Xenon Vs LED Lights: Key Differences

To meet the ever-increasing demands of modern drivers, automakers have continuously changed many components used in modern cars. From halogen bulbs, now newer cars come with LED or xenon headlights, which are more appealing and “classier.”

Nighttime driving can be much more fun and interesting when you’ve got xenon or LED headlight bulbs installed on your car. Xenon and LED headlights are apparently brighter and last longer than the typical –old – yellowish (halogen) bulbs used in older vehicles.

However, LED and xenon bulbs are not the same; what differentiates them, and which one is better? This xenon vs LED lights comparison article explains the differences between these two modern car headlight types.

Let’s get started!

What are Xenon Lights?

Xenon headlights, also called arc lights, whichever you call them, are “high-intensity-discharge” – HID – headlights with brighter – arced – bulbs that are shinier than halogen lights, which are made with filaments.

Inside xenon bulbs are electric arcs (electrodes) that shine brighter and last longer than other components used in other bulb types.

However, the too much brightness of xenon bulbs makes it not recommended in some cities because it can irritate other (opposite) drivers on the road. Notwithstanding, xenon lights go farther and cover a broader area; they are literally the best headlights to use if you frequently drive at night or in low-light paths.

Another thing about xenon lights is that they tend to last quite longer than traditional halogen bulbs and use less energy too. But then, xenon lights are hotter than LEDs and don’t last as many hours as LED lights.

How Xenon Lights Work

Electric current is made to pass through the xenon gas and create an electrical arc between two electrodes to produce very bright, intense white or bluish light. Some aftermarket xenon lights may have yellowish tints in the lights they produce.

What are LED Lights?

In the bulbs’ development hierarchy, LED bulbs are the latest development, and they are equally the brightest type of bulbs – for automotive lighting, home use, and other lighting applications.

Although LED lights are typically used in only low beams, such as brake lights and turn signal lights; however, some drivers install LEDs as their standard headlights and perform quite well.

Luminescence Diode bulbs, LED bulbs, are quite different in many ways compared with halogen and xenon lights – both in how they produce their lighting and life hours. LED lights come with a chip inside, along with a series of silicone-based semi-conductive material layers.

Lights beams produced by LED headlights are the brightest, and they go farther.

Furthermore, LED bulbs are about 90% more energy efficient than regular bulbs; however, they can’t really handle extremely high voltage. LED headlights typically comprise LED bulbs connected together to produce the desired lighting effect.

Today, some cars have LED lights all around, from the side lights to high & low beam beams – even daytime running lights.

LED lights are becoming standard on most modern vehicles because they are cheap to manufacture yet use less energy and last longer than other bulbs.

How LED Lights Work

Unlike other headlight bulbs that use a gas, filament, or high voltage to generate light, LED bulbs work differently. They generate light by passing an electric current through layers – light emitting diodes – releasing light particles to create crystal clear beams using less energy.

Xenon Vs LED Lights: Differences

The comparison between xenon and LED lights is quite simple; LED lights last longer and are brighter than xenon or halogen bulbs.

But there are pretty other differences between these two types of headlights that you ought to know as a car owner.

Lifespan

LED lights are the longest-lasting of all headlight types; they can last up to 40,000 hours but continuously dim as they age. On the other hand, while they last longer than halogen lights, xenon lights do not last as long as LED lights. Talking about lifespan, there’s no headlight that lasts as long as LED lights.

Brightness

Using xenon headlights is not acceptable in some cities and states due to the brightness. While LED lights are somehow brighter, they are more acceptable than xenon (HID) lights.

The truth is that both LED and xenon headlights have almost the same brightness level. Notwithstanding, xenon headlights produce a more focused and dense light than LED lights.

Design and Light Production Type

The design of LED lights is totally different – and simpler – from xenon lights design. LED light produces lights by passing an electric current through diodes/chips, while xenon lights use “xenon” gas to generate electrical current.

Xenon lights look similar in design to halogen headlights, with electrodes in the inner quartz chamber.

Energy/Power Efficiency

Energy efficiency refers to the amount of light versus heat produced by a bulb. LED headlights consume less power than xenon lights; LEDs are more energy efficient because they produce less heat and more light.

The design is a huge contributor to LED lights’ efficiency, which is simpler than xenon. In context, LED lights would consume less energy than xenon lights and produce twice as more intense light than other bulbs.

Installation

If your car comes standard with LED or xenon lights, you can easily replace the headlights respectively.

But if you’re upgrading from LED to xenon or vice versa, then you’d need a conversion kit – HID kits (for xenon lights) and LED upgrade kits (for LED lights). The installation time is less with LED than xenon lights.

Summary

Xenon vs. LED comparison is all about brightness level and lifespan. Both xenon and LED bulbs shine very brightly, but LEDs last longer and use less energy.

Depending on the brand and model you’re buying, you may find xenon lights cheaper than LED lights or vice versa. Conclusively, both LED and xenon lights are better and brighter than halogens.

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