Are you planning to upgrade your headlights? Which is the best projector or reflector headlights? Most car owners do not choose what headlights they get with their car, but there are always options to modify or change your headlights. Before you consider any modifications, read about the differences between projector and reflector headlights.
What does projector headlight mean?
Projector headlights are a new type of headlights that were first used in luxury cars in the 1980s. A projector contains a bulb inside an aluminum box and mirrored reflectors, a shutter, and a lens. The lens works as a magnifying glass improving its light output. The shutter helps direct the light towards the road downwards, thus providing the correct angel for illumination.
Projector headlights are slowly gaining popularity because of their features. These features give you a great driving experience.
How do I know if my car has projector headlights?
It is pretty easy to tell if you have projector headlights on your car. You just have to look at them. In the case of a projector headlight, the lens is placed right at the front so you can notice them easily. It is a projector headlight if you see a fish-eye shape glass surface covering the bulb.
Besides, if you see a dome interior, then it is a reflector. The bulb will stick out and will be uncovered for the light to reflect around the dome.
Can you put LED bulbs in a projector headlight?
You might wonder, while upgrading, are LED headlights projector type?LED bulbs are a great option if you want to get rid of your halogen bulbs. However, high-intensity discharge(HID) completes your projector headlight. The brilliant combination of projector housing and HIDs provides the best lighting. This is because a projector lamp was designed to amplify the technology of HID bulb. In addition, the projector housing has a closed pace that keeps heat entrapped thus, making it perfect for HID’s temperature.
Do projector headlights have high and low beams?
Classic dual-beam headlight designs feature two bulbs (one for high beam and one for low beam). On the contrary, a projector headlight uses only one bulb. Maximum projector headlights use HID Xenon bulbs. Recently LED setups are available.
The lens in a projector headlight serves as a magnifying glass. It increases the brightness of the light beam. In addition, the cutoff shield ensures that the light produced by the projector headlight is angled properly. This helps in directing the light downwards towards the road.
f120 with reflector headlights 
2010 f150 with reflector headlights
How does a Reflector headlight work?
Reflector Headlights have been pretty common on maximum vehicles since electric lights were invented. A reflector headlight has a bulb enclosed in a steel bowl. For the reflection of lights out onto the road, mirrors are placed within the bowl.
The improvements in the technology of reflector headlights using mirrors were developed in the 1980s. Before that, the shape of the light beam was regulated by the lens in the front of the headlight. This type was known as a sealed-beam headlight. In this type, the casing cannot be removed to replace a burnt-out bulb.
Can you put LED bulbs in reflector headlights?
Since halogens are pretty outdated, it is pretty normal to use LEDs as an alternative. In theory, it is easy to say that LED lights can easily be put in a reflector headlight housing. However, practically it is not easy to fit a LED bulb in a reflector headlight, mainly if you currently use halogens. LEDs need additional electronics, a driver, heat dissipation devices, and a purpose-built reflector bowl. If a reflector bowl is not upgraded, then the lights will blind or dazzle other people.
All reflectors are not the same. Each headlight reflector is built following the headlamp supposed to be used. When you are replacing a halogen with a LED, the reflector will be thrown off balance. Eventually, the light will scatter in places it is not supposed to. This can cause the blinding of other drivers risking safety. If you intend to upgrade to LEDs, remember to change the reflector bowl too.
There is an alternative where you can get LEDs specifically designed for your vehicle. These are installed so that the light beam is emitted according to the bowl shape of the bowl.
Are reflector headlights bad?
Reflector headlights are not bad, but there are several cons to reflector headlights. These cons are that the lighting cannot be guided, blind spots on the beam, the lighting is weak and ill-focused, and the lighting does not reach very far.
Advantages of Reflector Headlights?
There are very few advantages of reflector headlights. The benefits include – they are cheaper to make, which is why manufacturers prefer reflector headlights. Unlike a projector headlight, the design is not very complex. They do not take a lot of space in the vehicle like the projector headlights, which sit deeper.
Are projector headlights bad?
Projector lights are not exactly bad, but they sure do have some cons. The cons are that they need deeper and bigger housing, thus consuming more space, having higher manufacturing costs,s and having a complex design. There are more pros than cons about a projector headlight; thus, they are not bad options as headlights. If you are on a tight budget, you can avoid projector headlights.
What is the advantage of projector headlights?
Projector headlights are comparatively brighter than reflector headlights. These headlights do not blind other drivers. This is because the lights are directed downwards on the road to not shine on other drivers’ eyes. Unlike reflector headlights, projector headlights give off a more even lighting and have no darker spots. The advantage of projectors is that they are compatible with HIDs.
How long do projector headlights last?
Projector headlights last long periods until they are damaged due to any accidents. The factor on which the efficiency of projector headlights depends is the bulbs. If halogen bulbs are used, they will run out faster in comparison to HID bulbs. The bulbs with the best life span would be the recent technology of LEDs. They last longer than halogen or HID headlights. Suppose the led are not damaged in any way. In that case, they might illuminate longer than the operational lifespan of the vehicle they are installed in.
What are the best headlights?
Projector headlights are some of the best types because of there focus and clarity. Morimoto and Alpharex are two of the best f150 headlights for aftermarket upgrades.
Conclusion
Are projector headlights better than reflector headlights?
Both projector headlights and reflector have their own pros and cons. However, keeping the basic pros and cons aside, we can say that most drivers want the brightest lights possible without causing problems for other drivers. In that case, projector headlights are the brightest and do not blind oncoming traffic.
Projector headlights allow the usage of HIDs and LEDs instead of older halogen bulbs. In addition, HIDs and LEDs are brighter than halogen lights, so projector headlights are comparatively better than reflectors.
