Which Halogen Bulbs Are Closest to Xenon HID?

You may have noticed that more and more drivers are switching to Xenon HID bulbs. HID, or high intensity discharge, bulbs are the latest in automotive lighting technology. Many new vehicles come equipped with Xenon HID headlight bulbs, but plenty of drivers with older cars are using HID conversion kits to make the switch from old halogen bulbs to new and improve Xenon HID bulbs. But what if you want the look and brightness of Xenon HID bulbs without the expense and hassle of converting your headlights? In that case, you might want to check out the halogen bulbs that are closest to Xenon HID.

What Makes Xenon HID Bulbs Special?

First, let’s talk about why so many drivers want Xenon HID bulbs. Xenon HID bulbs have several major advantages over traditional halogen bulbs. The biggest benefit is, of course, their brightness. Xenon HID bulbs are much brighter than your average halogen bulb. Some of the best Xenon HID bulbs, like the popular OSRAM Xenarc Night Breaker (Next Generation), are up to 200% brighter than standard bulbs with up to 250 metres more range. If you drive at night and you’re worried about your safety, these statistics matter.

There are other reasons to choose Xenon HID bulbs. Many drivers like the pure white look of Xenon HID bulbs. This is referred to as the colour temperature of the light. Colour temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin, often abbreviated as K. Bulbs with a lower colour temperature – somewhere around 2700K – appear warmer, or more yellow. Many prefer this kind of lighting in their homes, since it is softer and easier on the eyes.

But when you’re driving, you want the brightest light possible so you can see every bump in the road ahead. That means you want a much cooler colour temperature. Anything about 4000K will appear whiter than standard. Bulbs with a colour temperature of 5000K or 6000K produce light that is of a much more striking white colour. This super cool colour temperature is actually also comfortable on the eyes, since it closely mimics daylight.

Many Xenon HID bulbs have a higher colour temperature, often above 5000K. The coolest halogen bulbs, on the other hand, tend to max out around 4200K. Not only can a higher colour temperature help drivers see the road more clearly, many drivers prefer the look of headlights with a cooler colour temperature.

Finally, the last major advantage that Xenon HID bulbs offer is their longevity. Although Xenon HID bulbs are much more expensive than halogen bulbs, they last longer. Whether HID bulbs will really save you money in the long run has no definitive answer, but you can be sure that you won’t have to change your headlights nearly as often.

Halogen Bulbs That Imitate Xenon HID

Now that we know the benefits of Xenon HID headlights, why choose halogen bulbs? Well, for many drivers, halogen bulbs are the economical choice. Although they don’t last as long, halogen bulbs are far less expensive than Xenon HID bulbs. Plus, if your vehicle isn’t equipped for HID bulbs, you would need to take into account the time and expense of converting your headlights. Luckily, if you choose the right kind of halogen bulb, you can get many of the same benefits that Xenon HID bulbs offer.

When selecting a halogen bulb, you’ll want to pay attention to two things—the brightness and the colour temperature. Brighter bulbs with a higher colour temperature will be much closer to Xenon HID than the standard halogen bulb. In fact, many new halogen bulbs are almost indistinguishable from Xenon HID bulbs. Let’s take a look at some of the halogen bulbs that come closest to the look and performance of Xenon HID bulbs.

GE Megalight Ultra +150

The newest high-performance halogen bulbs from GE are the Megalight Ultra +150. To the untrained eye, these bulbs are near-identical to Xenon HID bulbs. One reason they look so much like Xenon HID bulbs is that the GE Megalight Ultra +150 bulbs have a xenon gas filling. Xenon gas is used in HID bulbs, and although it doesn’t have the same effect in halogen bulbs, it does give a similar colour to the bulbs. The Megalight Ultra +150 bulbs are 150% brighter than standard halogen bulbs and offer a cool colour temperature while still being road legal.

Philips RacingVision

Philips RacingVision bulbs are popular among drivers for a good reason—they offer superior performance and closely match the look of Xenon HID bulbs. Like the GE Megalight Ultra +150 bulbs, the Philips RacingVision halogen bulbs boast 150% more light than standard bulbs. Although they don’t contain xenon gas, the Philips RacingVision bulbs do have a cool colour temperature that mimics Xenon HID bulbs.

OSRAM Night Breaker Laser (Next Generation)

Like OSRAM’s popular Xenon HID Night Breaker bulbs, the halogen version delivers extreme brightness and an ultracool colour temperature. These are the most expensive bulb out of the three we’ve discussed here, but that’s thanks to the advanced laser ablation technology OSRAM uses in the manufacturing process. OSRAM Night Breaker Laser (Next Generation) bulbs also give off 150% more light than standard with a beam that extends out to 150 metres in front of your headlights. If you’re more interested in imitating the performance of Xenon HID bulbs, the OSRAM Night Breaker Laser (Next Generation) is an excellent choice.

If you love the look of Xenon HID bulbs, but can’t commit to switching to HID, all three of these bulbs make a great substitute. New technology means that halogen bulbs can offer nearly the same brightness and look of Xenon HID bulbs, but without breaking the bank.