your car needs to have a special connector for these bulbs to work as they cannot be put inside of a socket for a halogen bulb.
Light Emitting Diode Or LED Headlights
LEDs have been around for quite some time as they were first invented over 15 years ago. They only recently began to be used in vehicle headlights, though. They last for a decent amount of time and produce a considerable amount of light.
Advantages
With over 20,000 hours worth of life in these bulbs, you will not need to replace them all that often. They are the most efficient bulbs out of all vehicle headlights. They are very small and can be put into almost any location. They will give you the greatest viewing distance down the road.
Disadvantages
They are not as bright as xenon headlights. They also produce quite a lot of heat, so they need to be cooled. They are typically more expensive than other types of headlight technology. You need a high-quality heatsink if you want them to last for very long.
