The car headlight industry is in a big state of flux right now. There are so many different technologies in use, and new ones are still being tested, so it can be hard to decide which one to go with. When shopping for a BMW in Harlingen, Texas, you have a high chance of buying a car with LED headlights instead of incandescent headlights, but are LED headlights any better than what most cars had a couple decades ago?
What Are LED Headlights?
If you aren’t familiar, LED stands for light-emitting diode. Unlike incandescent bulbs, which have seen few groundbreaking improvements since Thomas Edison invented them ages ago, LED lights are small, durable, produce little heat, and require little electricity to make light. LEDs can be lined up and arranged for a bright array of lights as a car’s headlights.
Are LED Headlights Brighter?
The trouble with answering this question is neither “yes” nor “no” are fully correct. The best answer is “it depends.” It depends on the arrangement of LEDs, the positioning, and the design of the headlights themselves. Some cars have their LED headlights set up just right, making them look brighter to other cars, and allowing the driver to see further down the road. Poorly designed LED headlights might not make a difference. It’s easy to complain when someone with LED headlights drives past you at night and blinds you, but the reason behind it might just be a flaw in design rather than the lights actually being brighter.
Should I Get a Car with LED Headlights?
LED headlights are not the only option out there. There are HID (high-intensity discharge), laser lights, projection headlights, and more, but LED headlights are becoming more and more common. They aren’t exactly cheaper yet, but as LED technology becomes more common, the price may come down. In the future, LED headlights might be the standard option. There’s no harm buying a car with LED headlights, just make sure they are bright enough for you to see at night when you buy the car.
